Why Abhishek?
Why Abhishek?
Abhishek means to keep irrigating the idol with liquid substances like water, milk, juice and oil. Due to the vibrations during the chanting of mantras, the enchanted liquid keeps falling on the idol. As a result, the divinity present in the idol becomes more and more awakened and the desired result is achieved. The instrument used for Abhishek is Abhishek Patra. Due to mechanicalness, there is always a delay in achieving the result. This is the property of inertia. Therefore, to perform effective Abhishek, the worshipper should concentrate and do Abhishek by holding the Abhishek Patra in his hand. This ensures success of the task and quickly.
Scriptural method of Abhishek?
To perform effective Abhishek of God or Ishtadevata, the devotee should concentrate and do Abhishek by holding the Abhishek Patra in his hand. In such a case, the horn of cow is prescribed by the scriptures for Shiva, Dakshinavarti or Vaamavarti Shankh-Shankhini for Vishnu and Tamra Patra for Ganpati. Hold the horn and conch in the left hand and keep filling water in it with the right hand.
While performing Abhishek with milk or oil, do not use conch, horn and copper vessel. For this, use a vessel made of bronze, brass or silver. While performing Abhishek with juice, use a tinned vessel. Surya and Goddess love water Abhishek, Vishnu-Ganpati love milk Abhishek, Shiva love sugarcane juice and Shani love oil Abhishek. However, all the gods accept water Abhishek. For Abhishek with any other substance other than water, one should not use the Abhishek vessel made of conch or horn. Perform Abhishek with milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar i.e. Panchamrit. After performing Abhishek, offer juice and kernels of fruits like mango and banana.
Finally, after massaging with all the substances, wash the deity clean and perform Abhishek with water. At that time, use a conch or cow's horn for Abhishek or perform Abhishek with a spoon. Performing Abhishek with Abhishek Patra is a secondary thing whereas Shankhodak has medicinal properties. It is necessary to keep the water to be offered on the body of the Lord in the conch overnight. Keep such Shankhodak in a clean utensil and start the puja. If it is not possible to keep water in the conch overnight, then at the beginning of the puja, wash and wipe the conch and fill it with water. Then after worshipping it, mix Kalash water in that water and sprinkle it on the puja material and yourself. Later, while bathing the idol, bathe it with Shankhodak at the beginning and at the end.
Do not dip the conch or horn in water while bathing the deity. Water dipped in conch or horn is discarded. Therefore, fill water in conch or horn from a vessel and offer it to the deity. If there is a Panchayat among the deities, then offer Shankhodak on Banaling, but Shankhodak should not be offered on the idol of Mahadev. Shankh Puja is not valid in the worship of Mahadev in the temple. For Abhishek, Ganpati Atharvashirsha, Shrisukta, Purushsukta, Pavaman, Brahmanaspati Sukta, Manusukta, Rudra and Mahimna Stotra etc. should be read. After Abhishek is complete, apply perfume and give Ushnodak bath. After bathing with Ushnodak, cold water should not be poured again. After wiping the deity, apply perfume on the face of the idol. Do the rest of the treatment later.
