The muhloorttham fixed for prathishta is based on many factors. The auspicious period for consecration of idol is uttharaayana ie from the month of Makara to Mithhuna falling in certain asterisks, days, and raasis. The asterisks of Astami (Aswathi), Rohini, Margasira (Makeerya), Punarvasu (Punartham), Pushya (Pooyam), Miigha (Makam), Uttharaphalau.ni (Utthram), Hastha (Attham), Chithira (Chithira), Swathi (Chothi), Anuradha (Anizham), Uttarashada (Utthraatam), Sraavanya (Thiruvonam), Phanishta (Avittam), Uttharabhadrapada (Uthrattathi) and Revathi, all week days except Tuesday and Saturday and all raasis (except Thulam, Dhanu, Makaram and Metam) are suitable. Further if there are unfavourable planets (Mars, Satum, Raahu and Kethu) in fifth, eighth, ninth and twelfth houses of the raasi of the muhoorttham (auspicious time) then that time is considered unsuitable for prathishta of idols. Similarly the asterisk with vedha and the first two-third of the night are also unsuitable. The best (utthama) months are Makara (Makaram), Meena (Meenam), Mesha (Metam), Rishabha (Itavam) and Mithhuna (Mithhunam). The month of Kumbha is treated as madhyama (medium). The almanacs generally contain prathishta-muhoortthams based on the concepts explained above and stated in the relevant texts. However ashta-bandha rites can be done both during uttharaayana and dakshinayana except in the months of Kanya (Kanni), Dhanus (Dhanu) and Kataka (Karkkataka).
