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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