ॐ Hindu Of Universe ॐ
“God’s light is within you, It never leaves you.”
Pran Prathistha, also known as Murthi Sthapana, is a practice in Hinduism and Jainism.
It is the consecration of a Murthi (deity idol) in a temple with the accompaniment of Mantras and hymns.
When the priest or Purohit performs the rites, the idol converts into a deity by the invocation of life energy or Prana.
There are elaborate discussions in different Vedic and ancient scriptures on the importance as well as the ways of conducting the Pran Prathishta.
In Tantra-Tattva, Prana Prathishta is a ritual meant to introduce life into a Murthi (deity idol).
Not everyone can conduct Pran Prathishta.
As per Vaishayasi Samhita of the Panchratra Agam Shastra, “One in whose every organ Paramatma resides wholly, that pure Mahapurush is eligible to perform Prana Pratishta because one who can invoke Paramatva within his heart to the Murti can offer it.”
The word Prana refers to life energy, and Pratishta means resting or position.
In this very context, Pratishta is the installation or consecration.
Difference between Pratishta and Pran Pratishta:
There are some differences between Pratishta and Pran Pratishta.
With Pratishta, constant maintenance is essential.
It is one of the reasons why keeping a stone or marble idol in our house is not encouraged.
If one fails to take proper care of the Murthi with the right Mantras and Pujas, it could lead to the withdrawal of the energy.
It can also cause harm to those who live near the idol.
Pran Pratishta is an essential alternative, where the devotee or the priest consecrates the deity with life energies.
Here, we are placing the Murthi forever, and constant maintenance is not necessary.
Though before Pran Pratishta, we have to conduct different procedures to ensure the proper flow of energy from Satpurush or the person consecrating the Murthi.
Procedures or parts included in Murthi Pratishta (before Pran Pratishta):
Prior to Pran Prathishta of a Murthi, there are some procedures to be conducted.
They are Karmakutir, Jaladhivas, Dhanyadhivas, Ghrutadhivas, Snapan or Abhishek, Netra Anvarn, Shodshopchar Puja, and finally, Pran Prathishta.
Here are the detail about these procedures that Purohit has to perform before the consecration of the deity and the invocation of the divine as well as spiritual elements.
- Karmakutir – It is the process of purifying the idol from the artisan’s place by touching it with Darba grass.
It helps in removing any evil influences on the Murthi. He then closes the eyes of the Murthi by smearing a layer of honey and ghee along with two hundred olbations with Mantras.
He ties a Nadi-Chhadi to the Murthi’s right wrist.
2. Jaladhivas – After bringing Murthi to the Yagna Mandap or the place to perform Yagna, the Purohit immerses it in water.
It is a way of finding out whether the Murthi is complete or if it has any damages.
The Purohit adds Panchamrut (mixture of five items) to the vessel containing the Murthi, and he covers it with a clean cloth.
He chants Agni Mantra and awakens the Murthi by ringing a bell. He wipes the Murthi dry.
3. Dhanyadhivas – Here, the Purohit places the Murthi on Dhanya or gains. He then covers it with more Dhanya due to its properties to purify the Murthi.
4. Ghrutadhivas – The Pandit or Purohit submerges the Murthi in cow ghee. Sometimes, he places a piece of cotton wool soaked in ghee on the toes of the Murthi.
After its completion, the Purohit awakens the deity and keeps it on a wooden stand.
5. Snapan or Abhishek – It is the process of bathing a Murthi with either milk or water.
Here, the Purohit places 108 different materials in pots in front of the Murthi.
The Purohit pours these contents on the Murthi as they purify it and give the Murthi immense power.
6. Netra Anvaran – Here, the Purohit holds a mirror in front of the Murthi while removing the ghee with a golden needle from the Murthi’s eyes.
7. Shodshopchar Puja – The Purohit places the Murthi on a new mattress by invoking the Nidra Devi or the goddess of sleep.
He chants the Anawan Mantra for that purpose.
During the night time, the Purohits engage in 200 Homas away from the idol. In the morning, he awakens the Murthi by sprinkling ghee mixed with water along with the chanting of the Uttishtha Mantra.
He then places the Murthi on the Garbha Griha or the inner sanctum with the recitation of Mangalashtak.
These are the parts of Murthi Pratishta that are essential before Pran Pratishta of a Murthi.
Steps included in Pran Pratishta: After the completion of the steps mentioned above, the next crucial aspect of Murthi Pratishta is Pran Pratishta.
Once the Purohit places the Murthi in the inner sanctum facing east, there are steps to be followed to ensure the completion of Pran Pratishta.
They are –
- Nyasa is the first process after the cleansing, dressing, and seating of the idol.
