Panchamrit In Liquor Bottles To Anoint Sai Baba At Andhra Pradesh Temple Angers Devotees

Guru Purnima is a festival dedicated to paying respect to teachers. The day is celebrated on the full moon day in the month of Ashadha (June–July). It is celebrated with utmost fervor in many temples across India. Places like Kurnool and Nandyal districts in Andhra Pradesh witness grand celebrations on this day, as devotees flock to religious places to seek the blessings of their deities.

Similarly in Achanta Vemavaram village in Achanta Mandalam located in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, devotees go to Sai Baba temple with offerings. According to the details, the Sai Baba temple was recently rebuilt and the idol installation program was organized on the day of Guru Purnima.

Devotees perform a special pooja and abishikam of the idol of the Lord along with the panchmrit. A special puja is also performed. However, if reports are to be believed, some devotees brought panchamrit to Abhishekam in liquor bottles, instead of the traditional pooja vessels that were used to anoint the idol of Sai Baba. This caused uproar and anger from many of the devotees. This grabbed headlines and left the congregation in a panic.

According to the scriptures, Panchamrit is used to anoint the deities. It consists of five ingredients: milk, ghee, honey, curd and sugar. It is considered the nectar of the gods and then given to devotees as prasad. However, the filling of liquor bottles with panchimrit to perform the abhishikam has angered the devotees.

Many have been left wondering how bottles of liquor were allowed inside the temple premises. Reportedly, there were a few who speculated that even if it was religious Hamas or any philosophy, the act itself was wrong and insulted their belief. There has also been speculation that the dark colored bottles may not be alcohol, but could be sauce bottles. Others have argued that the now circulating video also shows bottles of whiskey.

Guru Purnima celebrates the presence and teachings of a guru in the life of an individual who provided wisdom and guidance to his disciples. The festival also coincides with the birth of the revered sage who wrote the Mahabharata and compiled the Vedas and Veda Vyas and is thus also referred to as the Vyas Purnima.