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@ April 2006


 

*~*Did You Know*~*

                                                                                                          WHY DO 'ABHISEKHA'

Contents
  
1 Milk Miracle
2 The Holy Basil
3 Amla Tree
4 Why Worship Peepal
5 River Ganges
6 River Kaveri
7 River Yamuna
8 Offerings To Deities
9 The Rudraksha
10 Lighting A Lamp
11 Wearing Tilak/Pottu
12 Why Apply Viboothy
13 Why Do Pradakshina
14 Why Ring The Bell
15 Why Worship Tulsi
16 Why Blow Conch
17 The Lotus Flower
18 Why Say "Shanthi" Thrice
19 Why Offer Coconut
20 Why Chant "OM"
21 Why Do "Aarti"
22 Why Do "Abhisekha"
23 Temples In Kerala
24 Why Bhrama Is Not Worship
25 Curse Of The Moon
24 Mourning,The Vasthu Way
25 Nag Panchami
24 Satya Narayana Vrata
           

 



Abhisheka is a part of the worship of Lord Siva. Without it, the worship is incomplete. It is the ceremonial bathing of the Siva Lingam in Siva temples. A pot made of copper or brass, with a tiny hole in the centre, is kept hanging over the image or Lingam of Siva. The water drips (falls) on the image throughout the day and night. Pouring water, milk, ghee (clarified butter), curd, honey or coconut water over the Lingam is also Abhisheka. Whilst this is done, the Rudram is chanted loudly with devotion and love. Lord Siva is invoked by performing this Abhisheka.

Monday is a very important day for worshipping Lord Siva. The thirteenth day (Pradosha) of the bright and dark fortnights is also considered sacred. On these days, devotees of Lord Siva offer special worship with plenty of prasad.

The water of the Abhisheka is considered very sacred. It is known to grant great benefits on the devotees who take it as the Lords prasad. It purifies the heart and destroys countless sins. You should take it with intense faith and devotion.

When you perform Abhisheka with devotion, your mind is concentrated. Your heart is filled with divine thoughts and with the image of the Lord. You forget your body and your surroundings. Egoism vanishes. When the body is forgotten, you begin to enjoy and taste the eternal bliss of Lord Siva. The recitation of Mantras during the Abhisheka purifies the mind.

The greatest and the highest Abhisheka is to pour the waters of pure love on the Lingam in the lotus of the heart. The external Abhisheka with objects is intended to lead to this internal Abhisheka, wherein there is a flow of pure love. The sacred prasad of the Lord and the holy water of the Abhisheka purify the heart if taken with faith and devotion. They can bring peace and prosperity.

Incurable diseases are cured by performing Abhisheka. It bestows health, wealth, prosperity, peace of mind and purity of heart. It expands the heart. It calls for self-sacrifice and self-surrender. There must be a natural feeling in the heart. "I am Thine, my Lord. All is Thine, my Lord."

After the completion of traditional worship (pooja), we customarily do pradakshina around ourselves. In this way we recognise and remember the supreme divinity within us, which alone is idolised in the form of the Lord that we worship outside.


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