THIRUMANJANAM

Thirumanjanam is a compound Tamil word Thiru + manjanam, meaning expression of reverence to the divine (thiru) by offering a ceremonial bath (manjanam) to the deities in the Sri Vaishnavite temples in South India. In Sanskrit it is called abhishekam or maha-abhishekam that literally means anointing, consecrating by water and other substances of unction. It is part of the formal worship pooja offered in Hindu Temples. The formal worship pooja consists of steps called upacharas (ceremonial expression of reverence). The number of steps vary according to how elaborate a pooja is: pancha upachara pooja (pooja with 5 steps), shodasha upachara puja (pooja with 16 steps), and chatushasti upachara pooja (pooja with 64 steps). How elaborate a pooja is depends on the importance of the occasion. Offering shodasha upachara puja (pooja with 16 steps) is the daily worship in temples: dhyaana (meditation), aavahana (invocation), aasana (offer of seat), paadya (symbolic washing of feet), arghya (water offering to rinse mouth), snaana (offering bath), vastra (offer of clothing), upaveeda or mangalsootra (offer of sacred thread), gandha (offer of perfumes, sandalwood paste or kumkum), pushpa (adorn with garlands), archana (offer of flowers or flower petals reciting a string of 108 names in praise of the deity, ashtottara shatha nama stotram, dhupa (offering incense), deepa (waving of lamps), naivedya (food offering), taamboola (offer of betel leaves and fruits), pradhakshina namskara (circumambulation and offering homage by prostration). On special days, the upachara of archana could also be elaborated to reciting 1008 names in praise of the deity, sahasranama archana. Sometimes, the snana upachara would be elaborated, and it is then is referred to as abhishekam, maha-abhishekam or thirumanjanam. In this ritual that is usually a visual treat for the worshippers when with the recitation of grand Vedic hymns, various special substances, referred to as dravyas, are poured on the deity. The common dravyyas in order are: 1. gandha thaila (scented oil) 2. pancha gavyam (purification by a special five elements) 3. pancha-amritha (mixture of milk, yogurt, fruits, ghee & honey) 4. grtiha (ghee) 5. payas (milk) 6. dadhi (yogurt) 7. madhu (honey) 8. sharkara or ikshurasa (sugar or sugar cane juice) 9. jambeerasa naarikela (lime juice, and coconut water) 10. gandhodakam (water perfumed with sandalwood paste) 11. mangalodakam (water with turmeric powder) 12. sahasra dhaara (a shower bath using a plate having thousand small holes) The abhishekam as explained in the temple visitors guide can be understood in many ways: It is a symbol of the abundant, overflowing grace of the Lord It illustrates the presence of God in the sweetness and selfless abundance of nature By offering the rewards of our labors to God, we purify ourselves from greed, possessiveness, and other forms of egoism, and reveal the divinity within.
Dr. R. Venkatraman, Winnipeg, Canada