13" Abhisheka Patra For Abhishekam In Brass | Handmade | Made In India

The Abhishek Patra that you see here is made of brass and is rectangular in shape with fine finishing. On the tray of the Patra, the deities are seated, bathed, dressed and decorated accompanied with hymns, chanting of the holy names of God, and Sankirtan. It then opens into a narrow passage from where the ‘Charanamrita’ or the sacred nectar is collected in another metallic vessel. This nectar has a great spiritual significance; obtained from the Lotus feet of the deities, it is regarded as the elixir of life which has the potency of liberating the souls from the cycle of birth and death, and attain the abode of the Supreme Lord.

After being collected, it is then distributed to the devotees, who sip it from their palms. This Abhishek Patra is suitable for bathing small deities. Its body is carved out in different designs and patterns; the base is gracefully engraved with lotus petals giving it an auspicious appearance.

How to keep a Brass statue well-maintained?

Brass statues are known and appreciated for their exquisite beauty and luster. The brilliant bright gold appearance of Brass makes it appropriate for casting aesthetic statues and sculptures. Brass is a metal alloy composed mainly of copper and zinc. This chemical composition makes brass a highly durable and corrosion-resistant material. Due to these properties, Brass statues and sculptures can be kept both indoors as well as outdoors. They also last for many decades without losing all their natural shine.

Brass statues can withstand even harsh weather conditions very well due to their corrosion-resistance properties. However, maintaining the luster and natural beauty of brass statues is essential if you want to prolong their life and appearance.

The best and simplest way to maintain a brass statue is to clean it at least twice a week using a soft cloth or cotton rag. This will prevent dust from accumulating on the surface. Dusting is especially important for outdoor statues since it is prone to dust accumulation much more than indoors.

Another way is to cleanse the statue with mild soap, warm water, and a cotton cloth. You must go to every inch of the statue and even to the crevices and cracks. After this, clean the article with a dry towel to wipe off pools of water left on the surface.

To give a natural shine and luster to the statue, you may apply coconut or olive oil using cotton on every portion. You can use a toothbrush to get to the small crevices but do not be too harsh. This will make the brass statue appear fresh and new with a polished look.

In case you have a colored brass statue, you may apply mustard oil using a soft brush or clean cloth on the brass portion while for the colored portion of the statue, you may use coconut oil with a cotton cloth.

The Power of Worship: Performing an Abhishek with Purpose

Abhishek Patra is a vessel made of different materials such as brass, steel, copper, and bronze. It is mainly used for performing a ritual known as “Abhishek” or “Abhishekam”. In this ritual, the deities are bathed with various liquid ingredients such as honey, water, milk, etc before dressing them. It comes in various shapes and sizes depending upon the number and size of the deities to be placed. There is a flat plate or tray on the top for placing the deity on it. The vessel is designed in such a way that there is an outlet or passage in the tray so that all the liquids are poured out and collected in a separate vessel.

1. Establish a place for worship

Before starting the Pooja, you should clean the area where you will perform the worship. It could be the deity/pooja room or any other vacant place. You may also sprinkle a few drops of Gangajal to make the space pure.

2. Make sure the required paraphernalia are present before beginning

To avoid interrupting the worship, keeping all the items ready for before performing Abhishekam is necessary. The required items are Abhishek Patra, a cleansed conch shell, five Pancha Patras or water pots, a receptacle for Charanamrit (liquid mixture), 1 cup of milk, ½ cup of yogurt, 2 tablespoons of honey, 2 tablespoons of sugar in water, and 1 tablespoon of ghee.

3. Mentally worship the Spiritual Master and the Lordship

It is very important for you to offer your respectful obeisance unto your Spiritual Master and the Lord before performing any service or Pooja. By doing this, you develop a mood of service and attract the mercy of Guru and Bhagavan.

4. Perform Abhishek

For performing the Abhishek of the deity, first of all, fill all the liquid ingredients (milk, honey, yogurt, sugar syrup, and ghee) in five different unused or new containers (Pancha Patra). You could also make a mixture of these. If you are worshiping the deity of Radha Krishna, Lord Jagannath, Lord Vishnu, or Lord Narasimha, you must put a Tulsi leaf in each of the ingredients. Now, gently place the deity on the tray of the Abhishek Patra. Take the cleansed conch and pour one liquid ingredient into it; you could start with milk. With your right hand, bathe the deity with all the liquids one by one by titling the elongated end of the conch. You must chant some Pranam Mantras while performing this worship. If you do not know any specific mantras, you can simply chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna / Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Ram Hare Ram / Ram Ram Hare Hare.

5. Collect all the liquids

Now that the Abhishek is done, it is time to collect the liquid mixture into a separate container. You can collect either by slightly tilting the Abhishek Patra or pushing through the passage using your hand.

6. Clean and dress the deity

Take a dry towel and clean the deity to remove any stains or drops of liquid ingredients used in the Abhishek. It is the time to decorate the deity with a beautiful dress, flower garlands, and different ornaments.

Abhishek Patra serves as the best medium for carrying out occasional or even regular bathing of small deities. It can be made of different materials such as brass, copper, and steel. It may also bear beautiful engravings of motifs on the body.