When Will Pran Pratishtha Happen In Ayodhya Ram Mandir? Significance Of Pran Pratishtha In Hinduism

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In Hinduism, Pran Pratishtha is a sacred ritual and it is performed to invoke or infuse a deity into an idol or statue to make it sacred or divine by performing Vedic rites and chanting mantras as prescribed by the Panchratra Agam Shastras. It is done on the day of the inauguration of a new temple or mandir.

The term 'Pran' means 'life' and 'Pratishtha' means 'establishment'. Therefore, 'Pran Pratishtha means 'establishing the life force' or 'bringing deity to life'. There is a lot of significance attached to this ritual in Hinduism and is divided into several parts. Read about it in detail through this post.

1. Karmakutir
Once the idol is created, it is purified in the artisan's workplace itself, and this process is known as Karmakutir. The ritual involves touching the entire idol with Durva grass so that evil influences or negative energies can be removed from the statue. Then the artisan applies a thin layer of ghee and honey over the eyes. Next, a Priest performs 200 ahutis (oblations) or homas while chanting mantras, and then a nada-chhadi is tied to the right wrist of the murti before it leaves the workshop.

2. Jaladhivas
The idol is then transferred to the yagna mandap where yagna is performed and the murti is immersed in water. This is to check whether the murti has any faults or khandit (damaged) in any way. Then panchamrit is added into a vessel that contains the murti along with other auspicious items for puja. The vessel is then covered with a cloth and the mantras of Agni are chanted for further purification. Then the cloth is removed and the murti is awakened by sounding a bell. Then the murti is removed and the vessel is wiped dry.

3. Dhanyadhivas
After Jaladhivas is done, a layer of dhanya, which means grains or pulses are spread on the floor and murti is laid on the layer of dhanya and then completely covered with it, which is usually rice or grain. This process is done to further purify the idol.

4. Ghrutadhivas
The idol is submerged in cow's ghee as it is considered very pure in Hinduism. However, in some places, cotton is dipped or soaked in ghee and then placed on the feet of the idol, if the idol is extremely big and the entire murti cannot be submerged in ghee. Then the idol is placed on a wooden stand.

5. Snapan
This ritual is also known as abhishek and it involves bathing a murti with a liquid such as milk and water, which is believed to be a form of purification, it involves 108 different types of auspicious materials such as panchamrit, water infused with fragrant flowers and leaves, water which has been poured over the horns of a cow, and juice of sugarcane. Apart from that, one dravya is placed in each pot in three vedhis (groups): the dakshin (south) group has eleven pots; the madhya (middle) group has eleven pots; and the remaining pots are in the uttar (north) group. Special mantras are chanted as well.

6. Netra Anavaran
This step involves an artisan who sculpted the idol. The individual holds a mirror in front of the idol's face and looks at the idol's eyes indirectly by seeing the reflection in the mirror. The layer of ghee and honey is then replaced with a gold needle or shalaka. This is known as Netra-anavaran rite. The reason for using mirror is because the murti's eyes are opened and it is said to be immensely powerful which should not fall on human eyes. Also, food is arranged for the murti prior to the ritual.

7. Shodshopchar Puja
After the murti or idol is wiped dry, it is laid on a new mattress with food and a pot of water for one night's rest. At night, through Ahawan mantras, the Goddess of Sleep Nidra Devi is involved and 10 priests perform 200 homas throughout the night in the form of yagna, away from the sleeping murti. They offer ahuti of cow's ghee in eight auspicious directions and then a drop of ghee is placed in a pot of water.

The next day morning, water is sprinkled from this pot on the sleeping murti to awaken it and simultaneously uttishtha mantras are also chanted. Then the idol is carried to garbha gruh (inner sanctum) from the yagna mandap and placed on a pedestal. While mangalashtak mantra is chanted, a mason cements the idol to the pindika. After the cement has dried, priests enter the garbha gruh to perform the murti prãna pratishtha.

8. Pran Pratishtha Rites
One the idol is purified, it becomes ready to become the home of the deity or the divine soul. There are specific rules mentioned in Vaihãyasi Samhita (9/28-84, 90) of the Panchratra Agam Shastras which says Pran Pratishtha is to be done by a very specific person. "One in whose every organ Paramatma resides fully, that pure Mahapurush is eligible to perform prãna pratishtha, because it is only he who can invoke Paramatma within his heart into the murti', mentions the sacred text.

Then Nyasvidhi is performed which is the first step of Pran Pratishtha and it means touching. It is said to invoke numerous deities such as Brahma, Surya, Indra and others in different parts of the idol. Then the deitie's bij mantra is chanted and durva grass and golden needle are waved across the murti. This is how the Paramatma, or the divine soul is invoked and infused in the murti.

When Will Pran Pratishtha Happen In Ayodhya Ram Temple?
According to the reports, the Pran Pratishtha in Ayodhya Ram temple is slated to happen on 22 January 2024 and it will open for devotees on 24 January 2024. The construction of the ground floor of this temple will be completed by December-end.