The process of installation of deities—as described in the various scriptures like pañcarātra—is a long ceremony which extends over many days or even weeks—depending on the financial resources of the sponsor. The ceremony or ritual is complex, because of the extraordinary importance of the act: inviting the Supreme Lord’s presence into the mūrti form. By this ceremony, the Supreme Lord Spirit personally appears within the material realm.

In the ultimate analysis the only element which can actually make the Lord appear is devotion. This is also recognized in the pañcarātra scriptures. However, in order to evoke devotion within the context of establishing a mūrti, certain standard rites are prescribed to heighten the participants’ awareness of the process, increase his devotion, and thus provide a more potent presence of the Lord.

Initially, matter and space must be purified and protected. The Deities are first given a preliminary cleansing. Their protection is accomplished by worship of Sudarśana, the fire wheel of Lord Viṣṇu, through a sudarśana homa. By invoking power through ghee and honey—two natural healing substances—the Deities’ sense of sight is awakened (netronmīlanam). Next, they are laid to rest on beds of grain—seeds are the power of life and sustenance (śayana-ādhivāsa). The Deities then gain power through the conscious devotion of the sponsors and priests, through chanting mantras (purusa and nārāyaṇa-sūktas) and offerings of ghee and grain into fire (which represents Lord Viṣṇu).

Through touching, the devotees empower the various organs of the Lord, and invoke the prāṇas or life currents (prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā). When the organic structure is in working order, the Lord himself is invited into the form. The appearance or birth of the Lord is celebrated with abhiṣeka (bathing ceremony), bhoga (food offering) and ārati, where the Deities receive offerings of incense, lamps, flowers, etc. as part of the concluding ceremony of the installation.

May Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Lord Nityānanda Prabhu, Śrī Advaita Ācārya, Gadādhara Paṇḍita and Śrīvāsa Ṭhākura bless the whole universe with their unlimited mercy!