Panakam, or Panagam, is a traditional Indian drink offered to Lord Narasimha, an avatar of God Vishnu. The potion is an infusion of jaggery, water, and spices, which is said to have several health benefits.

But why is it specifically offered to Narasimha? Let’s explore the reasons behind this tradition.

Legend Behind The Association Of Panakam And Narasimha

The avatar of Narasimha resembles a half-lion/half-man, one of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu. The legend behind this avatar goes that the demon king Hiranyakashipu, who had received a boon that made him invincible, grew arrogant and began to challenge the existence of God. He even went to the extent of trying to kill his own son, Prahlada, who was a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu.

Lord Vishnu transformed into Narasimha form and killed Hiranyakashipu to protect Prahlada. So, people celebrate this incident as the festival of Narasimha Jayanti, which falls in the Hindu month of Vaishakha. On this day, devotees offer Panakam to Narasimha, as it’s believed to have a cooling effect on the body and help alleviate the heat generated by anger.

Significance of Panakam

Panakam is also considered a symbol of humility and surrender, as it’s a simple drink made of ordinary ingredients. Offering Panakam to Narasimha represents a gesture of devotion & bowing down to the divine and a reminder that even the most dominant beings must ultimately succumb to a higher power.

Furthermore, the ingredients used in Panakam also have spiritual significance. Jaggery is considered a pure form of sugar and represents the sweetness of devotion, while water symbolizes purity and the ability to cleanse. The spices used, such as ginger, cardamom, and pepper, have medicinal properties and aid digestion.

So, you can also enjoy the celebratory act of offering Panakam to Narasimha or Lord Vishnu to show your reverence for divine power and promote great health and well-being.

How To Make Panakam?

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