avahana
आवाहन āvāhanaThe invocation; the opening act of puja that calls the deity to be present in the image.
Where this term appears
- What is Puja? Worship
But a representative sequence runs like this. Avahana , the invocation, calling the deity to be present.
- What are Mudras? Lineages
There is a mudra of avahana , invocation, the two hands cupped and drawn inward to call the deity into the image; a mudra of sthapana , seating; and a mudra of visarjana , dismissal, at the very end.
- What is a Murti? Deities
…na-pratishtha , the "establishing of the life-breath," performed with avahana , invocation: in an elaborate ceremony set out in the Agama and Pancharatra texts, the priests ceremonially invite the deity to take…
- 'Idol worship' is a mistranslation Journal
The deity is formally invited, avahana , to be present in the image.