Overview
Prana Pratishtha (IAST: prāṇa pratiṣṭhā) is the rite or ceremony by which a murti, the devotional image of a deity, is consecrated in a Hindu temple. The Sanskrit term prana means "life", while pratishtha means "to be established". Together, the phrase signifies the establishment of life or divine presence within the consecrated image.
The ritual follows detailed steps outlined in the Vedic scriptures. During the ceremony, mantras are recited to invite the deity to reside within the murti. Through this sequence of invocations and observances, the image is regarded by practitioners as transformed from an inert form into a living seat of the deity, suitable for daily worship and offerings within the temple.
Prana Pratishtha is practised in the temple traditions of both Hinduism and Jainism. It is considered to infuse life into the temple itself, bringing to it the numinous presence of divinity and spirituality. In tradition, the ceremony marks the point at which a temple becomes a functional place of worship, with the consecrated murti serving as the focus of devotional activity.
References
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Prana pratishtha.