Kumbhabhishekam

To assure the presence of the divine in any temple constructed according to the guidelines of agamic scriptures, the temple rededication and consecration known as kumbhabhishekam is done.  According to the ancient agamic principles, if periodic kumbhabhishekam as well as regular daily puja is not properly performed, the divine power of a temple will be forfeited.  It is said that, in cases of such neglect, the divine presence initially will the inner sanctum and reside for a time of some three years in the vimanam (dome) of the temple.  With continued neglect the divinity will shift from the vimanam to the sthalavruksha (temple tree) where it will abide for an additional 12 years, at which time, if proper agamic practices have not been reinstated, it will return to its origin in the Sun.  Hence, in order to preserve the divine presence within a temple or recover the “forgotten” divinity in the case of temple restoration after a long period of neglect, the scriptures prescribe the performance of kumbhabhishekam every 12 years.

Regards,

Tirumalanath

tirumalanath@gmail.com