Skip to content Panchamrutham – 5 Kinds of Nectar
Panchamrutham” means five kinds of nectars which everyone likes. The “Thirumanjanam” or “Abhishekam” to Lord Venkateswara is done with Panchamrutham which includes milk, curd, honey, ghee and sugar.
It can be added with fruits and dry fruits flavoured with cardamom and saffron for ‘naivedhyam.’ It is considered one of the easiest and divine ‘prasadams’ to offer. Almost all the temples will process Panchamrutham for the rituals. It is good for health also. Hence called ‘Amrutham’- the nectar.
In philosophy, the immortality is obtained by taking the “Amrutham-the nectar”. But the divine personalities like Alwars, Acharyas, Bhagavathas and Sri Vaishnavas do not care about the nectar that is got through the churning of the Milky Ocean.
They used to say that the real nectar was the Lord, who had taken the form of Tortoise (Kurma), Ajitha (protecting the divine mountain) and Goddess Mahalakshmi, who had manifested from the Ocean of Milk.
It is also believed that the nectar received during the churning gives only youth and strength and not ‘moksha.’ One will be healthy and live long. Who gives real “Moksha”?
As per Sri Annamacharya’s songs “Emurti Nija Moksha Miyya Jaaleddu” and an ancient script “Moksham Ichet Janardanath” the one who gives the real immortality is Lord Janardhana.
The five “Panchamrutham-the real nectar” who gives us the joy of salvation are
- “Ganamrutham—Sri Ranganathan of Sri Rangam”,
- “Jeevamrutham—Sri Venkateswara Swamy of Tirupathi”,
- “Devamrutham—Sri Varadarajan of Kanchipuram”,
- “Ramamrutham—Sri Sampathkumaran of Melkote”,
- “Geethamrutham—Sri Parthasarathy of Thiruvallikeni.”
Ganamrutham
Sri Ranganayaki Samedha Sri Ranganathaswamy of Sri Rangam from Tamil Nadu” is considered the foremost among the 108 Divya Desams. It is one of the biggest temple complexes. The main deity was worshipped by Lord Brahma Himself, then given to the Solar dynasty where Lord Rama Himself was worshipped.
The Lord is considered the foremost because He was sung by all the Alwars. He had given ‘moksha’ to many of the devotees. Sri Andal and Thiruppan Alwar were the few who got the ‘darshan’ of the Lord and drank the nectar of His grace. During Vishwarupa Seva, the Lord is awakened by pasuram “Thirupalliezhuchi” and by playing veena. He is very much fond of music and art.
The above instances hailed Him as “Ganamrutham’ sung by the Alwar.
Jeevamrutham
Alarmelmanga Sametha Sri Srinivasa Swamy of Tirumala the Kaliyuga Varadhan as He is the Lord who stands for the people of Kaliyuga. According to the ancient Tamil saying, to live in this world, one needs wealth and health, both can be obtained by worshipping Lord Srinivasa. “Chediyaai Valvinai Theerukum Perumale” sung by Kulasekara Alwar, he is the life-saving Lord through medicinal herbs that grow in Tirumala.
Apart from the Lord, Tirumala Hill itself is considered “Life-saving Medicine” to this world. “Agalagillen Alarmelmangai Urai Maarbaa” by Sri Nammalwar is the ultimate “Saranagathi” pasuram where Sri Nammalwar is blessed with ‘moksha,’ the permanent abode, Vaikunta.
He gives real life to the soul (Jeevatma). Health, wealth, and ‘moksha’ are the three main things one needs to have life in this world or outside the world. Both are given by Lord Malayappaswamy. Many devotees reveal that Tirumala Tirupathi is “Jeevamrutham.’
Devamrutham
Perundevi Sametha Sri Varadaraja Perumal of Kanchipuram from Tamil Nadu is also known as “Devarajan” means the Lord of the Lords. He is also hailed as Varadaraja because He is the bestower of boons. It is not only for Devas, but also for the people of Kaliyuga. He came from the Yagna done by Lord Brahma.
Though Kanchipuram had Sri Ramanujacharya Swamy, Sri Vedanta Desika, Sri Prathivadhi Bhayankaram Annangaracharya were great ‘acharyas’ who had done Kainkaryam (service) in Kanchi but had moved to other places like Sri Rangam, Tirupathi or other places as per the wish of other Divya Desa Perumals.
This is primarily, for the welfare of the people of Kaliyuga, we would not have got great scholars or texts like Suprabhatam, Bhashyam, Stuti etc. The Lord is also known as “Tyaga Perumal” as He sacrificed His devotees to other Divya Desams. Thus, He is the bestower of boons not only to Devas but also to the people of Kaliyuga, so that normal people can be uplifted to the status of Deva. Hence, hailed as “Devamrutham – the Bestower of Boons”.
Ramaamrutha
Yadugiri Naachiyaar Sametha Thirunarayana Perumal of Melkote from Karnataka also known as Sampath Kumara or Cheluvanarayana or Selva Pillai or Chella Pillai, is the youngest among the Amrutha. Lord Ram, after giving Lord Ranaganathaswamy to Vibheeshana, made Selvanarayana as his deity. This deity was passed into generations and He was set up in the temple at Melkote.
The Utsava Murthy was taken by the Muslim king and was kept in the princess’s chamber as a toy. When Sri Ramanujacharya, called out “En Chellapillai – my dear child”, the deity came running and sat on his lap.
Thus, the Lord is a favourite for Lord Ram as well as Sri Ramanujacharya, bestower of wisdom. As per Alwar’s pasuram – Lord Rama took even the tiny beings in Ayodhya to Abode when He went. In the same way, Sri Ramanujacharya by performing “Gadyam” did Saranagathi which paved the way for us to reach Vaikunta.
Both Lord Rama and Sri Ramanuja were related to Ramamrutha Perumal and it was clear that they elevated the people.
Geethamrutham
Rukmini Sametha Sri Parthasarathy Venkatakrishnan Perumal of Thiruvallikeni from Tamil Nadu stands for us to lead a principled life. The Lord with a moustache resembles a charioteer to Arjuna in the battle of Kurukshetra.
The way He stands is majestic with a conch in His hand which is a symbol of wisdom which He preached as “Bhagavad Gita – the Divine Song of the Lord”. By understanding the Gita, one can easily overcome all the hurdles in life.
“Sarva-dharman parityajya maam ekam sharanam vraja aham tvaam sarva paapebhyo mokshayishyami ma shuchaah”
describes simply how to surrender to the Lord and submit all the fruits that come when doing Karma, he will be liberated from all the reactions and there is no question of fear.
There are many interpretations to make the devotees understand the true meaning of this superb sloka given by Lord Parthasarathy. He is ‘Geethacharya’ and ‘Loka Guru,’ the ‘guru’ of all who took the ‘avatar’ to uplift from mortal to immortal life by giving the nectar from His sweet lips for the benefit of mankind.
Though Panchamrutham gives us energy for the worldly body that we have taken through birth, the cycle of birth and death for the Jeevatma – the soul gets the real happiness when attains “Moksha”, the salvation which is the Nectar – the ultimate ‘amrutha’ – the Supreme Personality of the Godhead mentioned in Purusha Suktha who has “Hrish Cha Te Lakshmishcha Patnyau” is in all the places in the form of ‘Archa Murthy’ to raise from the worldly ocean and to get dipped in the holy Viraja at Sri Vaikuntam to get the eternal bliss.
Final Word
Let’s get the grand ‘darshan’ of the above Divya Desams and drink the nectar through the divine and graceful form of the Lord and become blissful eternally by serving Him.
