First of all what is a 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 a intricate diamond-shaped pattern. The
pot may be decorated wit designs. Such a pot is known as a kalasha.
When the pot is filled with water or rice, it is known as purnakumbha representing the inert
body which when filled with the divine life force gains the power to do all the wonderful
things that makes life what it is.
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? Before the creation came into being, Lord Vishnu was reclining on
His snake-bed in the milky ocean. From His navel emerged a lotus from which appeared Lord
Brahma, the creator, who thereafter created this world.
The water in the kalasha symbolizes the primordial water from which the entire creation
emerged. It is the giver of life to all and has the potential of creating innumerable names and
forms, the inert objects and the sentient beings and all that is auspicious in the world from
the energy behind the universe. The leaves and coconut represent creation.
The thread represents the love that "binds" all in creation. The kalasha is therefore
considered auspicious and worshipped. The waters from all the holy rivers, the knowledge of
all the Vedas and the blessings of all the deities are invoked in the kalasha and its water is
thereafter used for all the rituals, including the abhisheka.
The consecration (kumbhaabhisheka) of a temple is done in a grand manner with elaborate
rituals including the pouring of one or more kalashas of holy water on the top of the temple.
When the asuras and devas churned the milky ocean, the Lord appeared bearing the pot of
nectar, which blessed one with everlasting life.
Thus the kalasha also symbolizes immortality. Men of wisdom are full and complete as they
identify with the infinite Truth (poornatvam). They brim with joy and love and respect all
that is auspicious. We greet them with a purnakumbha ("full pot") acknowledging their
greatness and as a sign of respectful and reverential welcome, with a "full heart".
