Panchamrita

Panchamrita (Sanskrit: पञ्चामृत, lit. five Amṛtas) is a mixture of five foods used in Hindu worship and puja which are usually honey (Sanskrit: मधु), sugar (Sanskrit: शर्करा), milk (क्षीर), yogurt (Sanskrit: दधि) and ghee (Sanskrit: घृत).

Preparation

Appropriate quantities of Milk (only zebu cow milk), Yogurt, Honey, Sugar and Ghee are mixed together. However, there may be certain regional variations in ingredients. Most south Indians add ripe banana instead of sugar. In Palani Murugan temple, Tamil Nadu, Panchamrita is used in abisheka and distributed as prasad in huge quantity. Banana used here is Virupachi variety, specific to that location. Panchamrita is an Ayurvedic preparation but has been manipulated in several places to cut costs and increase keeping value. Until 1890, bananas were not used.

Keralites may also include tender coconut. Some recipes also include grapes.

Usage

• It is used as a offering during poojas.
• It is used as a libation during Abhisheka.
• It is also used as a skin cleanser.
• It was introduced into the practice of African American hoodoo folk-magic by the occult writer Henri Gamache during the 1940s.