abhisheka

An abhisheka is a consecration or anointment ritual. In Vajrayana Buddhism, abhisheka rituals are performed to initiate practitioners into the practices focused on a certain deity. These ceremonies often involve anointing the heads of practitioners with water, meditative visualizations, making vows, chanting mantras and being introduced into a mandala. Hindu priests perform abhisheka rituals on statues, either to invite the deity to reside there, or to wash the statue and worship the deity that inhabits it. Historically, abhishekas were also performed to coronate Hindu kings.