Abhisheka (Sanskrit:अभिषेक,romanized: Abhiṣeka) is a religiousrite or method of prayer in which a devotee pours a liquid offering on an image ormurti of a deity. This is common to religions such asHinduism,Buddhism andJainism.
An abhiṣeka is conducted by priests by bathing the image of the deity being worshipped, amidst the chanting ofmantras. Usually, offerings such asmilk,yogurt,ghee, honey,panchamrita,sesame oil,rose water,sandalwood paste may be poured among other offerings depending on the type of abhishekam being performed. This rite is routinely performed inHindu temples. ARudrābhiṣeka or abhiṣeka ofRudra is performed onlingams. AKumbhabhishekam is a consecration ritual for a Hindu temple.[1]
InVajrayana Buddhism orMantrayana Buddhism, one enters into the path of Vajrayana Buddhism by receiving the four stages of tantricempowerments, or abhisheka: the vase abhisheka, secret abhisheka, prajnajnana abhisheka, and word abhisheka.[2][3]
In Vajrayana Buddhism, an abhiṣeka can be a method for performingpointing-out instructions, a way to offer blessings of a lineage to participants, or it can be anempowerment to begin a particular meditation practice.[4]
Thisempowerment ritual is present inTibetan Buddhism as well as inChinese Esoteric Buddhism and inShingon Buddhism.
The abhiṣeka was originally used as a consecration rite. Water from thefour oceans was poured out of golden jars onto the head of royalty. It was used during a monarch'saccession ceremony and also hisinvestiture ceremony.[5]
The abhiseka rite (wangkur) is a prelude for initiation into mystical teaching. There are four classes of abhiseka, each being associated with one of the fourTantras. They aremaster consecration,secret consecration,knowledge of prajna, andthe fourth consecration.[5]
The abhiṣeka ritual (灌頂,kanjō) inShingon Buddhism is the initiation rite used to confirm that a student of esoteric Buddhism has now graduated to a higher level of practice. Thekanji used literally mean "pouring from the peak", which poetically describes the process of passing on the master's teachings to the student. The rite was popular in China during theTang dynasty,[6] andKūkai, founder of Shingon, studied there extensively before introducing this rite to the Japanese Buddhist establishment of the time.[7] A separate initiation rite exists for the general public called thekechien kanjō (結縁灌頂), and symbolizes their initiation into esoteric Buddhism. This rite is generally only offered atMount Kōya inWakayama Prefecture in Japan, but it can be offered under qualified masters and under proper auspices outside Japan, albeit very rarely.[citation needed]
The Shingon rite utilizes one of the twoMandala of the Two Realms, depending on the occasion. In esoteric ritual, after the student receives thesamaya precepts, the teacher of the esoteric Buddhism assumes the role of the teacher, usuallyMahavairocana Buddha, while the master and student repeat specific mantras in a form of dialogue taken from esoteric Buddhist sutras. The student, who is blindfolded, then throws a flower upon the Mandala that is constructed, and where it lands (i.e. which deity) helps dictate where the student should focus his devotion on the esoteric path.[8] From there, the student's blindfold is removed and avajra is placed in hand.
Abhisheka in Jainism means the ritual of consecration of the image of Jina.[9]
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