An essential Ayurvedic element of Indian poojas and rituals; Panchamrit is easy to make in under 5 minutes.
Use it for the rituals, serve as a prasad or simply enjoy as a drink; this recipe is amazing for sure.
Indian religious ceremonies need so many elements. From dry coconut, diya, mango leaves, prasad to even banana leaves; we need them all.
The rituals vary from family to family and from culture to culture. However, some elements are common among all. Almost every Ganpati festival has Modaks and Ladoo; a lot of festivities have halwa and kheer as prasad. Plus, there is Kuler, a ladoo made from bajri flour that is popular in Gujarati poojas like Sitala Satam.
Along with these, there are tulsi leaves, ganga jal, makhana and nuts. Plus, there is another element; Panchamrit. This is an important element in many poojas and it is so easy to make it at home in minutes.
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What is Panchamrit
Panchamrit is a preparation with easy to find ingredients from the kitchen. It is popular to use for poojas like Ganesh Sthapna, Satya Narayan katha, Janmashtami, Diwali and so on.
The name is a combination of two words; panch meaning five and amrut meaning nectar in Sanskrit. So essentially it is a combination of five elements. Also sometimes called as Panchamrut or Charnamrut.
This is like a must-have element in the pooja thali for various reasons. We offer it to the Gods as Naivedyam and use it in Abhishek (pouring over) of the idols. Plus, we offer it to the attendees as a prasad after the pooja.
Why this recipe works
- It is considered a holy and sacred preparation according to the Hindu beliefs.
- An essential element of most poojas for Abhishek and as a prasad.
- It improves immunity, enhances brain function and memory. It also has anti-aging properties.
- It needs only five ingredients.
- Panchamrit is easy to make in under five minutes.
- The drink has multiple health benefits and medicinal properties.
- We can simply double of halve the ingredients to make more or less.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Milk: The first ingredient in the panchamrit is milk. We use cow's milk (and not buffalo milk) to make panchamrit. We do not boil the milk before using. Plus, it should ideally be at room temperature to keep the ghee from forming a layer in cold milk.
- Yogurt: Ideally this should be made from cow's milk too. Bring it to room temperature and whip little before using. That way it does not form particles in the panchamrit.
- Sugar: Ideally we should use misri (rock candy) for the recipe. However, regular sugar works too.
- Honey: Some honey further sweetens the panchamrit. Adjust the quantity based on how sweet you want the panchamrit.
- Ghee: We add ghee in the recipe. Again, this is great to make from cows milk. As long as the ingredients are at room temperature, the ghee will not form a layer or balls. Mix it for a minute to blend.
- Apart from these five ingredients; we can add makhana, nuts, tulsi leaves and ganga jal. These are great to flavor the panchamrit. Use or skip them.
See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.
How to make this recipe
1- In a silver bowl add 1 tablespoon sugar.
2- Then add ¼ cup yogurt, 2 tablespoon honey and 1 teaspoon ghee.
3- Next, add ¼ cup milk.
4- Whisk thoroughly till combined and use as desired.
What do the five elements mean
A metal bowl is generally great to make the panchamrit. Silver being the most common. The five elements in this each signify the following
- Milk symbolizes purity. The benefits of milk are undisputed and they help cool the body from within.
- Sugar signifies sweet words and bliss. Rock candy that is ideally used also contributes to the cooling for the body.
- Yogurt aids prosperity. It has all the essential probiotics to aid digestion.
- Honey means kindness. It helps clear skin and improves digestion. Moreover, raw honey is often one of the most beneficial element.
- Ghee is a symbol of strength and knowledge. Plus, it is a great source of Vitamin A and E and has other benefits too.
Together these form what happens to be one of the purest offering according to the Hindu tradition.
Expert Tips and Notes
- Ideally a silver or bronze bowl should be used to prepare panchamrit. In case that is not available, use a glass bowl.
- To mix everything well, make sure the ingredients are at room temperature.
- While it is a holy preparation, Panchamrit is great with a lot of health benefits. Thus, it can be consumed a teaspoon a day for these benefits too.
- Make Panchamrit just before the pooja. It stays well only for 4-5 hours once mixed.
- Please consume the mix in moderation. Having a lot of panchamrit will definitely cause digestive issues.
- This mix is not recommended for people with diabetes or lactose intolerance. This is because it has quite a bit of sugar and dairy based elements.
Recipe FAQs
We make Panchamrit from five elements; milk, ghee, yogurt, honey and sugar.
Panchamrit is an essential part of the pooja thali. We use it for Abhishek (pouring over) the idols, offer to the Gods as naivedyam and then distribute among the attendees as prasad. It is also a cooling drink that is great to serve without a pooja.
The elements of panchamrit are not Vegan friendly. They have milk and milk products. Plus, there is honey. So it is not Vegan. Using the substitutes will not keep the drink a true panchamrit.
No. The yogurt with milk and other ingredients will split if it stands for a long time. So it should only be prepared right before serving or using.
Ideally no. The elements have to be the five mentioned in the post. However, there is always a debate whether or not sugar is a part of the drink. Often times jaggery or raw sugar is used. Except that, the four elements really have no substitution.
More Recipes for Pooja
Here are some more recipes that come in handy for a pooja. From prasad for Ganesha to Kuler, a traditional Gujarati offering, get the recipes below.
Love this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below & if you REALLY like it, consider a review in the comments whilst you are there, thanks!
Panchamrit
Instructions
- In a silver bowl add sugar.1 tablespoon sugar
- Then add yogurt, honey and ghee.¼ cup yogurt, 2 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon ghee
- Next, add the milk.¼ cup milk
- Whisk thoroughly till combined and use as desired.
Video
Notes
- Ideally a silver or bronze bowl should be used to prepare panchamrit. In case that is not available, use a glass bowl.
- To mix everything well, make sure the ingredients are at room temperature.
- While it is a holy preparation, Panchamrit is great with a lot of health benefits. Thus, it can be consumed a teaspoon a day for these benefits too.
- Make Panchamrit just before the pooja. It stays well only for 4-5 hours once mixed.
- Please consume the mix in moderation. Having a lot of panchamrit will definitely cause digestive issues.
- This mix is not recommended for people with diabetes or lactose intolerance. This is because it has quite a bit of sugar and dairy based elements.
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