Kumbabhishekam is a temple ritual of South India. It is also known as Samprokshanam. Generally, the South Indian people are seen chanting prayers and pouring water on the top of the vimana and the gopuras of the temples with temporary scaffoldings erected within and immediately outside.
Kumbabhishekam is a Sanskrit word, which is derived from two separate words `kumbha` meaning pot and `abhisekam` meaning anointment. It is a very intricate and thorough religious ceremony and a newly constructed shrine is considered fit for worship only after the numerous rituals associated with it are completed. Kumbabhishekam or Mahakumbabhishekam is
used for the sanctification of Siva temples and Samprokshanam or Mahasamprokshanam is the term used with reference to the sanctification of Vishnu shrines.
The Kumbabhishekam ritual is performed once in twelve years as per the rules of the Shastras. In Southern part of India, the devotees consider it a great and rare blessing to witness a kumbabhishekam or samprokshanam ceremony.
I got to witness the Amman temple Kumbabhishekam on 31-Apr-09 at my birth place, Irulapaty in the Dharmapuri district of Tamilnadu, India.
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