Here, the Purohit touches the different parts of the Murthi, especially the sense organs.
These parts symbolize the deities.
For instance, the hands of the Murthi represent Indra Dev; the heart stands for Lord Brahma; the eyes for Surya Dev.
2. Through Nayas, the divine shakti from the Purohit enters Murthi.
The energies include Prana or life-breath, Jiva or soul, and lastly, the ten Indriyas.
3. Next, the Purohit sprays scented water and flowers on the Murthi along with the chanting of Mantras.
4. In some traditions, the Purohit performs Netra Anvaran or the opening of the eyes during Pran Pratishta.
5. After the completion of Pran Prathishta, the idol becomes an auspicious deity and resides in the inner sanctum.
In some traditions, the Murthi retires like a guest to the bed.
Significance of Pran Prathishta:
There are many significances associated with the performance of Pran Prathishta.
It invokes the deity and gives the Murthi life energy.
So, when a person visits a temple, he or she can imbibe the vitalities from the divine figure.
The worship of the deity helps in elevating a person to a higher realm of existence.
The process involved in Pran Prathishta and Murthi Stapana removes any evil forces present in the Murthi.
Through the cleansing of the Murthi, it aids in evading the presence of any negative energies and induces positivity.
Pran Pratishta is, thus, a process that can enhance the vitality of the Murthi that we worship.
It can foster divinity to the Murthi.
It flows to the worshippers when they pay their respect to the deity.
5 Day Consecration Ceremony of Sita Ram Hanuman!
The grand Sita Ram Hanuman Consecration Ceremony started on June 29th.
Devotees participated in large numbers to welcome Shree Ram Sita and Hanuman to the Radha Krishna Temple of Dallas!
Tan Man Shuddhi Pooja:
The first day began with Tan Man Shuddhi Pooja, performed to purify and enable devotees to complete the rituals over the upcoming days, with sincere and pure mind.
Ganesh pooja and Kalash Pooja were also performed in the evening.
Nagar Yatra:
The Rāmcharitmānas States : jo ānand sindhu sukharāsī .
God is an ocean of bliss and happiness.” With the mind in union with God, devotees experienced the ineffable and sublime bliss beyond the scope of the senses.
They participate in the: joyous Nagar Yātra, Shree Ram Nām Jap Yagna & Homam, and other blissful activities lined up for the day, and experience a perfect communion with the sweet Lord.
Pran Prathishta:
When the Lord manifested in His four-armed form, Mother Kausalya pleaded:
tajahu tāta yaha rupā
Kijai sisulilā ati priyasilā yaha sukha parama anupā ||
(Rāmcharitmānas)
“Please give up this form, O Lord, and begin your childish sport, which is so dear to a mother’s heart.
The joy such pastimes bring to me is solely unparalleled.”
At her request, the all-pervasive Lord, at His own will, turned into baby Shree Ram and began to cry.
Mother Kausalya’s joy knew no bounds as she took Him into her lap.
Devotees experienced the same joy and bliss as they witnessed the enchanting deities of Sita Ram being infused with a breath of life, and Vedic rituals being performed requesting the Supreme Lord to be established in His deities at the Prān Pratiṣṭha ceremony, followed by the first Darshan & Maha Aarti.
Rajyabhishekam & Maha Annakoot:
Even a little attempt to serve Shree Ram cleanses our heart and elevates us to a higher platform. Devotees engaged in His service, participated in His grand coronation ceremony, offered delicious Maha bhog, and immersed in Rāmacaritamānas chaupāyī pārāyan.
Akhand Kirtan:
Kīrtan is one of the most powerful means of practicing devotion.
The Vedic scriptures extol kīrtan as the simplest and most powerful process of devotion in the present age of Kali.
kalijuga kevala hari guna gāhā, gāvata nara pāvahiṅ bhava thāhā
(Rāmcharitmānas)
“In this age of Kali, there is one means of salvation.
By engaging in the chanting of the glories of God, one can cross over this material ocean.”
The 12-hour Akhand Kirtan from 9 am to 9 pm on Day 5 enabled devotees to fix the mind upon God easily and engage all their senses in the divine realm.
Consecration: Kumbhabhishekam
Kumbhabhishekam is a Hindu temple consecration ceremony that involves sprinkling (abhishekam) the temple with sacred waters brought in a water pot (kumbha).
The consecration ceremony takes several days and begins with honoring Ganesha and praying to the Earth (bhumi puja).
The central events take place in a large tent by the temple and include a fire altar ceremony, offerings of words and goods, and a closing ceremony, purnahuti or completion.
The temple consecration is called the kumbhabhishekam.
Literally, this formidable term means the “sprinkling” (abhishekam) of the temple with sacred waters carried in a “water-pot” (kumbha).
