What is “Pran Pratistha”?

The pran pratishtha event will mark the grand opening of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22. Understand what Pran Pratistha is and why it is relevant here.

Pran pratishtha is a respected Hindu ritual that has great importance since it entails summoning a god as an idol and imbuing it with sacred or heavenly essence. The term ‘pran’ represents life, but ‘pratishtha’ refers to institution.

As a result, pran pratishtha might be defined as the ‘installation of the life force’ or the transforming act of bringing the ‘deity to life.’ After the pran pratishtha ritual, the lifeless idol experiences a tremendous metamorphosis, becoming a living manifestation of the deity.

This change gives the idol the power to accept prayers and bestow benefits on followers who desire divine intervention.

Significance of Pran Pratishtha

Pran Pratishtha is very important in the Hindu faith. Pran Pratishtha is essentially asking the major gods to imbue murtis and sculptures with their essence and presence. It creates a direct relationship between the divine and the tangible manifestation of the deity. The consecration is said to attract the heavenly presence into the idol.

The notion of Pran Pratishtha is based on the belief that the divine is everywhere and may be found in the sanctified idol for the worshiper. Devotees see the idol as more than just a statue but as a living representation of God.

“Pran Pratishtha” Procedure

According to the head priest, the event begins with the Kalash Yatra, then the idol’s ‘Nagar Bhraman’ (tour about town) and a bath in the Saryu River.

“After the Kalash Yatra, the idol’s Nagar Bhraman (town visit) took place, followed by a bath in the Saryu river.” These were among the early rites associated with the ceremony. All of the rites use Saryu River water. The rites would last six days, according to the Acharya.