Abhisheka (Sanskrit: अभिषेक, romanized: Abhiṣeka) means "bathing of the divinity to whom worship is offered."[1] It is a religious rite or method of prayer in which a devotee pours a liquid offering on an image or murti of a God or Goddess. Abhisheka is common to Indian religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Abhisheka ritual with Panchamrita being conducted over a Hindu shrine
An abhiṣeka is conducted by priests by bathing the image of the deity being worshipped, amidst the chanting of mantras. Usually, offerings such as milk, 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 in Hindu temples. A Rudrābhiṣeka or abhiṣeka of Rudra is performed on lingams. A Kumbhabhishekam is a consecration ritual for a Hindu temple.[2]
List of Abhiseka initiates in 812 at Takaosan-ji (高雄山寺)
In Vajrayana Buddhism or Mantrayana Buddhism, one enters into the path of Vajrayana Buddhism by receiving the four stages of tantric empowerments, or abhisheka: the vase abhisheka, secret abhisheka, prajnajnana abhisheka, and word abhisheka.[3][4]
In Vajrayana Buddhism, an abhiṣeka can be a method for performing pointing-out instructions, a way to offer blessings of a lineage to participants, or it can be an empowerment to begin a particular meditation practice.[5]
The abhiṣeka was originally used as a consecration rite. Water from the four oceans was poured out of golden jars onto the head of royalty. It was used during a monarch's accession ceremony and also his investiture ceremony.[6]
Tantric Buddhism
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 four Tantras. They are master consecration, secret consecration, knowledge of prajna, and the fourth consecration.[6]
Shingon Buddhism
The abhiṣeka ritual (灌頂, kanjō) in Shingon Buddhism is the initiation rite used to confirm that a student of esoteric Buddhism has now graduated to a higher level of practice. The kanji 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 the Tang dynasty,[7] and Kūkai, founder of Shingon, studied there extensively before introducing this rite to the Japanese Buddhist establishment of the time.[8] A separate initiation rite exists for the general public called the kechien kanjō (結縁灌頂), and symbolizes their initiation into esoteric Buddhism. This rite is generally only offered at Mount Kōya in Wakayama 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 two Mandala of the Two Realms, depending on the occasion. In esoteric ritual, after the student receives the samaya precepts, the teacher of the esoteric Buddhism assumes the role of the teacher, usually Mahavairocana 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.[9] From there, the student's blindfold is removed and a vajra is placed in hand.
Abhisheka in Jainism means the ritual of consecration of the image of Jina.[10]
Cultural examples
In the Mahavairocana Sutra, Mahavairocana Buddha reveals the Mandala of the Womb Realm to Vajrasattva and teaches the rites that relate to the Womb Mandala which are known as, and an example of, abhiṣeka.
Maniura, Robert; Shepherd, Rupert, eds. (2006), Presence: The Inherence of the Prototype within Images and Other Objects, Ashgate, ISBN0-7546-3493-0
Further reading
Authorship unattributed (1993). . Archived from the original on 10 June 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2007.
Authorship unattributed (2004). . Archived from the original on 6 February 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2007.
Abe, Ryuichi (1999). "The Weaving of Mantra: Kukai and the Construction of Esoteric Buddhist Discourse". Columbia University Press. ISBN0-231-11286-6
Ferm, Virgilius (1945). An Encyclopedia of Religion. New York: Philosophical Library, 1945. OCLC 263969
Hakeda, Yoshito S. (1972). Kūkai and His Major Works. Columbia University Press. ISBN0-231-05933-7
Hayward, Jeremy (2008) Warrior-King of Shambhala: Remembering Chögyam Trungpa. Boston: Wisdom. ISBN978-0-86171-546-6
January 09, 2023
abhisheka, redirects, here, film, film, series, series, masculine, name, abhishek, name, sanskrit, अभ, romanized, abhiṣeka, means, bathing, divinity, whom, worship, offered, religious, rite, method, prayer, which, devotee, pours, liquid, offering, image, murti. Abhishekam redirects here For the film see Abhishekam film For the TV series see Abhishekam TV series For masculine name see Abhishek name Abhisheka Sanskrit अभ ष क romanized Abhiṣeka means bathing of the divinity to whom worship is offered 1 It is a religious rite or method of prayer in which a devotee pours a liquid offering on an image or murti of a God or Goddess Abhisheka is common to Indian religions such as Hinduism Buddhism and Jainism Abhisheka ritual with Panchamrita being conducted over a Hindu shrine Contents 1 Hinduism 2 Buddhism 2 1 Vajrayana Buddhism 2 2 Tantric Buddhism 2 3 Shingon Buddhism 3 Jainism 4 Cultural examples 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Citations 6 2 Sources 7 Further readingHinduism EditAn abhiṣeka is conducted by priests by