Spirituality

Kalasha – The Energy Repository

Kalasha or Purna Kumbha is an essential part of Hinduism. In this blog, we are going to discuss the importance of Kalasha. Vastu Puja, Wedding, Havana, Naming ceremony, Griha Pravesh, Dipawali Pujan, and many more. There is hardly ever an occasion in the Sanatana Dharma where you wouldn’t find a Kalasha mounted near the deities being worshiped. 

Vedas, written about 5000 years ago in India say,

कलशस्य मुखे विष्णुः कण्ठे रुद्रः समाश्रितः । मूले त्वस्य स्थितो ब्रह्मा मध्ये मातृगणाः स्मृताः ।।

Lord Vishnu dwells on the mouth of Kalasha, and Lord Rudra dwells on its neck. While Lord Brahma dwells at its base, the Divine Mother Dwells in the center of it. In short, all the primordial creating forces of the universe reside in the Kalasha.

What constitutes Kalasha?

A pot, made up of copper, brass, or mud, filled with rice or water. Mango or betel leaves are placed on the pot’s mouth, while coconut is covering the mouth of the pot. The white or red thread is tied around its neck. Divine symbols like Swastika or Shree are written on them with wet vermillion. All of this constitutes the Purna Kumbha.  

The Legend

During Samudra Manthan or churning of the celestial sea, Lord Dhanvantari, or the Lord of health, appeared in front of the churners holding a Kalassa, containing Amrit, or the elixir of immortality. 

While being carried, the Kalasha tilted, and two drops of Amrit spilled on earth. After every 12 years, this occasion is celebrated by the largest gathering of humans on earth, called Kumbh Mela. Since Samudra Manthan, Kalasha is considered as the beholder of immortality.

Ritual for Kalasha Invocation:

Whenever you are doing a Puja ritual, you must keep one thing in mind, and that is you are inviting celestial divine energy in your house. You are making a connection with the almighty, and hence, utmost respect should be given to the invocation procedure. The Kalasha ritual goes as follows:

1. Set a place where you are conducting a Puja, and put a yellow or white cloth over the platform where you keep your pictures or Vigrahas.

2. Decorate the platform with flowers, and put a fistful of rice on it. 

3. Fill the copper pot with water for about 1/3rd capacity and keep the pot on the rice, making it stable. Put two-three Tulasi leaves in the Kalasha.

4. Now, while keeping your right hand on the mouth of the vessel, chant –

कावेरी कृष्णः वेणा च गङ्गा चैव महानदी । तापी गोदावरी चैव माहेन्द्री नर्मदा तथा ॥

Kaveri Krishna Vena Cha Ganga Chaiv Mahanadi| Tapi Godavari Chaiv Mahendra Narmada Tatha ||

Here, you are inviting the most sacred rivers, Kaveri, Krishna, Ganges, Mahanadi, Godavari, Mahendri, and Narmada, to bestow their life energy into the waters of Kalasha. With this, invite all the seven seas on earth to grant their powers into the copper vessel.

5.  While keeping the hand covering the mouth of the Kalasha vessel, chant

ऋग्वेदोऽथ यजुर्वेदः सामवेदो ह्यथर्वणः । अङ्गैश्च सहिताः सर्वे कलशाम्बुं समाश्रिताः ॥

Rigvedoth Yajurveda Samaveda Hyathvarna | Angaishya Sahita Kalashambu Samashrita ||

Here, you are inviting all the Vedas, namely Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharva Veda, along with all the branches of Vedas, to bestow their knowledge into the primordial waters of Kalasha.

6. After inviting all the sacred knowledge to merge into the waters, now it’s time to invite the divine powers of the universe. Keeping the hand on the mouth of Kalasha, chant 

अत्र गायत्री सवित्री शान्तिः पुष्टिकरी तथा । आयान्तु देवपूजार्थं दुरितक्षयकारकाः ॥

Atra Gayatri Savitri Santhi Pushtikari Tatha | Ayantu Deva Pujartham Durit Kshaya Karaka ||

By chanting this mantra, you are inviting the celestial powers of Divine Mothers Gayatri and Savitri to bless Their grace on the Kalasha. Arrival of These powerful deities means only two things. One is the removal of all the evil influence bringing decay and bestowing peace and health. 

7. Remove the hand from the mouth of the Kalasha. Put a coin in the water as a symbolic sacrifice of wealth to gain the Divine knowledge. While doing so, you are giving up the attachments to proceed further in spirituality.

8. Place mango leaves and coconut over the top of Kalasha and salute the Divine that is now bestowed on the Kalasha. Now, the Kalasha is sacred and should be called Purna Kumbha (an absolute vessel).  Proceed further, and continue with your worship as usual.

9. While removing the Kalasha after the Puja, remove the coconut and, using five leaves in the Purna Kumbha as a spoon, sprinkle the water in all the corners of your house. This water will create positive protection around your house and prevent negative energies from making their way into your home. Pour the rest of the water into a tree standing outside, and your Kalasha worship will be complete. 

Significance of Kalasha:

Copper – While a copper pot is considered as the earth or a body, water inside the Kalasha is considered as primordial waters or a soul within the body. Ayurveda suggests storing the drinking water in copper vessels due to its bactericidal properties. Copper is known as the best conductor of heat and electricity. And hence, the water stored in the Kalasha is known to have bactericidal characteristics.

Mango – Mango tree is considered the sacred tree in Hinduism. Mango leaves represent the Divine Mother Mahalakshmi, and it’s also used to expel the negative energy from the surroundings. Scientifically speaking, mango leaves are proven to have phytochemicals that support the immune system. And hence, Kalasha is considered incomplete without the presence of Mango leaves around its neck.

Coconut – Sanskrit term for coconut is Sriphala, which means the fruit of the Gods. Considered highly pious, coconut is viewed as the life form itself, as the coconut is the only fruit that has to be planted as a whole in the ground to grow a tree. Coconut is a symbol of Lord Shiva, the one with three eyes, and hence, it is placed on the Kalasha representing balance and power. 

Water – Vacant pot represents the earth, and water in the Kalasha represents primordial waters where all the life began. While filling the water, Varuna, Lord of the sea, is invoked. As evolution says, that life started in the ocean, by the invocation of Lord Varuna, we invite the life force in the water.

Gayatri is known as the energy responsible for the creation of Vedas. Kalasha is an ancient symbol representing That wisdom. Worshipping an invoked Kalasha is known to balance the Chakras in the body. Kalasha Puja invites wisdom, prosperity, and positivity in the house. When placed in the northeast direction, Kalasha attracts and channelizes the Divine energy into the house, purifying the mind and body of the devotee.

Disclaimer – Kindly note that these are just suggested guidelines to perform the Sadhana. If you can’t adhere to them and still perform the Sadhana with pure intention and emotion, you will still get the desired result.

If you can follow the guidelines, it’s excellent, but even if you can’t, please don’t get disheartened and still perform the Sadhana at your convenience. Your emotions, love, and devotion that matters the most in the Sadhana more than the technicalities.

It is recommended to take help from your priest while performing the Kalash Puja. If you have any queries or to receive spiritual guidance,  please write to us at info@chamundaswami.com.