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Amrita
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Amrita or Amrit is a Sanskrit word that literally means "without death", and is often referred to in texts as nectar. Corresponding to ambrosia, it has different significances in different Indian religions.
Hinduism
Amrit is repeatedly referred to as the drink of the gods, which grants them immortality.
Amrit features in the Samudra manthan, where the gods, because of a curse from the sage Durvasa, begin to lose their immortality.
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Encyclopedia
Amrita or Amrit is a Sanskrit word that literally means "without death", and is often referred to in texts as nectar. Corresponding to ambrosia, it has different significances in different Indian religions.
Hinduism
Amrit is repeatedly referred to as the drink of the gods, which grants them immortality.
Amrit features in the Samudra manthan, where the gods, because of a curse from the sage Durvasa, begin to lose their immortality. With the help of the asuras (demons), they churned the sea in order to find the nectar of immortality, amrit. After drinking it, the gods regained their immortality and defeated the demons.
In yogic philosophy (see yoga, Hindu philosophy) amrita is a fluid that can flow from the pituitary gland down the throat in deep states of meditation. It is considered quite a boon: some yogic texts say that one drop is enough to conquer death and achieve immortality.
"Amrit" is also a common Hindu first name for men; the feminine is "Amrita".
Sikhism
Amrit is the name of the holy water used in the baptism ceremony (known as Amrit Sanskar or Amrit Chhakhna by the Sikhs). This ceremony is observed to initiate the Sikhs into the Khalsa brotherhood. The ceremony requires the drinking of the Amrit. This water is created by mixing a number of soluble ingredients, including sugar, and is then rolled with a [Khanda] (a type of knife) with the accompaniment of scriptural recitation of five sacred Banis (chants). This Amrit is also referred to God's name as a nectar which is obtained thru Guru's word, as in the following example of page 119 of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. Chanting God's name during Amrit Sanskar or Amrit Chakna uplifts a persons' physical and spiritual consciousness to a state of immortality.
??????? ???? ??????? ??? ???? ?
?????? ???? ?????? ??? ???? ?
Amri? saba? amri? har ba?i.
The Shabad is Amrit; the Lord's Bani is Amrit.
??????? ????? ???? ????? ?
??????? ????? ???? ????? ?
Sa?gur sevi?ai ri?ai sama?i.
Serving the True Guru, it permeates the heart.
???? ??????? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ???????? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ?????????
???? ?????? ???? ??? ??????? ?? ??????? ?? ??? ??? ?????? ?????????
Nanak amri? nam sa?a suk???a?a pi amri? sab? b?uk? leh java?i?a. ||8||15||16||
O Nanak, the Ambrosial Naam is forever the Giver of peace; drinking in this Amrit, all hunger is satisfied. ||8||15||16||
Buddhism
Amrita, under its Tibetan name of dutsi, also features in Tibetan Buddhist mythology, where it is linked to the killing of the monster Rahu by Vajrapani, whose blood dripped onto the surface of this earth, causing all kinds of medicinal plants to grow.
Dutsi also refers to a herbal medicine made during ceremonies involving many high lamas in Tibetan Buddhism, known as drubchens. It usually takes the form of small, dark-brown grains that are taken with water, or dissolved in very weak solutions of alcohol, and is said to improve physical and spiritual well-being.
Chinese Buddhism describes Amrita as blessed water, food, or other consumable objects often produced through merits of chanting mantras.
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