Karma Bimbas

Karma Bimbas 

A Karma Bimba is a proxy-image of the main Icon which is used for a variety of practical purposes. The life force (prāṇa) from the main Icon is transferred into the karma bimba for a short duration for serving the particular purpose. Thereafter it is transferred back into the main Icon.

In a temple consecrated according to the Agamas there should be three, five or six such karma-bimbas. Five are most common and are known as the Pañca-bera.

dhruvam tu grāmarakṣārtham arcan artham tu kautukam | snānārtham snapanam proktam balyartham baliberakam | utsava cotsavartham ca paṅca-bera prakalpitāḥ ||

1. dhruva-bera —the main icon in the sanctum sanctorum which is of the immovable kind, constructed of stone and permanently fixed. It protects the town

2. kautuka-bera the movable image used for daily offerings .

3. snapana-bera the icon used for the daily bathing ceremony.

4. bali-bera icon used for the daily bali offerings in the courtyard of the temple.

5. utsava-bera the icon which is taken out in procession on festivals.

6. śayana-bera the icon used for putting to rest at night

Few temples are opulent enough to possess and to handle all these five beras so the general situation is to have two beras only; the mūla-bera and the utsava-bera. The utsava-bera fulfils the function of all the other 4 types.

These karma-bimbas have to correspond in certain iconical forms to the dhruva-bera. If the dhruva-bera stands they stand, if the dhruva-bera sits they sit, but if the dhruva-bera reclines then the karma-bimbas either stand or sit. They also have to correspond in the number of arms and various other paraphernalia.

karmārcā sarvathā kāryā mūla-bimba anusāriṇī | Viśvaksena Samhitā 17; 11.

The karma-bimbas must correspond in every way to the mula-bimba.