bathing the image of the deity being worshipped amidst the chanting of mantras Usually offerings such as milk 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 in Hindu temples A Rudrabhiṣeka or abhiṣeka of Rudra is performed on lingams A Kumbhabhishekam is a consecration ritual for a Hindu temple 2 Buddhism EditVajrayana Buddhism Edit Main article Esoteric transmission List of Abhiseka initiates in 812 at Takaosan ji 高雄山寺 In Vajrayana Buddhism or Mantrayana Buddhism one enters into the path of Vajrayana Buddhism by receiving the four stages of tantric empowerments or abhisheka the vase abhisheka secret abhisheka prajnajnana abhisheka and word abhisheka 3 4 In Vajrayana Buddhism an abhiṣeka can be a method for performing pointing out instructions a way to offer blessings of a lineage to participants or it can be an empowerment to begin a particular meditation practice 5 This empowerment ritual is present in Tibetan Buddhism as well as in Chinese Esoteric Buddhism and in Shingon Buddhism The abhiṣeka was originally used as a consecration rite Water from the four oceans was poured out of golden jars onto the head of royalty It was used during a monarch s accession ceremony and also his investiture ceremony 6 Tantric Buddhism Edit 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 four Tantras They are master consecration secret consecration knowledge of prajna and the fourth consecration 6 Shingon Buddhism Edit The abhiṣeka ritual 灌頂 kanjō in Shingon Buddhism is the initiation rite used to confirm that a student of esoteric Buddhism has now graduated to a higher level of practice The kanji 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 the Tang dynasty 7 and Kukai founder of Shingon studied there extensively before introducing this rite to the Japanese Buddhist establishment of the time 8 A separate initiation rite exists for the general public called the kechien kanjō 結縁灌頂 and symbolizes their initiation into esoteric Buddhism This rite is generally only offered at Mount Kōya in Wakayama 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 two Mandala of the Two Realms depending on the occasion In esoteric ritual after the student receives the samaya precepts the teacher of the esoteric Buddhism assumes the role of the teacher usually Mahavairocana 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 9 From there the student s blindfold is removed and a vajra is placed in hand Jainism Edit Mahamastakabhisheka of Jain Gommateshwara statue is done every 12 years Abhisheka in Jainism means the ritual of consecration of the image of Jina 10 Cultural examples EditIn the Mahavairocana Sutra Mahavairocana Buddha reveals the Mandala of the Womb Realm to Vajrasattva and teaches the rites that relate to the Womb Mandala which are known as and an example of abhiṣeka In Hinduism the god Rama performed abhiṣheka after installing a jyotirlinga in Rameswaram which is now the Ramanathaswamy Temple See also Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Abhisheka Awgatha Buddhabhiṣeka Puja Buddhism Puja Hinduism Puja Jainism Rajyabhiṣeka Abhi Sanskrit preposition and element of the word Abhisheka References EditCitations Edit Monier Williams Online Dictionary www sanskrit lexicon uni koeln de Retrieved 2 January 2020 Consecration Kumbhabhishekam The Pluralism Project pluralism org Retrieved 10 January 2020 Pointing Out Ordinary Mind See the True Nature then Let Go and Relax in That Hayward 2008 p 114 a b Hoiberg Dale H ed 2010 abhiseka Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol I A ak Bayes 15th ed Chicago Illinois Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc pp 32 ISBN 978 1 59339 837 8 Orzech Charles D 2011 On the Subject of Abhiseka Pacific World 3rd series No 13 113 128 Abe Ryuichi 1999 The Weaving of Mantra Kukai and the Construction of Esoteric Buddhist Discourse Hakeda Yoshito 1972 Kukai Major Works Translated with an Account of His Life and a Study of His Thought p 44 Maniura amp Shepherd 2006 pp 73 74 Sources Edit Maniura Robert Shepherd Rupert eds 2006 Presence The Inherence of the Prototype within Images and Other Objects Ashgate ISBN 0 7546 3493 0Further reading EditAuthorship unattributed 1993 Why Temples Archived from the original on 10 June 2007 Retrieved 24 February 2007 Authorship unattributed 2004 Healing Through Yagya Pooja Occult Archived from the original on 6 February 2007 Retrieved 24 February 2007 Abe Ryuichi 1999 The Weaving of Mantra Kukai and the Construction of Esoteric Buddhist Discourse Columbia University Press ISBN 0 231 11286 6 Ferm Virgilius 1945 An Encyclopedia of Religion New York Philosophical Library 1945 OCLC 263969 Hakeda Yoshito S 1972 Kukai and His Major Works Columbia University Press ISBN 0 231 05933 7 Hayward Jeremy 2008 Warrior King of Shambhala Remembering Chogyam Trungpa Boston Wisdom ISBN 978 0 86171 546 6 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abhisheka amp oldid 1109274319, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
