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Home > Temples of Kerala > Temple rites Temple ritesOnce the temple site is purified the lay-out of the temple,size of the idol and peculiarities of prathishtaa like shadaadhaara are determined and executed in auspicious timings and in accordance with the principles laid down in saasthras. As already indicated the most important part of the temple is the idol or prathishta located in a sreekovil . It is to be noted that all temples do not have shadaadhaara-prathishta. In some temples idols are installed on a peetha. However, in most of the ancient temples shadaadhaara-prathishta is seen. The determination of prathishta point and the shadaadhaara-prathishta are closely inter-linked. The idol is installed exactly over the shadaadhaara (viz. aadhara-sila, dhaanya-peetha, nidhi-kurhbha, padma, koorma and yoga-naala). Most of the temples do not have shadaadhaara-prathishta. The shadaadhaara-prathishta is also related to adhishtaana and their relationship is as follows.
Above the yoga-naala are napumsaka-sila (neutral stone), peetha and the idol. These represent the subtle body of the deity ie below the chest (comprising of paaduka and jagathi), chest to neck (consisting of kumuda and gala and gala-pati) and above the neck (all remaining parts of adhishtaana, peetha of the idol). Since every part of the shadaadhaara as well as the peetha are considered as part of the deity the rites associated with them have greater significance. After determining the exact point of consecration of the idol a pit of about 6 feet is dug for shadaadhaara-prathishta1l8 at the propitious time. The first step is purification of aadharasila with panchagavya along with the kriyas and reciting of mantharas. A swathic padma is laid in this cavity and over it seeds of of paddy are kept by chanting the concerned manthras. Then the nidhikumbha made up of copper or sila is duly palced. At the same time sseparate pooja for the sila-padma and sila-koorma are performed after placing them on separate swasthic padmas wherever they are used. In placing the koorma it has to be ensured that the head of the koorma faces in the same direction to which that of the deity faces. Similarly on the southern-side of the intended praasaada-dwaara two swasthik-padmas are laid, one for Lord Gapapathi, who is the Vighneswara, and the other for Dakshinamoortthi and poojas done for their blessings. Then the copper yoga-naala is purified and subjected to pooja and then fIxed over the koorma by reciting manthras relating to Apantha, the serpent God. The top of the yoga-naala is then closed temporarily to avoid entry of dirt, insects etc. The nampumasaka-sila is installed over yoga-naala only at the time of consecration (prathishta) of the idol. This completes the rite of installation of shadaadhaara. Then the adhishtana of the sreekovil is built upto the base of the pillars. Thereafter ishtaka-nyaasa and garbha-nyaasa are done. In case there is no shadadhaara-prathishta this rite has no relevance Ishtaka-nyaasa and garbha-nyaasa These are sacred rites and associated with the birth of the body of the main deity of the temple. The sankalpa here is that the garbha-grha, as the very term denotes, is the womb-house, which symbolizes the womb of the mother earth. The rites associated with it, commence on the night of the previous day at an auspicious time fixed for ishtaka-nyaasa at the top of the adhishtana-sila, where the place of the right pillar of the front door of the garbha-grha has to be erected. Before ishtaka-nyaasa, vaasthu-bali, is again done followed by anwaadhanaadi-homa and poojas for kalasa and ishtakas on separate padmas. The manthras for it are different for each deity. After poojas the kalasa and ishtakas are covered with cloth for the rest of the night. Next morning these purified ishtakas are placed over the adhishtaatha-sila after reciting the concerned manthras. The depression at the centre formed by these ishtakas is then covered with fresh earth followed by purification with kalasa-jala poured over it. Then four bricks are fixed over the earlier one with fresh mud mixed with
paddy. A small wooden plank is then kept at the depression. The next step is garbha-nyaasa It is to be noted that istaka-nyaasa and garbha-nyaasa can be done on different days.If they are done separatly then on the previous night of garbha-nyaasa, vasthu-bali has to be repeated. In addition garbha-dravyas are to be prepared and offered to the homa kund. Then on an ashta-dala-padma, vreehi,thandola,thila,mustard etc. are kept separated by cloths. Above them a square copper vessel with a lid known as garbha-peethra is placed after washing it with pancha gavya and ashta-gandha jala. The vassel has to be kept upside down. After the pooja of peetha the vassel is kept up right and wiped three times inside by fresh mud taken by the sea and then with gold. Afterwards two lines are drawn at its centre pointing east and north and lipi-pooja conducted. The next step is preparation of samghaatha consisting of dravyas which are different for each deity and composed of seven items viz,. (i) mrtthu (soil) taken from different sources like mountains, rivers, ant-pits, paddy fields etc. (ii) tubers of lotus, karinkoovalam (bilwa), etc. (iii) dhaathu (chemical substances) (iv) ratna (gems, pearls etc) (v) beejas (cereals and millets) (vi) weap and (vii) vaahanas of the concemed deity (made up of either gold, silver, iron, copper etc). By reciting manthras these samghaath vosisting of dravyas which are different for each and composed of items.By reciting manthras thiese samghaathas of articles are kept inside the vessel at its eight directions and at the centre. The cardinal principle here is that the samghaatha with the initiation of manthras becomes the beeja or sperm which is capable of giving birth to the deity of the temple. Thus by ishtaka-nyaasa and by garbha-nyaasa the deity is given birth at this spot. The divine energy thus bom can then be utilised for installation of idol and subsequently by the devotees for their progress in spiritual as well as material pursuits. (iii)Garbha-nyaasa of Valia-balikkall (iv) Sila-parigraha
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