ll Vijayat˜ ¹r¤ B¢lak¨¾´aª Prabhuª ll

PANCHAMRITAM

Ingredients :---

1. Milk - (not boiled or heated)
2. Curd
3. Ghee
4. Powdered Sugar
5. Honey

Procedure :---

1. Inscribe an Ashtadala of turmeric powder (Haldi powder ) on the floor .
   * This is done only on Janmashtami.
2. Place a large round tray on it.
3. In the center of the tray , place an octagonal shaped platform (chauki) and inscribe an ashtadala made of Kumkum on it.
4. Put a Pitambara (a red silk cloth with unstiched borders) on the octagonal chauki.
   * This is only on Janmashtami. On other utsava’s, pitambara is not spread on the chakala.
5. Gently place Sri Thakurji on the Pitambara.
6. Do Shrotrachamya, prananayamya and sankalpa.
7. Do the "Tilaka" on the forhead of Sri Thakurji.Then put Aksata on the Tilaka.

Tilaka - a vertical mark made on the forehead of Sri Thakurji with a paste of Kumkum and with the help of a Shalaka- a thin silver or a gold stick with a blunt tip.Tilaka is the symbol of love and affection towards Him.

Akshata - Whole rice grains mixed with turmeric powder and some lemon juice drops.This can be used throughout the year whenever required. A couple of grains are gently placed over the Tilaka. Make sure the grains stay there.Akshata symbolises that the love and affection towards Him doesn't diminish and remains constant.

8. Offer two Bidas (always, except on Janmashtami during morning panchamrita) to Sri Thakurji and then offer a bunch of tulsi leaves at His lotus feet reciting the Gadya Mantra.
   The reason behind this is that tulsi being very dear to Him, like wise, we also surrender, with all our belongings at His lotus feet, thus being dear to Him, always.
9. Put one tulsi leaf in each of the five ingredients and the conch. Seek permission from Sri Thakurji to remove the Aksata from the forehead.Then perform the abhisekam .Gently pour the Milk over His body., followed by curd ,ghee, sugar and honey respectively with the help of a conch, placed on a proper stand and not on the floor. After doing this, again pour four conch of milk.
   *Only on Janmashtami (during morning panhamrita), milk is poured twice at the begining and at the end of the abhisekam otherwise on all ocassions it’s only in the begining.
10. Pour hot bearable water four times from the conch.
11. Massage with sandalwood paste with saffron .
12. Gently rinse off this paste with one or two loti’s of lukewarm water.
13. Pat dry with soft cotton cloth (Anga vastram).
14. Sri Thakurji is then seated on the chauki for Abhyanga / Snana..