Friday, October 18, 2013

Panchamrit.......nectar of the gods.

                                                   
        
Panchamrita is a sacred mixture of five ingredients i.e. Milk, Curd, Honey, Sugar and Ghee in equal amounts. The word “Panchamrita” is a combination of two words, "Pancha" means five and "Amrita" means ambrosia, immortal, and nectar of gods or beverage of gods.

Panchamrita is also called 'Charnamrit' in some parts of India.Often Basil (Tulsi) leaves and dry fruits are also added in Panchamrita. However, there may be certain regional variations in ingredients. Most south Indians add ripe banana instead of sugar.

Origin of Panchamrit
The most popular mention of the dish can be traced back to Mahabharata (largest epic ever written in the history of Mankind!). In Mahabharata it is stated that the Panchamrit was perhaps one of the valuable ingredients that emerged during Samudra manthan or Ksheera sagar manthan(churning of the ocean of milk).The demons and gods who were part of the process had a very long fight in establishing their control over this amrit, because they knew that whoever had it will become immortal forever.

According to mythology, the five elements of this sweet concoction have symbolic meaning.

  • Milk represents purity and piousness.
  • Curd represents prosperity and progeny.
  • Honey depicts sweet speech and unity. (Because it is prepared jointly by bees)
  • Sugar represents sweetness and bliss.
  • Ghee is meant for knowledge and victory.


Religious importance…
All religious Hindu Pooja and functions are incomplete without the Panchamrit (Panchamrit Prasad).
It is used as an offering during poojas. (bhog,prasad)
It is used as a libation during Abhisheka(bathing the idols).

Uses.. 
Uses of freshly prepared Panchamrut if consumed daily…

  • Boosts physical strength
  • Improves potency (increases shukra in the body)
  • Improves immunity
  • Vitalizes the brain
  • Enhances intelligence, memory, grasping power, creative abilities.
  • Improves complexion as it’s considered as skin cleanser.
  • It should be consumed every day, preferably in the morning, on an empty stomach.

Panchamrit in pregnancy.
Panchamrit acts as an energy booster for both mom and baby and is a good brain tonic,2-4 tsps of panchamrit should be taken  early morning during pregnancy…

Method of Preparation

Panchamrit is exotic and a tasty sweet.
As said before there are many Panchamrit recipe variations but here are two of the common recipes which are commonly adopted for dish preparation. 

      Traditional  Panchamrita recipe 
  • This is a popular recipe where the dish is completed by combining ingredients in equal amounts…

  • Milk - 1 tbsp
  • Curd -1 tbsp
  • Honey -1 tbsp
  • Sugar - 1 tbsp
  • Ghee - 1 tbsp

  • There is one more reference which states that all the 5 ingredients should be taken in decreasing ratio in the following order i.e  

  • Milk - 5 tbsp
  • Curd -4 tbsp
  • Sugar-3 tbsp
  • Ghee -2 tbsp
  • Honey-1 tbsp

Mix all the above mentioned ingredients and stir well. Your sweet concoction of panchamrita is ready to be sipped.If u want the panchamrita in large quantities you may increase the measure of each ingredient.

Second most commonly used recipe is the mixture of banana in the traditional recipe.

Contemporary Panchamrita Beverage
Variation in panchamrit recipe can be achieved with ingredients like saffron,coconut,mint,tulasi(basil)etc.in the basic panchamrit recipe as per wish.

Ayurveda recommends the traditional panchamrit recipe for optimum health benefits.









43 comments:

Manisha said...

Awesome, I have made a note for spreading this Guyana with those around me and for my personal benefits, Thank you!!!

Vaishali G Kamat said...

Thank u so much...I will make it a point to come up with informative posts in the future...

AmitMahadik said...

How sugar at the time of Mahabharata i.e. 1000s years ago?????

Vaishali G Kamat said...

Reference of use of sugar dates back since Mahabharata and vedic times.
For eg.
The 'Royal Vaids', named 'Ashwini Kumar brothers', the twins, who were medical advisers to Gods during Vedic times(10,000 years ago),first prepared this formulation for Chyawan Rishi at his Ashram hence the name Chyawanprash.The first historically documented formula for chywanprash appears in Charaka Samhita, the ancient Ayurvedic treatise.Chyawanprash formulation contains sugar in it.
Thanks...

Manasi said...

I use Anuspa Panchamrut Soap. I love the flavour & feel. But how does it help I do not know. Can you pl. help me?

Vaishali G Kamat said...

I don't know how useful this soap is considering it's quality.Mostly these type of soaps contain less of healthy ingredients and more of chemicals.
My personal advise to u is go for ubtan(utane) and soaps prepared by http://www.greenpharmacy.co.in/products1.php
they are really good and I have used them...Thanks

visagedaksha said...

Does panchamrit help with old age and stress related weakness?

Vaishali G Kamat said...

Yes ofcourse...only be careful while giving to diabetic person...
Regards

Geeta said...

Does panchamrit help for conceiving ( help to become pregnant)??? What else should I eat for conceiving

Vaishali G Kamat said...

Ya panchamrit will definitely help you to conceive but to know more about preconception diet you will have to take the guidance of Ayurvedic physician near you....