This is the most important ritual in the life of a newly built temple.
It is especially significant for the many Indian communities that have built new temples in the United States.
Every year they will observe the anniversary of this event as one of the temple’s major festivals.
The consecration rites extend over several days.
The first rite in the series is the honoring of Ganesha, the Lord of Beginnings and the Remover of Obstacles.
There will also be prayers to the earth (bhumi puja) for the support and blessing of the new building.
The priests will tie a thread of blessing and protection (raksha bandhanam) around their wrists as they commit themselves to the rituals ahead.
Sometimes grains will be planted and sprouted to assure the fruitfulness of the rites.
The main rites take place in a large tent erected adjacent to the new temple.
The tent becomes a yajnashala, a “House of the Fire Offerings,” where the powerful rites of consecration are performed around the brick fire altars that have been constructed for the occasion.
Surrounding the fire altars are hundreds of kumbhas, or copper pots, sponsored by various members of the community.
They are filled with Ganges water and often the waters of U.S. rivers such as the Missouri and Mississippi as well.
Each pot is topped with mango leaves and a coconut and each sits on a bed of rice, the picture of sheer auspiciousness.
At the brick fire altars sit the participating brahmin priests or acharyas, the learned ones, who kindle the fires and make offerings and libations into the fire.
They chant the mantras and sacred texts that invoke the Divine presence to the fire altar and to the pots of water to be consecrated.
It is through these powerful words, mantras, that the Divine is made present.
The “root mantras” (mula mantras) are different for each deity installed in the temple. The recitation of the mantras and the hymns required for these consecrations often takes hours and makes plain to young Americans the traditions of sacred memory these priests have preserved.
Along with the offerings of words, offerings of grain, flowers, spices, honey, and many other substances are poured forth.
All are fed into the sacred flames along with ladles of vegetable oil, often used to replace the traditional ghee, clarified butter.
When the offerings are complete and all the mantras have been uttered, the priests and the community stand for the purnahuti, the ritual of completion.
Together they recite the age-old prayer from the Isha Upanishad, dedicating the work to the fullness, the perfection of the eternal Brahman:
That Beyond is Fullness.
This here is Fullness.
From Fullness comes Fullness
Drawing out the Fullness of the Fullness
Fullness yet remains.
Om, peace, peace, peace.
The rites of consecrating a temple include and parallel the rites of consecrating its primary images (murtis) of the gods.
At the conclusion of the rites, priests will circle the temple in festival procession bearing the largest of the kumbha pots on their heads.
Hoisted to the temple roof on hydraulic lifts, they sprinkle the waters of consecration over the cupolas and on the eager crowd assembled below.
Significance Of Wearing Consecrated Threads in Hinduism
Isha Life – Dhyanalinga Black Pendant Rope
Hinduism is belief having several ways to get away from evils.
If you follow with heart and might, then surely you’ll get positive results.
Amongst all these techniques and rituals, wearing holy threads on body parts also has its own importance.
You must’ve noticed, a lot of Hinduism followers wear a variety of threads of various colors like black, red, yellow, and orange threads.
Let’s understand the significance of wearing these colored threads:
Red Thread
Red threads are so common among Hindus.
Men and women wear it by doing small puja rituals.
The red thread is usually tied on the right hand of men & unmarried women, while it’s tied on the left hand for married women.
You can get this thread in any of the temples.
It’s cotton thread and was first offered as cloth to deities.
Wearing this will bring happiness, health, and prosperity.
Significance: Red thread symbolizes long life & protection against evils and enemies.
Hence, it’s also known as the ‘Raksha thread’.
It’s believed, wearing this thread will keep God’s blessings always with you.
Black Thread
This’s another powerful thread worn by Hindus.
In the case of small children, usually, it’s tied around the waist and adults tie it in the left wrist armlet.
Also, some tie special roots along with it & wear it as a necklace.
People practicing black magic or Tantric Vidhya may wear this on the right foot as well.
Significance: It’s said to protect children from evil eyes (buri nazar), and also defend people from evil spirits or the unwanted tantra mantras.
Saffron/Orange Thread
Saffron/Orange threads are prevalent in south & east India.
People wear it for several reasons.
This long thread which’s wrapped around the wrist several times to form a bundle.
Significance: This’s said to bring fame, and power & guard people against all evils.
Yellow Thread
Yellow is a color of purity & good health.
People consider the yellow color to be very crucial in tasks like weddings or house inauguration ceremonies.
Hindus apply haldi in the fat cotton threads and wear it as a sign of good luck during marriages.
The bride wears it with 3 knots tied either in the neck or armlet.
Significance: This’s believed to make married life happier & successful. Also, it ensures long life of the husband & bride.