Prana Pratishtha is one of the most fundamental rituals of Hinduism named after the center practice of 'establishing life force.' In this unique ceremony, an ordinary murti or image is transformed into a living embodiment of the divine, where the deity's consciousness and energy palpably suffuse the divine consciousness into the divine entity. Hence, Prana Pratishtha not only ties a living entity with the prayer or worship but marks the consecrating of a principal state of reality itself. 

Core of Prana Pratishtha

Essentially, Prana Pratishtha is a ritual of transformation in which a murti (image or idol) is no longer a mere thing of wood, stone, or metal, but an outstanding receptacle of divine presence. It brings the divine consciousness into the material realm. The term in Sanskrit unites prana-life force, with praktistha-establishment, suggesting the invocation and installation of divine consciousness in substance. 

The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1.4.7) declares that "tat pravivesha" means that "He" entered in. This verse talks about the entry of the Divine into the objects and pervading them and hence forms the philosophical root of Prana Pratishtha.

Why Is It Done?

In one of its own Agama Shastras, particularly the atrocious Pancharatra Agama, and ignored Shaiva Agama texts, it is only the understanders who appreciate an idol's divination and not consecrated as it means forming an image and holding it for new worship practices. As per these rites, the consecrated murti acts as an intermediary between the concept of the formless godhead and the human, giving ground to need for personal worship in materialized form. 

Padma Purana: ``अर्चा स्थापयित्वा तु देवः प्रविशति स्वयम्'' (archā sthāpayitvā tu devaḥ praviśati svayam) - ``After the idol is consecrated, the deity enters it by himself.''

Explanation of the Rites  

The traditional rites simplified for those who want to learn and possibly adopt the practices as set in scriptures:

1. Preparation - The murti must be carefully constructed, according to scriptures, from images provided in the Shilpa Shastras. This is so that the murti adheres to proper proportions and characteristics that are recommended in the Matsya Purana (chapters 251-270). 

2. Purification - Both the murti and the place where worship will be conducted are purified by the priest, the presiding deities, and all assembled persons. The priest and participants observe physical and emotional purification through fasting and meditation. 

3. Installation - The murti sits on a specific pedestal (peetha) made of stone after complying with the proper directional and astrological considerations. 

4. Nyasa - Specific parts of the deity's body are touched while reciting certain mantras so that divine attributes of different parts in the murti get imbibed in those corresponding nyasa. The Agamas specify varied nyasas for varied deities. 

5. Netra Unmilana - The piercing of the eyes ceremony symbolizing awakening of divine vision; on this occasion, the eyes of the deity are ceremonially carved or unveiled. The Matsya Purana (chapter 264), in recollection of the event, marks this as an experience worth remembering. 

6. Prana Pratishtha - The central ritual of the idol-worship ritual in which the excited invokes life into a murti using the Prana Pratishtha mantras from the Yajurveda. The primary mantra may be "असुनीते पुनरस्मासु चक्षुः" (asunīte punarasmāsu cakṣuḥ) - "O Sustainer of life, restore our sight." 

7. Aavahanam - The formal invitation to the deity to reside in the idol, which frequently accompanies the chanting of Vedic hymns like the Purusha Sukta (Rigveda 10.90).   

Adapting to Modern Times

One among the many in the conversion to Hinduism makes the ceremony of Prana Pratishtha the greatest introduction into spiritual experience. However, when setting up a personal shrine in an extended sense at home, the following is suggested to indulge in simpler versions:

1. Infuse a murti or image correctly made with appropriate divine powers obtained from a temple supply shop dealer. 

2. Identify a most auspicious day as per the Panchanga. 

3. After taking a bath and meditating, clean yourself. 

4. Create a dedicated, clean worship area that is faced either eastward or northward. 

5. Go through a simplified process of Prana Pratishtha with devotion-laced uprightness employing hymns from the Upanishads or Puranas.       

 The Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita 9.26, "पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति" - "But whosoever offers to me with devotion, a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I accept."

Conclusion 

By marking a material transformation into divine presence, Prana Pratishtha thus brings together together the transcendent and immanent aspects of divinity, allowing the devotee to cultivate a living relationship with his/her personal conception of God. Understanding Prana Pratishtha provides seekers of Hindu way, a glimpse into the workings of the tradition: making the concept of abstract divine tangibly alive through divine-sacred symbols and worship practices.