Temple consecration in the Hindu tradition refers to the rite known as prana pratishtha (IAST: prāṇa pratiṣṭhā), the ceremony by which a murti, or devotional image of a deity, is formally installed and sanctified within a temple. The Sanskrit term combines prana, meaning "life", with pratishtha, meaning "to be established", together conveying the idea of establishing life or vital presence within the consecrated image.
The ritual follows detailed steps outlined in the Vedic scriptures. During the ceremony, priests recite verses (mantras) intended to invite the deity to reside within the murti. The procedure is regarded as transforming a sculpted image into an object of worship, with the consecrated form serving as the focal point of devotional practice in the temple thereafter.
According to the tradition, the rite infuses life into the Hindu temple and brings to it the numinous presence of divinity and spirituality. The consecrated murti is treated as the abode of the deity, and the temple itself comes to be regarded as a sacred space following the completion of the ceremony.
While most closely associated with Hinduism, the practice of consecrating images through similar rites is also observed in the temples of Jainism. In both traditions, the ceremony marks the point at which a newly built or renovated temple, and the images it houses, become ready for regular worship by devotees.
Adapted from the English Wikipedia article on Prana pratishtha.