abhiṣekam – śankara jayantī

abhiṣekam is the physical cleansing and purification of the deity’s idol. Metaphorically, it is to cleanse and purify the devotee’s mind. It is a form of worship (pūjā). The purifying liquids used in abhishekam can include milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, sugar, oil and fruit juices, among others. The first five of these represent the five elements of water, earth, fire, air and ether. panċāmrta, a mixture of all five, may also be poured over the idol.  The idol is then rinsed with clean water before being dressed and decorated (alankāra).

By offering the substances representing five elements, the devotees ask the deity to purify those elements within themselves and the corresponding five senses in their own bodies: vision (water), taste (earth), hearing (fire), smell (ether) and touch (air).

In celebrating śankara jayantī we offer gratitude to our spiritual gurus, like parama guru dattātrēya.  An abhiṣekam followed by a pūjā is performed on the main idol and utsava mūrtī of Lord dattātrēya .  The main dattātrēya idol is carved out of marble.  So, only select items are used in performing abhiṣekam for the main idol.  However, an elaborate abhiṣekam is performed on the utsava murtī.

Devotees may bring some of the items for abhiṣekam, some flowers for the puja and some fruits for naivedyam.