Prana Prathishta
Installation of Vigrahas (Deity) at the Parashakthi Temple is been done with Prana Pratheeshta
The process of worship in Hinduism invariably involves the use of 3 basic techniques, namely the mantra, the tantra and the yantra. Symbolically, they represent the 3 basic spiritual paths of Hinduism, made hugely popular by the teachings of Sri Vasudeva Krishna in the famous Bhagavad Gita. The mantra symbolically represents the use of Jnanamarg, the path of knowledge, the tantra of Bhaktimarg, the path of devotion, and the yantra of Karmasanyasmarg or the path of detached action. Unless these three are present in some form or combination, the worship is incomplete.
Images of a deity are just a symbolic representation of an aspect of eternal Truth which must be energized by Prana Pratishta. The Prana Pratishta at The Parashakthi Temple is guided by Divine mother Herself .The Divine Mother guides the deity to be installed and the proper auspicious day to install so that the energy can fully manifest and devotees can benefit from the alive deity. The Divine mother also then gives mantra to be chanted for the particular deity at The Parashakthi Temple. The deities are consecrated at the temple in India. Dr Krishna Kumar has done a special paryogam-special pooja for each deity for 48 days, and then brought the deity to the Temple.
The Prateeshta ritual aims at bringing the unmanifest nirguna Brahman to a manifest form Sagunabrahman in the murti (deity), giving energy and attributes,fit for worship and endow Vigrahas with divine powers.
This is accomplished by the power of the mantras that are given to Dr Krishna Kumar during deep kundalini meditation and recited by the priest and when appropriate by devotees. The yantra, which is a geometric representation of the power of the deity, is installed in the place where the deity is installed subsequently. Along with the yantra, precious metals, precious stones, etc. are also placed.This is followed by elaborate abhishekams with the sanctified waters from the kalasas, along with the recitation of appropriate mantras. After the installation ceremony thus performed, the regular rituals such as homam, abhishekam, alankaram, archana, etc. are performed routinely.
We are very fortunate and blessed to be given a very powerful place of Worship by Divine Mother that is a high vortex of energy as confirmed by many mystics with so many active vibrations. Divine Mother has given us the opportunity to explore and experience “Her” which is something even the greatest of Gurus like Vashista (Guru of Lord Rama) tried to achieve after severe penance and She has given this Privilege to us at our Temple which is “Her” place of Worship.
Several rites are performed at The Parashakthi Temple as prescribed in the agamas, and the deity is installed. Since mantras and yantras are so important for Divine Mother Parashakthi’s earthly manifestation, “SHE” summoned Guruji Swarna Venkateswara Deekshitar who is a “Master” yantra maker to our Temple to do the installation properly with mantra, tantra and yantra rituals.
These rites start with Maha Ganapati or Vishwaksena puja and include several preparatory rituals such as punyahavachanam (purificatory rite); Acharya ritvik varanam (assignment of duties to the priests performing the ritual and offering of special garments to them); Kalasa sthapana (where the power of the divinities are invoked in the waters kept in several kalasas (pots); Agni pratishta (establishing the fire for performing the fire oblations – (homams); Vastu puja and homam to worship the Vastu Purusha; ankuraarpanam (seeding of the soil; the growth of plants from these seeds symbolizes the prosperity of the temple); The purificatory rites of the images through various adhivasams where the images are kept in dhaanyam (grains of paddy)- dannyathivasam, jalam (water) Jaladhivasam, offering flowers-Pushpadhivasam,offering of ksheeram (milk), and hanam (gold, silver, etc); and the final adhivasam, called sayanathivasam, which is the resting of the images in new clothes on beds under blankets. The moola mantra homams (oblations done while reciting the moola mantra for each divinity) are performed on several days to invoke the power of the deities in the images. Netronmeelanam is another ritual in which the sthapathi/priests open the eyes of the murtis.