Overview
Panchamrita (Sanskrit: पञ्चामृत, literally 'five amṛtas') is a mixture of five foods used in Hindu and Jain worship, particularly during puja and abhiṣeka. The preparation is offered to deities and subsequently distributed among devotees as prasad.
The five base ingredients are typically honey (madhu), sugar (śarkarā), cow's milk (dugdha), curd (dadhi) and ghee (ghṛta). During abhiṣeka, the ritual customarily begins with ghee: a conch filled with cow's ghee is poured over the head of the idol and allowed to flow down to the feet. This is followed in sequence by milk, curd, honey and sugar. While these five ingredients remain consistent across India, regional preparations may incorporate additional items such as cardamom, banana, tender coconut, dates and grapes.
In Tamil Nadu, the preparation known as Panchamritam (Tamil: பஞ்சாமிர்தம்) is made from banana, ghee, honey, jaggery and cardamom. Seedless dates and sugar candies are sometimes added to the mixture. In Kerala, tender coconut may also be included among the ingredients. The variations reflect the availability of local produce and regional culinary practices, while preserving the devotional significance of the offering.
The Palani Dhandayuthapani Temple in Tamil Nadu is particularly noted for its distinctive panchamirtham, which is prepared using Virupatchi hill bananas cultivated in the surrounding Palani hills. The Palani panchamirtham received a Geographical Indication tag from the Government of India in 2019, recognising its unique character and association with the temple and the region.