The adhivas

To ready the idol for the pran pratishtha, multiple adhivaas are conducted, in which the idol is submerged in various materials. For one night, the idol is kept in water, which is called jalãdhivãs. Then it is submerged in grain, which is called dhãnyãdhivãs. Jha explained that when an idol is being crafted, it sustains various injuries from the craftsman’s tools. These adhivaas are meant to heal up all such injuries. Dipakbhai explained that the process serves another purpose: “If the idol has a defect, or if the stone is not of a great quality, it will be found out when it is submerged in various materials,” he said.

Ritual bath

After this, the idol is given a ritual bath and its abhishek is performed with various materials, depending on the scale of the ceremony. According to the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, this rite can involve “108 different types of materials, such as panchamrut, water containing the essence of various fragrant flowers and leaves, water which has been poured over the horns of a cow, and sugar cane juice.”

The most important ceremony is that of netronmeelan, or the opening of the deity’s eyes.

Opening of the eyes

After the statue has adequately recovered from the stress of its fashioning and has been given its ritual bath comes the time for it to be awakened. Many mantras are chanted, asking for various Gods to come and animate its various parts — Soorya the eyes, Vayu the ears, Chandra the mind, etc.

Then comes the final step, the opening of the statue’s eyes. This ceremony involves putting anjan, somewhat like kohl, around the deity’s eyes, with a gold needle. This process is carried out from behind, as it is believed that if one looks into God’s eyes the moment they open, their brilliance can be too much to take.

“Originally, the anjan was supposed to have been brought back from the Kakood mountain. A black stone found on the mountain is rubbed to create the black powder needed for the ceremony. But since that mountain is now in China, we make do with ghee and honey,” Jha said.