Lord Shiva is worshiped by performing Abhishek Puja. Read on to know more about the different types of Abhishek Puja performed for lord Shiva, the chanting of mantras while performing Abhishek, and it’s benefits for you and your family.
Lord Shiva is worshiped in many ways, he is worshipped through Mantra, Tantra, Kriya, Mudra, & Abhishek. The literal meaning of Abhishek is the worship of God by offering various items as worship.
Abhishek also means to pour a slow flow of liquids on the Shivalinga or the idol of God or to completely coat the Shivalinga or the idol with some paste or to sprinkle some powder slowly.
Lord Shiva’s Abhishek is performed in many ways, some of them are
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- Jal Abhishek – The Pouring water on Shivling
- Dudh Abhishek – The pouring of milk on the Shivling
- Rudra Abhishek – The worship of Shivling by offering ingredients like water, Gangajal, Panchamrita, milk, curd, ghee, honey, jaggery, sugarcane juice accompanied with recitation of mantras.
Jal Abhishek
Abhishek is an essential part of the worship of Shivling it is often performed by pouring a slow stream of water or Gangajal on the Shivling. Jal bhishek is necessary after completion of other abhishekas and also before Shrungar, it is also called Shuddhodaka Snan.
It is most common type of Abhishek performed; you can see devotee’s offering Jal to Shivling at temples across Indian on Monday.
The mantra to be chanted at the beginning of Jalabhishek is,
मन्दाकिन्यास्तु यद्वारि सर्वपापहरं शुभम।
तदिदं कल्पितं देव !स्नानार्थं प्रतिगृह्यताम।
At the end of other Abhishek (before shrungar), the above mantra is chanted again in Jal Abhishek.
Panchamrit Abhishek
Panchamrit is made with five nectar-like liquids – milk, curd, ghee, honey, and wet jaggery mixed in equal quantity.
It is believed that by worshiping Shiva with Panchamrit, the devotee’s house is always filled with wealth.
The following mantra is recited while performing Panchamrit Abhishek:
पञ्चामृतं मया नीतं पयो दधि घृतं मधु।
शर्करा च समायुक्तं स्नानार्थं प्रतिगृह्यतां।
Dudh Abhishek
Slowly pouring a stream of cow milk on a Shivling is called Dudh Abhishek. It is believed that it brings happiness to children, prevents premature death, and gives long life.
The mantra to be receite while performing Dudh Abhishek is :
पयः पवित्रमतुलं यतः सुरभि – सम्भवा ।
सुस्निग्धं मधुरं देव !स्नानार्थं प्रतिगृह्यताम।
Dahi Abhishek
Pouring or applying curd on Shivling is called Dahi Abhishek. Devotees perform this Abhishek for the happiness of children, their long life, and prosperity.
Dahi Abhishek is also helpful in the acquisition of property (such as vehicles, buildings, etc.).
This is the mantra while performing Dahi Abhishek is:
पयसस्तु समुदभूतं मधुराम्लम शशिप्रभम।
दध्यानीतं मया देव! स्नानार्थं प्रतिगृह्यताम।
Ghrit Abhishek
Ghrit Abhishek is the offering cow’s ghee on the Shivling, as ghee is thick so it is also applied by hand on Shivling.
Ghrit Abhishek is done with the desire to increase wealth, remove physical defects, disorders, and diseases.
The mantra for Ghrit Abhishek is,
नवनीत समुत्पन्नम सर्वसंतोषकारकं ।
घृतं तुभ्यं प्रदास्यामि स्नानार्थं प्रतिगृह्यताम।
Madhu Abhishek
Pouring or applying honey on Shivling is called Madhu Abhishek.
This Abhishek is done to drive away all kinds of troubles and diseases from life and to acquire wealth. The following mantra is recited while performing Madhu Abhishek.
पयः सारम सुखं हृद्यं सर्वदेव प्रियं घृतं।
स्नानार्थं ते प्रयच्छामि गृहाण परमेश्वर !
तरुपुष्प समुदभूतं सुस्वादु मधुरं मधु।
तेजः पुष्टिकरं दिव्यं स्नानार्थम प्रतिगृह्यताम।
Sharkara Abhishek
Offering sugarcane juice on the Shivling, or applying it mixed with jaggery, or dissolving Jaggery in water and pouring it on the Shivling is called ShakaraAbhishek.
Jaggery (GUR) is sweet, it is well known, its consecration gives a pleasant speech & pleasing language, one which does not make enemies or lets people remain enemies.
Sharkara abhishek mantra is as follows
इक्षुसार समुद्भुतां शर्करां पुष्टिकारिकाम।
मालापहारिकां दिव्यां स्नानार्थम प्रतिगृह्यताम।
Kumkum Abhishek
Appliying Kumkum powder on Shivling is called Kumkum Abhishek. This red-colored powder is a favorite of Lord Shiva.It brings luck.
It is advised by many people not to offer Kumkum to Lord Shiva, but such beliefs are wrong.
The mantra of Abhishek with Akshat kumkum is
अक्षताश्च सुरश्रेष्ठ कुंकुमाक्ताः सुशोभिताः।
मया निवेदिता भक्त्या गृहाण परमेश्वर।
Haridr Abhishek
The coating (Lepan) of Shivling with turmeric paste is Haridr Abhishek.
It removes marriage obstructions, brings peace, enhances health, and brings about enemy destruction. It is advised by some people not to offer turmeric on Shiva. But this is not correct.
The famous Jyotirling of Baba Baidyanath dham is anointed daily with turmeric paste.
The mantra of Haridr Abhishek is
हरिद्रादि लेपनं शुभं शान्ति सुखवर्धनम ।
शुभदं कामदं चैव हरिद्रादि प्रतिगृह्यताम।
Rudra Abhishek
Rudra Abhishek is an extended worship of Lord Shiva in which all the above abhishekas are performed in a sequence along with chanting of Rudrashtadhyayi mantras of Lord Shiva’s Rudra and Mahamrityunjaya form, you will require the services of a knowledgeable pundit to perform Rudra Abhishek.
Rudra Abhishek is performed with Bhasma (Vibhuti), Sandalwood, Saffron, herb-aromatic water containing medicine, tirtha – water, anointing with different types of oil, mango – juice, etc. Rudra Abhishek is performed for the fulfillment of desires of a devotee.
