Panchamrita - पञ्चामृत !

Panchamrit (पञ्चामृत)

Panchamrita is made of two words -Pancha + Amrita.

Pancha means Five.

Amrita means something that makes immortal, Nectar.

So the word "Panchamrita" means a preparation that has five ingredients each equivalent to nectar. Panchamrita has a special place in Hindu worship. It is prepared by mixing following five liquids in equal proportions:- 

1. Milk  (Unboiled)

2. Yogurt (Indian Household 'Dahi')

3. Honey  (शहद)

4. Liquid Jaggery (गुड़)

5. Ghee (Clarified Butter)

          The ingredients may differ in different regions in India. In South India ripe banana may also be added. Sometimes if one of the ingredients is not available the "Gangajalam" may be added. 

         This holy liquid (Panchamrita) is used in puja to give a bath to the god which is called -Panchamrita Snana. In the "Satyanarayana Puja" the God Vishnu in the form of "Shaligrama" is given a Panchamrita Snana by dipping Him in the Panchamrita kept in a pot. At the end of the Puja when Prasada is distributed among the devotees this Panchamrita is also distributed.

           In the Shiva-Puja, the Panchamrita is poured over the Shivalingam and spread all over it with the hand. After the Panchamrita Snana to Gods, it is necessary to give water bath or Gangajala bath so that He is clean. It is termed as "Shuddhodak - Snana" (Purifying Bath).

           At the time of Panchamrita Snana, the following Mantra is recited:-

पयोदधिघृतं चैव मधु च शर्करायुतं। पंचामृतं मयानीतं स्नानार्थं प्रतिगृह्यताम।।

(Payodadhi-Ghritam Chaiwa Madhu ch Sharkarayutam, Panchamritam Mayanitam Snanartham Pratigrihyatam)

O, God! I have brought Panchamritam for your Snanam (Bath) which is made of Milk, Curd, Ghee, Honey, and Jaggery. Please accept it!

  

           Some scholars recite the Mantra in the following form:-

पञ्चामृतं मयाSSनीतं पयो दधि घृतं मधु।

शर्करा च समायुक्तं स्नानार्थं प्रतिगृह्यतां। 

(Panchamritam mayaaneetam payo dadhi ghritam madhu |

Sharkara ch samayuktam snanartham pratigrihyatam ||)

Its meaning is same as the previous Mantra.

In detailed worship like at the time of "Prana-Pratishtha (प्राण -प्रतिष्ठा), after Panchamrita - Snana, separate Snanam is performed with each of the ingredients of the Panchamrita in the order as - Milk, Curd/Yogurt (Dahi), Ghee, Honey and Jaggery (Sarkara). For each of these "Snanam", there are separate Mantras. After these baths, the holy water bath is given as "Shuddhodak - Snana" (Purifying Bath).

            The Panchamrita in which the God is given a bath is also termed as "Charnamita". It is distributed among the devotees after Puja a teaspoonful each. "Charnamrita" means the Nectar which washed the feet of God". This term is also used for the holy water in which The God is given a bath. As in temples after the worship when we go to the Panditji, he puts the "Tilak" on our forehead and gives this "Charnamrita" (Holy water with Tulsi-dal) in our hand.  

          Apart from the purpose of worship, the Panchamrita has medicinal qualities. In Ayurveda, it is recommended for vigor and vitality. But the quantity should not be more than a teaspoonful each day. It is better to take it after used in God-Snanam as the medicine along with the 'faith' has a double effect. 

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Availability of ingredients:-

Though most of the ingredients are locally available in India, some of these are also available online at Amazon and Flipkart.

1. Milk  (Unboiled) - It is a perishable item hence not to be purchased online. 

2. Yogurt (Indian Household 'Dahi') - It is a perishable item hence not to be purchased online. 

3. Honey  (शहद) - It is available online in two varieties.
(i) Organic Honey - At Amazon ..... At Flipkart
(ii) Honey - At Amazon ........ At Flipkart

4. Liquid Jaggery (गुड़) - Many Brands, Hand Made
    Others Palm Jaggery Organic
    Sugarcane Jaggery Organic Jaggery Powder Jaggery Powder
    Palm Jaggery

5. Ghee (Clarified Butter) - Ghee at Amazon, Organic-pure-cow-ghee Cow-ghee-at-Flipkart Organic-Ghee