Shiv Abhishek ( Philosophy of Abhishek ) :
  "Alankaarapriyo Vishnuh, Abhishekpriyah Shivah" - Vishnu is very fond of Alankaar (fine dress, beautiful ornaments, etc); Shiv is fond of Abhishek." In Shiv temples, a pot made up of copper or brass with a hole in the centre is kept hanging over the image or Ling of Shiv, and water falls on the image throughout day and night. Pouring over the Ling, water, milk, ghee, curd, honey, cocoanut water, Panchaamrit, etc, is called Abhishek. Abhishek is done for Shiv. Rudram is chanted along with the Abhishek. Shiv is propitiated by Abhishek.

Shiv drank the poison that emanated from the ocean and wore the Gangaa and the Moon on his head to cool His head. He has the fiery third eye. Constant Abhishek cools this eye too.

The greatest and the highest Abhishek is to pour the waters of pure love on the Aatm Ling of the lotus of the heart. The external Abhishek with various objects will help the growth of devotion and adoration for Shiv and eventually lead to internal Abhishek with pure abundant flow of love.

Abhishek is a part of Shiv Poojaa. Without Abhishek, worship of Shiv is incomplete. During Abhishek Rudra, Purush Sookt, Chamakam, Mahaa Mrityunjaya Jap, etc, are chanted in a particular rhythm and order. Monday is very important day for Shiv and the 13th day of the fortnight ( Pradosh) is very sacred. On these days, devotees of Shiv worship him with special Poojaa, Abhishek with Ekaadash Rudra, Archanaa, offering plenty of Prasaad, and illumination.

In Ekaadash-Rudram Abhishek, every Rudram is chanted with distinctive articles for Abhishek. Gangaa water, milk, ghee, honey, rose-water, coconut water, sandal paste, Panchaamrit, scented oil, sugarcane juice and lime juice are made use of for Abhishek. After every Abhishek, pure water is poured over the head of Shiv Ling. When Rudra is recited only once, the different articles of Abhishek are made use of after every stanza of the Rudram. The Abhishek water or other articles used for Abhishek are considered very sacred and bestow immense benefits on the devotees who take it as the Lord's Prasaad. It purifies the heart and destroys countless sins. You must take it with intense Bhaav and faith.

When you do Abhishek with Bhaav and devotion, your mind is concentrated. Your heart is filled with the image of the Lord and divine thoughts. You forget your body and its relation and surroundings. Egoism gradually vanishes. When there is forgetfulness, you begin to enjoy and taste the eternal bliss of Shiv. Recitation of Rudram or "Om Namah Shivaaya" purifies the mind and fills it with Sattwa.

If you do Abhishek with Rudra Paath in the name of a person suffering from any disease he will be soon freed from that disease. Incurable diseases are cured by Abhishek. Abhishek bestows health, wealth, prosperity, progeny, etc. Abhishek on Monday is most auspicious.

By offering Panchaamrit (a mixture of honey, milk, yogurt, Ghee, Gangaa Water), to the Lord, thoughts about your body diminish. Selfishness slowly vanishes. You derive immense joy. You begin to increase your offerings unto the Lord. Therefore, self-sacrifice and self-surrender come in. Naturally, there is an outpouring from your heart, "I am Thine, my Lord. All is Thine, my Lord."

Kannappa Nayanar, a great devotee of Shiv, a hunter by profession, did Abhishek with the water in his mouth for the Ling at Kaalaahastee in South India and propitiated Shiv. Shiv is pleased by pure devotion. It is the mental Bhaav that counts and not the outward show. Shiv said to the temple priest : "This water from the mouth of Kannappa, my beloved devotee, is more pure than the water of the Gangaa".

A devotee should be regular in doing Abhishek for the Lord. He should get Rudram and Chamakam by heart. Ekaadash Rudra is more powerful and effective. In Northern India, every man or woman takes a lots of water and pours it on the image of Shiv. This also causes beneficial results and brings about the fulfillment of one's desire. Abhishek on Shiv Raatri day is very effective.

May you all recite Rudra Paath which describes the glory of Shiv and his manifestations in every living being, in every animate and inanimate being. May you do Abhishek daily and thus obtain the grace of Lord Shiv. May Lord Vishwanaath bless you all.

