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Srimathe NigamAntha Maha DesikAya Namaha

 

Dear Bhaktas,

 

A few weeks ago there was a request by Kanaka (shakti)

about the why we make offerings of milk, butter etc while

performing Abishekam for the Lord. I had answered her through

email. On taking a second look at it, I thought others besides

her on the Bhakti-Prapatti newsgroup may also

be interested in this. Therefore, here I go.

 

Abishekam is an important part of offering prayers/performing

service to the Lord. Whenever such an event takes place, four

people receive the fruits/consequences (good and bad) of the

act equally. They are:

 

(1) The person who performs the service.

(2) The person for whom the service is performed (Bhagavan).

(3) The person at whose behest the person in (1) performs

the service.

(4) Onlookers while the service is being performed.

 

Since the above holds, it is best to maximize the good effects and

minimize/eliminate the bad effects/fruits. Purification of the self

and the others mentioned above is the first step and this is what

takes place in the Abishekam. To this end, each of the Divya Dravyas

(milk, yoghurt, ghee, honey and milk) used has the characterisitic

of purifying. Specifically,

 

Ksheeram (milk) has the characteristic of Papa nashanam

(destruction of sins).

Dadhi (yoghurt) has the characteristic of Pushti Vardhanam

(increasing strength).

Grutha (ghee) has the characteristic of Ayur-Vardhanam (

increasing longevity of life).

Madhu (honey) has the characteristic of destroying Kalmasham (

viciousness or venom due to lack of a better equivalent in english).

Shakkara (sugar) is used for purification just like soap.

 

Each of the Divya Dravyas has Lord Narayana associated with it.

In particular,

Ksheera priyo devata is Govinda.

Dadhi priyo devata is Vamana.

Grutha priyo devata is Vishnu.

Madhu priyo devata is Madhusudana.

Shakkara priyo devata is Achyuta.

 

Thus purified, one becomes fit to engage in further service of

the Lord. Hope the above provides for additional reflections

and comments.

 

Dhanyosmi,

 

Muralidhar Rangaswamy