Panchamrita

Panchamrita (Sanskrit: पञ्चामृत, lit. 'five Amṛtas') 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 ingredients of panchamrita: (clockwise from bottom right) milk, curd, sugar (or jaggery), honey and ghee

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 a 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 (Tamil: பஞ்சாமிர்தம்) 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]