Panchamrita Explained

Panchamrita is a mixture of five foods used in Hindu as well as Jain worship and puja and Abhiṣeka^[1] It is often used as an offering during pooja post which it is distributed as prasad.^[2]

The main ingredients typically include honey(मधु), sugar(शर्करा), cow milk(दुग्ध), curd(दधि) and ghee(घृत)^[3]

The Abhiṣeka starts with ghee. A conch full of cow's ghee is poured on the head of the idol and it flows down up to feet. Then milk, curd, honey and sugar are poured.^[4] While it has to be noted that variety of additional regional ingredients such as, cardamom, banana, tender coconut, and dates are used,^[5] the five base ingredients remain the same across all of India.

In Tamil Nadu, Panchamritam is a mixture of banana, ghee, honey, jaggery and cardamom. In addition, other substances like seedless dates and sugar candies are added.^[6] Keralites may also include tender coconut. Some recipes also include grapes.^[7]

Palani Dhandayuthapani temple located in Tamil Nadu is popular for its unique panchamirtham which uses Virupatchi hill bananas grown in the surrounding Palani hills.^[8] It received its unique Geographical indication in 2019 from the Government of India.^[9]

Notes and References

1. For definition of Sanskrit: पञ्चामृत (IAST: ) as "the collection of five sweet things used in worshipping deities" see:,
2. News: Happy Mahashivratri 2018: Importance Of Panchamrit And How To Make It At Home. NDTV.com. 2020-03-05.
3. Delamaine. James. 1826. Of the Sra'wacs or Jains. Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland. 1. 2. 413–438. 10.1017/S095047370000029X. 25581717. 0950-4737.
4. Web site: Panchamrita Abhisheka Puja . Udupi Krishna Mutt.
5. Book: Karigoudar, Ishwaran . A populistic community and modernization in India . 1977 . 9004047905 . 23 May 2009.
6. Web site: Only Official Website of Arulmigu Dhandayuthapaniswamy Temple, Palani - Facilities: Panchamirtham . 22 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180714115849/http://www.palanimurugantemple.tnhrce.in/facilities/panchamirtham.html . 14 July 2018 . dead .
7. Book: Nair, K.K. . Sages Through Ages, Proof of divinity given . 26 March 2003 . 23 May 2009. 9781418446895.
8. News: Palani temple to double panchamritam production. The Economic Times. 6 October 2009. Palani, India.
9. News: 'Panchamirtham' of Palani temple gets GI tag. The Hindu. 14 August 2019.