A Legend About Abhishek
 
Story goes that after creation was complete, Lord Shiv began to live on top of the mount Kailaash with his consort Paarvatee. One day, Paarvatee asked Shiv that his devotees perform many rituals to please the Lord, but which one pleases him most. To this, Shiv replied that the 14th night of the new moon, during the month of Phaalgun is his favorite day. The day is celebrated as Shiv Raatri. On this day, devotees observe strict spiritual discipline and worship Shiv in four different forms during each of the four successive three-hour periods of the night. Shiv further said that the devotees offer him Bel leaves (Bilva Patra) on that day and that those leaves were precious to him than the precious jewels and flowers. Explaining the right way of worshipping to Shiv, the Lord said, devotees should bathe me in the milk during the first period, in curd at the second, in clarified butter in the third and in honey in the fourth and the last period. Shiv further added that next morning devotees must feed the Braahman first and, only after following the prescribed ritual must he break the fast. Shiv further told Paarvatee that rituals of Shiv Raatri could not be compared with any other performed for him.

Paarvatee became deeply impressed with Shiv’s speech and she narrated it to her friends. Through them the word spread all over the creation. Hence, Shiv devotees began to celebrate Shiv Raatri by fasting and by performing the ceremonial baths and making an offering of Bel leaves.

Fruit of Abhishek and Rudram Jap in Shiv's Temple
Abhishek is a part of Shiv Poojaa. Without Abhishek, worship of Shiv is incomplete. During Abhishek, Rudra, Purush Sookt, Chamakam, Mahaa Mrityunjaya Mantra Jaap, Panchaksharee Mantra etc, are chanted. Chamakam is divided into eleven sections. Each of these is then combined with Namakam (Rudra) and repeated. This is called Rudra. Eleven such Rudra make one Laghu Rudra. Eleven Laghu Rudra make one Mahaa-Rudra. Eleven Mahaa-rudra make one Ati-rudra. Rudra is to be repeated after performing the initial Sankalp, Poojaa, Nyaas, Ang. Panchaamrit Snaan and Dhyaan. The fruit of Rudra Jap is stated as shown below:
No of Jap - Fruit of Jap
1 Rudram - Freedom from Baal Graha (diseases common to children).
3 Rudram - Freedom from imminent difficulties with which one is faced.
5 Rudram - Freedom from the evil effects of certain planets occupying unfavorable positions.
7 Rudram - Freedom from great fear.
9 Rudram - The fruit of one Vaajapeya sacrifice and also attainment of peace of mind.
11 Rudram - Getting the favor of kings and great wealth.
33 Rudram - Attainment of wishes for objects and having no enemies.
77 Rudram - Enjoyment of great happiness.
99 Rudram - Attainment of son, grandson, wealth, grain, Dharma, Arth, Kaam and Moksh and freedom from death.

1 Mahaa-rudram - Attainment of the favor of kings and becoming the Lord of great wealth.
3 Mahaa-rudram - Fulfillment of impossible tasks.
5 Mahaa-rudram - Acquirement of vast lands.
7 Mahaa-rudram - Attainment of the seven worlds.
9 Mahaa-rudram - Freedom from births and deaths.
10 Ati-rudram - Becoming God.
Fruits of Various Abhishek
Materials for Abhishek : Pure water, milk, sugarcane juice, lemon juic, ghee, honey, waters of sacred rivers, sea water, Kush water, rice powder, cooked rice, Panchaamrit, Panchgavya.

Milk gives long life, freedom from diseases, and for begetting a son. It is believed that by doing Abhishek with milk, even a barren woman begets children.
Ghee gives Moksh state
Curd gives good children
Honey gives melodious voice
Rice powder frees from debts
Sugar cane juice gives good health
Panchaamrit gives wealth
Lemon juice removes fear of death
Sugar cane juice gives good health and removes enmity
Tender coconut water gives enjoyment
Cooked Rice (Annam) gives majestic life
Sandal gives Lakshmi's grace
Water Abhishek gives rain.
Kush water Abhishek - becomes free from all diseases.
Scred water gives Moksh
Ghee, honey and sugarcane juice give wealth,
Bilva Patra and flowers should be offered in Shiv Poojaa. Please go to Shiv temple for every Pradosh and live in His grace blissfully.