Traditional Prana pratishtha (IAST: prāṇa pratiṣṭhā) is the rite or ceremony by which a murti (devotional image of a deity) is consecrated in a Hindu temple.
Following detailed steps outlined in the Vedic scriptures, verses (mantras) are recited to invite the deity to reside in the murti (image).
[4] When the two terms are combined, it refers to the ritual of establishing life force into the murti (image) becoming the sacred embodiment of such deity.
[5] The origins of prāna pratishthā are rooted in ancient Vedic traditions, where rituals were performed to invoke the divine into objects.
[12] In Jainism, performing prana pratishtha in Jain temples is symbolic of the ideal qualities of the Tirthankaras rather than a divine presence.