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Abhishekam
In some other Thread a member raised a point on wasting Milk etc on Abhishekam conducted in Temples
Hence this Thread
The temple worship is guided by its related Agama texts.
Prana Pratistha an elaborate ritual invoking the immanent Divine in the stone or metal to get active to receive his worship /adoration. Charging the idol with god-ness while Aavahana is invoking the god-ness.
During Prana Pratistha, the idol is said to be given life, eyes and other organs. Without this, Devata cannot be invoked in the idol.
In short prana pratishtha' means, invoking the soul-spirit in the Idol/statue. And with the invocation the spiritual prana' enters the statue. And then the 'statue becomes alive' for the devotees to perform the meditation. Actually the real interaction starts only after 'prana pratishtha
These Vigrahams are kept in Garbagraha; the normal temperature inside Garbhagraha is hot due to oil lamps used inside the Garbagraha, Aarthi shown with camphor.
The idols/ daities/ vigrahas may develop craks due to excessive heat inside Garbagraha
That is the reason for performing Abhishekam with various draviams.
Abhisheka, also called Abhishekam, is conducted by priests, by pouring libations on the image of the deity being worshipped, amidst the chanting of mantras.
This resulting mixture is intended to be served as prasadam to the devotees who offer their prayers. The pouring of these liquids symbolizes the pouring of a devotee’s purest love for God. Performing this ceremony, with a pure mind, faith and conviction, results in washing away of sins, and purification of the devotee’s own heart and mind. Generation after generation, millions of Hindus continue to perform abhishekam to this very day.
These days, in most temples, abhishekam prasadam is not consumed by devotees. Instead, in many cases, it is directly sent to the same drainage systems where it is mixed with our toilet waste including fecal matter and urine. Particularly in India, where there is widespread hunger, and poverty, this an utter waste of God’s given material. In the process we are disrespecting and abusing the Prasaadam (blessed materials), not being properly channeled.
In the present age, kali yuga, we are faced with limited resources, and widespread poverty and hunger. Yet to this day, while 2,500 children die every single day from malnutrition in India alone, we continue to perform abhishekam literally throwing away millions of gallons of precious milk down the drain. In fact, many temples have installed special sewage pipes that directly funnel abhishekam to drainage systems. Are we washing away our sins, or are we instead sinning by wasting so much ourselves?
If you feel compelled to use dairy milk, use only a token amount, and reduce waste . The abhishekam is prasadam and should not be wasted.
aittareeya Upanishad says: [FONT="]Annam[/FONT][FONT="] na nindyaat [/FONT]--Don’t abuse food; [FONT="]annam[/FONT][FONT="] na parichaksheeta[/FONT]— One should not discard food; [FONT="]annam[/FONT][FONT="] bahu kurveeta[/FONT]—one should make (conserve) food in plenty; [FONT="]na kanchana vastau pratyaachaksheeta[/FONT]—
Abhishekam | Living HinduLiving Hindu
Hindu Reflections: ABHISHEKAM OUT-FLOWS ARE SACRED; TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT
In some other Thread a member raised a point on wasting Milk etc on Abhishekam conducted in Temples
Hence this Thread
The temple worship is guided by its related Agama texts.
Prana Pratistha an elaborate ritual invoking the immanent Divine in the stone or metal to get active to receive his worship /adoration. Charging the idol with god-ness while Aavahana is invoking the god-ness.
During Prana Pratistha, the idol is said to be given life, eyes and other organs. Without this, Devata cannot be invoked in the idol.
In short prana pratishtha' means, invoking the soul-spirit in the Idol/statue. And with the invocation the spiritual prana' enters the statue. And then the 'statue becomes alive' for the devotees to perform the meditation. Actually the real interaction starts only after 'prana pratishtha
These Vigrahams are kept in Garbagraha; the normal temperature inside Garbhagraha is hot due to oil lamps used inside the Garbagraha, Aarthi shown with camphor.
The idols/ daities/ vigrahas may develop craks due to excessive heat inside Garbagraha
That is the reason for performing Abhishekam with various draviams.
Abhisheka, also called Abhishekam, is conducted by priests, by pouring libations on the image of the deity being worshipped, amidst the chanting of mantras.
This resulting mixture is intended to be served as prasadam to the devotees who offer their prayers. The pouring of these liquids symbolizes the pouring of a devotee’s purest love for God. Performing this ceremony, with a pure mind, faith and conviction, results in washing away of sins, and purification of the devotee’s own heart and mind. Generation after generation, millions of Hindus continue to perform abhishekam to this very day.
These days, in most temples, abhishekam prasadam is not consumed by devotees. Instead, in many cases, it is directly sent to the same drainage systems where it is mixed with our toilet waste including fecal matter and urine. Particularly in India, where there is widespread hunger, and poverty, this an utter waste of God’s given material. In the process we are disrespecting and abusing the Prasaadam (blessed materials), not being properly channeled.
In the present age, kali yuga, we are faced with limited resources, and widespread poverty and hunger. Yet to this day, while 2,500 children die every single day from malnutrition in India alone, we continue to perform abhishekam literally throwing away millions of gallons of precious milk down the drain. In fact, many temples have installed special sewage pipes that directly funnel abhishekam to drainage systems. Are we washing away our sins, or are we instead sinning by wasting so much ourselves?
If you feel compelled to use dairy milk, use only a token amount, and reduce waste . The abhishekam is prasadam and should not be wasted.
aittareeya Upanishad says: [FONT="]Annam[/FONT][FONT="] na nindyaat [/FONT]--Don’t abuse food; [FONT="]annam[/FONT][FONT="] na parichaksheeta[/FONT]— One should not discard food; [FONT="]annam[/FONT][FONT="] bahu kurveeta[/FONT]—one should make (conserve) food in plenty; [FONT="]na kanchana vastau pratyaachaksheeta[/FONT]—
Abhishekam | Living HinduLiving Hindu
Hindu Reflections: ABHISHEKAM OUT-FLOWS ARE SACRED; TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT
