pratima

Pratima is a Sanskrit term meaning image, likeness, or form. In Hinduism and related Indian traditions, pratima refers to an idol or statue representing a deity and used as a focal point for worship.

In practice, the pratima serves as a vehicle for the divine presence in ritual worship. Devotees perform darshan, puja, and offerings to the image, and rituals such as abhishekam (anointment) and arati accompany the worship. A consecration ceremony known as pranapratistha is believed to awaken or establish life in the image, making the statue a sacred intermediary between worshippers and the divine.

Forms and contexts vary: pratimas can be carved from stone, cast in metal, or formed from wood or clay. They may be permanent temple idols or temporary festival icons. Iconographic guidelines describe the deities’ attributes, poses, and symbols, while regional artistic traditions shape distinctive styles across India and in the global diaspora.

Philosophically, many Hindu traditions treat the pratima as an instrument that facilitates contact with the divine rather than the deity’s literal embodiment. The image embodies the sacred, yet some reform movements critique or reinterpret idol worship, emphasizing formless aspects of the divine in certain contexts. Despite differing views, pratimas remain central to many devotional practices and temple rituals.

As a name, Pratima is also used as a female given name in India, meaning “image” or “idol.” It reflects cultural associations with representation, form, and reverence.