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{{short description|Devotional activity in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism}}
{{redirect|Abhishekam|the film|Abhishekam (film)|the TV series|Abhishekam (TV series)|masculine name|Abhishek (name)}}
[[File:From Abhisheka To Panchamrutha.jpg|thumb|Abhisheka ritual with ''[[Panchamrita]]'' being conducted over a Hindu shrine]]
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{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{Italics title}}
'''Abhisheka''' ({{Lang-sa|अभिषेक |translit=Abhiṣeka}}) means "bathing of the divinity to whom worship is offered."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/monier/|title=Monier Williams Online Dictionary|website=www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de|access-date=2020-01-02}}</ref> It is a religious [[Ritual|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]].

==Hinduism==
An abhiṣeka is conducted by priests by bathing the image of the deity being worshipped, amidst the chanting of [[mantra]]s. 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 temple|Hindu]] temples. A ''[[Rudrābhiṣeka]]'' or abhiṣeka of [[Rudra]] is performed on [[lingam]]s. A [[Kumbhabhishekham|Kumbhabhishekam]] is a consecration ritual for a Hindu temple.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pluralism.org/religions/hinduism/the-hindu-experience/consecration-kumbhabhishekam/|title=Consecration: Kumbhabhishekam {{!}} The Pluralism Project|website=pluralism.org|access-date=2020-01-10}}</ref>

==Buddhism==
===Vajrayana Buddhism===
{{Main|Esoteric transmission}}

[[File:Name List of Abhiseka.jpg|thumb|right|List of Abhiseka initiates in 812 at Takaosan-ji (高雄山寺)]]
In [[Vajrayana|Vajrayana Buddhism]] or [[Mantrayana|Mantrayana Buddhism]], one enters into the path of [[Vajrayana|Vajrayana Buddhism]] by receiving the four stages of tantric [[empowerment (Vajrayana)|empowerment]]s, or abhisheka: the vase abhisheka, secret abhisheka, prajnajnana abhisheka, and word abhisheka.
<ref>{{cite web|title=Pointing Out Ordinary Mind|url=https://www.lionsroar.com/pointing-out-ordinary-mind/}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|title=See the True Nature, then Let Go and Relax in That|url=https://www.lionsroar.com/see-the-true-nature-then-let-go-and-relax-in-that/}}</ref>

In [[Vajrayana|Vajrayana Buddhism]], an abhiṣeka can be a method for performing [[pointing-out instruction]]s, a way to offer blessings of a lineage to participants, or it can be an [[empowerment (Vajrayana)|empowerment]] to begin a particular meditation practice.<ref>Hayward (2008) p.114</ref>

This [[empowerment (Vajrayana)|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_Seas|four oceans]] was poured out of golden jars onto the head of royalty. It was used during a monarch's [[accession day|accession ceremony]] and also his [[investiture]] ceremony.<ref name=EB>{{cite encyclopedia |editor-first=Dale H. |editor-last=Hoiberg |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |title=abhiseka |edition=15th |year=2010 |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. |volume=I: A-ak Bayes |location=Chicago, Illinois |isbn=978-1-59339-837-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/32 32] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/newencyclopaedia2009ency/page/32 }}</ref>

===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 [[Tantra]]s. They are ''master consecration'', ''secret consecration'', ''knowledge of prajna'', and ''the fourth consecration''.<ref name=EB/>

===Shingon Buddhism===
The {{nihongo|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]],<ref>Orzech, Charles, D. (2011). [https://web.archive.org/web/20140317152400/http://www.shin-ibs.edu/documents/pwj3-13/07Orzech.pdf On the Subject of Abhiseka], Pacific World 3rd series, No 13, 113-128</ref> and [[Kūkai]], founder of Shingon, studied there extensively before introducing this rite to the Japanese Buddhist establishment of the time.<ref>{{cite book | first = Ryūichi | last = Abe | year = 1999 | title = The Weaving of Mantra: Kūkai and the Construction of Esoteric Buddhist Discourse}}</ref>  A separate initiation rite exists for the general public called the {{nihongo||結縁灌頂|kechien kanjō|}}, 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.{{cn|date=September 2018}}

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 [[Vairocana|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.<ref>{{cite book | first = Yoshito | last = Hakeda | year = 1972 | pages=44 | title = Kūkai: Major Works, Translated, with an Account of His Life and a Study of His Thought}}</ref> From there, the student's blindfold is removed and a [[vajra]] is placed in hand.

==Jainism==

[[File:Shravanbelgola Gomateshvara head and torso.jpg|thumb|[[Mahamastakabhisheka]] of Jain [[Gommateshwara statue]] is done every 12 years.]]

''Abhisheka'' in Jainism means the ritual of consecration of the image of Jina.{{sfn|Maniura|Shepherd|2006|pp=73-74}}

==Cultural examples==
*In the ''[[Mahavairocana Tantra|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==
{{commons category|Abhisheka}}
* [[Buddhābhiṣeka]]
* [[Puja (Buddhism)]]
* [[Puja (Hinduism)]]
* [[Puja (Jainism)]]
* [[Rājyābhiṣeka]]
* [[Abhi]] (Sanskrit preposition, and element of the word "Abhisheka")

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}
===Sources===
* {{citation |editor-last=Maniura |editor-first=Robert |editor2-last=Shepherd |editor2-first=Rupert |title=Presence: The Inherence of the Prototype within Images and Other Objects |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1x8Tz9v348cC |year=2006 |publisher=[[Ashgate]] |isbn=0-7546-3493-0 }}

==Further reading==
*{{cite web | last=Authorship unattributed|year=1993|title=Why Temples?|url=http://www.yogamag.net/archives/1993/3may93/temples.shtml|access-date=2007-02-24 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070610190751/http://www.yogamag.net/archives/1993/3may93/temples.shtml |archive-date = 2007-06-10}}
*{{cite web
 |last        = Authorship unattributed
 |year        = 2004
 |title       = Healing Through Yagya / Pooja / Occult
 |access-date  = 2007-02-24
 |url         = http://mudrasforhealing.com/occult.htm
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070206203633/http://www.mudrasforhealing.com/occult.htm
 |archive-date = 6 February 2007
 |url-status     = dead
 |df          = dmy-all
}}
*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). ''Kūkai and His Major Works''. Columbia University Press. {{ISBN|0-231-05933-7}}
*Hayward, Jeremy (2008) ''Warrior-King of Shambhala: Remembering Chögyam Trungpa''. Boston: Wisdom. {{ISBN|978-0-86171-546-6}}

{{Worship in Hinduism}}

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[[Category:Buddhist rituals]]
[[Category:Puja (Hinduism)]]
[[Category:Jain practices]]
[[Category:Sanskrit words and phrases]]