Brass Puja Bowl

A polished brass bowl for the puja altar: about 7.5 inches across and 2.75 inches deep. Simple and generous in size, it serves as a bowl for bhog, as an abhishek patra, and for panchamrit, flowers, akshata and everything else a daily puja calls for.

Quick facts

• Material: brass
• Size: about 7.5 inches across and 2.75 inches deep
• Weight: 310 g
• Finish: polished brass
• Origin: India

How it is used in puja

• Bhog (naivedya): offering cooked food, kheer, sweets or fruit to the deity, then sharing it as prasad
• Abhishek patra: holding the water, milk or panchamrit for abhishek, or set beneath a small murti or Shivling to collect what is poured, which is then taken as charanamrit
• Panchamrit: mixing milk, curd, ghee, honey and sugar for abhishek and prasad
• Flowers and akshata: holding loose flowers, petals or rice to offer during the puja
• Arghya and sacred water: a wide vessel for Ganga jal or water with flowers

Why brass

Brass has long been the metal of the puja altar: it is durable, holds its shape through daily use, and is traditionally kept apart for the deity’s offerings. With care, a brass bowl lasts for generations.

Care

• Wash with mild soap and water after use, and dry fully to prevent water spots.
• Serve in it rather than store food in it, and avoid leaving sour or acidic food, such as tamarind, lemon or curd, in brass.
• Brass naturally darkens over time. To restore its shine, clean it with pitambari powder, or with tamarind or lemon, then rinse and dry.
• Avoid steel scrubbers, which scratch the polished surface.

Frequently asked questions

What can this brass bowl be used for in puja?

It is used to offer bhog to the deity, as an abhishek patra, for panchamrit, and to hold flowers, akshata or sacred water during worship.

What is an abhishek patra?

An abhishek patra is the vessel used in abhishek, the ritual bathing of the deity. It holds the water, milk or panchamrit that is poured, or sits beneath a small murti or Shivling to collect it as charanamrit.

What size is the bowl?

About 7.5 inches across and 2.75 inches deep, and it weighs 310 g.

Is it made of brass?

Yes, it is brass with a polished finish.

Can I keep panchamrit or curd in it?

Use it to prepare and offer panchamrit, then transfer what is left to another vessel. Brass reacts with sour and acidic foods such as curd if they are left in it for long.

How do I clean a brass puja bowl?

Wash it with mild soap and water and dry it fully. If it darkens, clean it with pitambari powder, or tamarind or lemon, then rinse and dry.