In the chapters of Hindu rites and rituals, the Kalash or pot plays a significant role. Believe it or not, without the presence of a Kalash or a pot, most of our rituals and pujas are definitely incomplete. In the following excerpt, you would know the reason behind doing kalash puja and understand why kalash for puja is important.
What Is A Kalash puja?
The Kalash is also known as Kumbh in certain parts of the country. It is a pot made of brass, copper, or clay that one can fill with water from seven rivers, seven wells, or seven seas. One can even fill the pot with water from any single source. Or one could fill it with unbroken grains of rice together with nine or eleven mango leaves surrounding a coconut kept on its top. One can even tie a red or white cotton thread around the pot in an intricate diamond-shaped pattern. Then one can decorate the pot with auspicious signs and designs.
Where Is A Kalash for Puja Put To Use Or Kept?
A Kalash for puja is kept with respect and regard to due Hindu rites and rituals. So for example, before all-important auspicious occasions like weddings, Grah Pravesh (the house-warming ceremony) and Navratri puja. People also use it ceremonially while receiving holy persons.
Sometimes, people also place the Kalash near the entrance of the house to welcome the guests. According to a few legends, before the world was created, Lord Vishnu lay reclining on his Sheshanaga shaiyya or serpent bed in Ksheersagar or the milky ocean. Then once upon a time, came to a lotus from his navel and this lotus, Lord Brahma, the creator of this world, appears.
What does a Kalash puja represent?
The water in the Kalash symbolizes the primordial water from which Lord Brahma and the entire creation came into existence. The coconut fruit kept at its mouth represents the head of the devotee. Similarly, the mango leaves that are in a linear arrangement around the coconut are kept for a purpose. The reason is to attract divine vibrations from the astral world to bless the devotee. Not only this but to also make the water divine or the rice-filled in the Kalash.
Purnakalash
When one fills the rice during Kalash puja in it, then one can term this as Purnakalash. Also, the rice that is already in the pot is known as akshat or unbroken grains of rice. This symbolizes eternal blessings on the devotee as well as his family. The Akshay is the component that will not exhaust. And the rice has the unique quality of being able to absorb the negativity that is in the environment.
An Auspicious Association
Therefore, one considers the Kalash puja as auspicious, and people worship it. While worshipping the Kalash, the blessings of all the seven rivers and deities, including those of Lord Vishnu, invokes. After the puja, its water is used for all the rituals, including the abhisheka or divine bath.
Kumbh Abhisheka
The consecration of an idol or a temple with the help of the Kalash is the name for Kumbh abhisheka. This wonderfully takes place with elaborate rituals and rites according to ancient times. It also. includes the pouring of holy water from one or more Kalash over the head of the idol or the Shikhar or dome of the temple.