Have you ever wondered about the purpose of the sacred bath, abhishekam, to God? The ingredients used in this bath are generally five-fold: milk, curd, ghee, honey, and fresh fruits. It is not the typical soap and shampoo that we apply to the deity because the primary purpose of abhishekam is not to cleanse the deity.

What is the primary purpose of abhishekam?

The primary purpose of abhishekam, when offered with love and devotion, is to cleanse our consciousness with God’s blessings through the ingredients that are used in the abhishekam. Let’s examine how each ingredient works.

Milk

Milk, in principle, is the pure and natural product of a desi cow.
It represents the pure and natural qualities of God, the supreme saviour – as depicted in Vedas.

For example, compassion is the greatest quality in God.

We are also compassionate but most of us show compassion only towards certain people, expecting certain benefits, at certain periods of time. Such compassion is contaminated, and not pure and natural. The compassion in God termed as va:tsalyam is indiscriminative, indefinite, selfless and pure in every respect. The milk that touches the divine form of God carries the power to turn the recipient also pure and natural (if the recipient also desires for it).

How can I apply this knowledge?

The next time we take the abhisheka theertham containing milk, let’s sincerely desire for God’s grace in destroying impurities of thought, word, and action, so that we can also be pure and natural.

Curd

The purity in one’s heart, also graced by God, makes one believe in Him more and more. When one’s belief in God strengthens, it is represented by curd (as it is firm).

When belief in God strengthens, one aligns oneself to the way of God.

 How can I apply this knowledge?

Next time, we take the abhisheka theertham in a temple that has curd in it, let’s sincerely desire for God’s grace in strengthening our belief in Him for a firmer intellect to guide us in decision-making.

Ghee from butter

The firm belief in God matures to become love, devotion (bhakthi). Bhakthi is represented by butter because love is also delicate and soft in nature like butter. It cannot bear the heat of separation. As soon as butter feels the heat, it melts and moves. This state of devotion is represented by ghee. Devotion makes a devotee move towards God because he cannot bear the separation from God.
He develops disinterest in anything that is not divinely, i.e. not pertaining to God. A devotee in such state is said to be a vira:gi .

How can I apply this knowledge?

Next time we take abhisheka theertham in a temple containing ghee, let’s sincerely desire for God’s grace that fills devotion in us that cannot bear separation from Him, i.e. separation from thoughts, words, and actions that He approves. When you can’t make a decision, ask yourself (or preferably elders in lineage) – what would God approve of in this situation?

Honey

Honey comes from flowers. Each flower represents a sankalpam, a wish. Honey indicates a flower’s core essence. Therefore it represents an intensified wish or desire for something in you. The honey that touches God’s divine form when taken as part of theertham has the power to intensify our wishes to the point that they yield desired results.

How can I apply this knowledge?

Next time we take abhisheka theertham in a temple containing honey, let’s sincerely desire for God’s grace that gives birth to positive sankalpas, wishes in alignment with His wishes. God’s wish is the well-being of all souls. Let our conduct not deviate from His wish.

Fresh Fruits

Fruit is the penultimate yield of a tree. Therefore, it represents a wish that translated into a successful result.

However, not all wishes come true. The fruit that touches God’s divine form reaches you giving the desired energy, removing unwanted hurdles, and paving the path for its successful result.

How can I apply this knowledge?

Next time we take abhisheka theertham in a temple containing fruit, lets truly desire for God’s grace that supports us in attaining the ultimate result of our deeds, God Himself. When God is with you, what is not with you!?  

Temples are wonderful embodiments of such wisdom depicted through each unique service such as abhishekam offered to God. Priests tirelessly do their jobs in aiding us with the benefit of God’s purpose to help us perform righteous deeds successfully. Let us bow to the priests, to God, the Acharyas and the entire institution of temples for providing such wonderful direction in life.

– From the discourse of HH Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji
– 4 th Bramhotsavam, Sri Lakshmi Varaha Swami temple,
– March 30 th and 31 st  2021, Janagam

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