HOW TO PERFORM ABHISHEKA(POLISHING OF METAL DEITIES) Basics

[Tamohara dasa ADMIN.]

HOW TO PERFORM ABHISHEKA(POLISHING OF METAL DEITIES) Basics.

Items required:-
1.An acamana cup (containing water) and a spoon
2.A small bell on plate
3.Small water pot with cover(usually warm water)
4.Bowl with tilaka powder (gopi chandan powder) mixed with lemon juice
5.Scented oil
6.Cotton wool (good handful)
7.Bathing receptacle
8.Flowers (on a small plate)
9.Incense and ghee lamp
10.Bhoga offering (sweets and fruit, or just fruit)
11.Towels: one for each deity, and one for your hands
12.Picture of Srila Prabhupada

Procedure:-
Perform acamana and offer obeisances/flowers to srila prabhupada requesting his blessings to assist him in the worship.
Gather all the required paraphernalia and arrange it neatly and conveniently for performing the worship.

Main worship:-
1.Invite Their Lordships to the bathing receptacle with a gesture of the hands
2.Remove Their clothing
3.Offer the bhoga
4.Offer insence/flowers using you'r right hand to the lotus feet of the deities by ringing the bell in left hand and chanting the pranama mantras.
5.To polish deities, use the cotton wool to apply powdered tilaka mixed with a little lemon juice. Avoid Their eyes and painted areas.
6.Clean off the paste with cotton wool
7.Ringing the bell with your left hand, pour water over Their Lordships from the conch held in your right hand.(it is important to use plenty of water when rinsing off the paste, as lemon juice is corrosive).
8.Dry the deities with soft towels.
9.Offer obeisances and beg forgiveness for any offenses you may have committed in the worship.
10.Clear away, and wash and dry the paraphernalia used in the worship.

NOTE:-
1.One must chant the hare krishna mantra or Brahmasamhita while performing abhisheka.
2.Consistency of lemon and tilak powder must be 2:1 spoon.
3.For bathing receptacle one can use a clean steel basin.