Abishekam
May 27, 2007
When one thinks of a vedic ritual, it is usually the fire yagya called homam, but there is another class of yagyas called abishekam where the offerings are mostly liquid and are poured over the murti…in this case the Shiva lingam.
This is at the beginning of the abishekam when just a little water has been poured over the lingam and some flower are offered on top. The thread is a yagna pavitram; the sacred thread that is worn by bhahmins, and of course Shiva is a brahmin.
In the containers you can see milk and yogurt. Other offerings are sandal, sugar, turmeric, cocount juice, etc.
During the abishekam, Sri Rundram and Chamakam from the Yajur Veda are chanted. This brass vessel is filled with whatever liquid is being offered; milk, water, etc. and it drips onto the lingam in a continuous stream.
And of course the bells are great.