Anonymous said...

dear,
Ayurveda says that honey & ghee shouldnt be mixed in equal quantities . Any comments on this doubt in the case of panchamrit?
Regards
Sajeev

Vaishali G Kamat said...

Yes honey and ghee should not be mixed in equal quantity..I have already mentioned the quantity in which all 5 ingredients are mixed.Even if in case the quantity of ghee and honey in same even then other remaining 3 ingredients are still need to be added to obtain the combined effect of panchamrut.I will definitely not recommend to mix honey and ghee in equal quantity when they are taken in pair.

Anonymous said...

Doctor kindly advice me I have constant acidity problems and burning sensation in the stomach in the night my age is 45 male

Vaishali G Kamat said...

Mr Shonan

Kindly mail me details of your case for online consultation to the following address
vaishalinamshikar@gmail.com

Harish said...

Does panchamruth contains viruddahar? I assume that panchamruth has to be taken in very less quantity

Vaishali G Kamat said...

No... panchamrut is not virudhahar...it is the authentic mixture of 5 ingredients used since ages..with all the positive effects on our body...I have already mentioned the quantity of ingredients to be mixed,if u consume d quality ingredients in proper proportion...it would not harm you unless you have condition like diabetis...

ravindra said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Ankur vijay said...

pleas mention all benefits of panchamrit.

Vaishali G Kamat said...

I have already mentioned the benefits pl go through the article in detail

Unknown said...

Can i vary the proportions ? I consume panchamrut with water soaked dry fruits every morning with ingredients in following proportions - 1/2 to 3/4th cup milk, 1/2 tbsp sugar, 2 tbsp ghee, 2 tbsp honey and 3 tbsp curd. Am I doing anything incorrect?

Vaishali G Kamat said...

I think it would be better if you consume panchamrita in the proportion given by me.Don't mix dryfruits in panchamrita you can have them separately...

Unknown said...

Hi Vaisli,,
One question , as per core ayurved sastra (not written by morden writer 's book) panchamrut should consistes of GUD or Sugar ?

as per my knowledge gud is the actual ingredient of panchamruth , as gud has medicinal properties , as you are a ayurved person you should know,gud has iron and other vitamins and mineral,it purifies the lungs, hence in many industries provide allowance to worker for gud. while sugar is a Morden product ,in ayurved sastra you will never find sugar/ sakr / chini/sarkara what ever name . which has bad effect for health. how can it will be a part of panchamruth.

sugar is the ingredient of morden pancamruth,for mordem people,morden society. not as per ayurved sastra

please correct if i m wrong,waiting for ur response

thanks

Unknown said...

Yes, it's right... Sugar can't be the ingredient. Is panchamrut same as panchagavya which is fermented? But it has cow dung. Did people actually cunsume this?

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Vaishali G Kamat said...

Sugar should be used in panchamrita and not guda

Vaishali G Kamat said...

Panchamrita and panchagavya are entirely different.

Vaishali G Kamat said...

Panchamrita and panchagavya are entirely different.

Vaishali G Kamat said...

Sugar should be used in panchamrita and not guda

Unknown said...

Sugar is used now but in vedic times it was jaggery which was used instead.

Unknown said...

i think the author has replaced jaggery(gur) with sugar coz it is a common household item now. In my side in odisha we still use gur in place of sugar and it enhances the health benefits.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

would you please let us know exact source of information of panchamrit. I gone through Sushrut samhita, there is no mention of it. panchgavya is mentioned there.

Unknown said...

Dear doctor I m Neha here n m suffering from PCOD problem... Someone suggest me panchamruta n m 85kgs plz help me for the correct way to have panchamruta n for conceiving a baby..

Geet Moh said...

Thanks for the infor.

Unknown said...

well if vaishali had said to use sugar y not prepare it using sugar....

Vaishali G Kamat said...

Neha kachade you can consume 2-4 tsp of panchamruta early morning on empty stomach for general well being.Regarding your fertility issues you better consult an ayurvedic gynecologist,it will help you in your PCOD problem.

Vaishali G Kamat said...

Thanks geeta !

Unknown said...

Dear Dr. Vaishali,
I was told by an ayurvedic doctor that milk should not be muxed with curds, not at anytime.
In that case panchamrut has both, so what do you say...

Anonymous said...

can diabetic people have panchamrita

Unknown said...

What is the good time to have it, weather in morning or night??

Anonymous said...

I've heard that curd should not be consumed on empty stomach. So when to consume panchamrut?

gurudeva namami said...

Honey and ghee can't be taken in equal quantity together or they act as poison, Ayurveda says so.is it true??plz guide

Vaishali G Kamat said...

Ansewrs to some of the recent queries

~curd and milk can be mixed in panchamrita as it also contains other 3 ingredients so whatever benefits it will give are collective benefits of all 5 ingredients.
~ Yes diabetic can have panchamrita in limited quantity occassionaly...better to consult nearest ayurveda physician so that he advises based on patients blood sugar levels.
~Best time to consume panchamrita will be first thing in the morning empty stomach.
~Yes it's true that honey and ghee must be taken in unequal quantities

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