Why do we keep a kalasha?

 

#Know your Dharma

# Significance of the Kalasha

 In most of our festivals or pujas, we see a kalasha or a vessel filled with water that is used for some ceremonies and rituals. Have you wondered, what is that kalasha/? What does it contain? And what is it’s significance/importance in our pujas? Let’s begin with what a kalasha is? Let us look at what some of our scriptures say about it. Here are some shlokas that are associated with the Kalasha pooja.

1.  कला कला हि देवानां दानवानां कला कला: ।

संगृह्य निर्मितो यस्मात्कलशस्तेन कथ्यते ॥१॥
Meaning

(By collecting) each Kala (Divine Part) of the Devas (Gods), and (by collecting) each Kala (Good Part) of the Danavas, What is built by assembling them, (that aggregation of Divine Parts) is called Kalasha,

2. कलशस्य मुखे विष्णुः कण्ठे रुद्रः समाश्रितः ।
मूले त्वस्य स्थितो ब्रह्मा मध्ये मातृगणाः स्मृताः ॥

This shloka tells us that Lord Vishnu resides in the mouth of the Kalasha, Rudra in its neck, Brahma at ts base and the Divine Mothers in its centre.

The ensuing shlokas invoke the seven seas, the sacred rivers, the waters from the sacred ponds and pilgrimage spots, the Devis -Savithri, Gayathri, Shanthi and Pushtikari, and the four Vedas.

Can you imagine the power of the kalasha when so much energy from the Divine, nature, the scriptures and the shlokas are invoked into its water?

What is the physical appearance of the Kalasha?

A brass, mud or copper pot is filled with water. Mango leaves are placed in the mouth of the pot and a coconut is placed over it. A red or white thread is tied around its neck or sometimes all around it in an intricate diamond-shaped pattern. The Kalasha is normally placed on a bed of rice symbolising fertility or abundance. The mango leaves symbolise new beginnings and the coconut represents the human body. The thread symbolises the linkage or binding of all these elements.

A kalasha is placed with due rituals on all  important occasions like the traditional house warming (grihapravesa), wedding, daily worship etc. It is placed near the entrance as a sign of welcome. It is also used in a traditional manner while receiving holy personages.

Why do we worship the kalasha? 

The water in the kalasha symbolizes the primordial water from which the entire creation emerged. It is the giver of life to all beings both sentient and inert. The leaves and coconut represent creation.

As we mentioned earlier, when you invoke the power of the Gods, the scriptures and all that is holy into it, the kalasha automatically becomes powerful and worthy of worship.

The water from the Kalasha is sprinkled as a purification inside a home, used for purification of the bride and groom before marriage, of a child at birth. It is even used during the consecration of temples and deities.

Therefore, when one does a kalasha pooja, the water inside the kalash should be treated with due respect.