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Amrita or Amrit (Sanskrit: अमृत; Punjabi: ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤ; Kannada: ಅಮೃತ) is a Sanskrit word that literally means "without death", and is often referred to in texts as nectar. Corresponding to ambrosia, it has differing meaning and significance in several religions of Indian origin.

In Hinduism

It is repeatedly referred to as the drink of the gods, which grants them immortality.

Amrit features in the Samudra manthan, where the gods, because of a curse from the sage Durvasa, begin to lose their immortality. With the help of the asuras (demons), they churned the sea in order to find the nectar of immortality, amrit. After drinking it, the gods regained their immortality and defeated the demons.

In yogic philosophy (see yoga, Hindu philosophy) amrita is a fluid that can flow from the pineal gland down the throat in deep states of meditation. It is considered quite a boon: some yogic texts say that one drop is enough to conquer death and achieve immortality. Modern neurochemistry holds that the pineal gland produces Dimethyltryptamine, a psychedelic tryptamine, which is probably responsible for our REM-dreams. ^{[citation needed]}

"Amrit" is also a common Hindu first name for men; the feminine is "Amritā".

In Sikhism

Amrit is the name of the holy water used in the baptism ceremony (known as Amrit Sanskar or Amrit Chhakhna by the Sikhs). This ceremony is observed to initiate the Sikhs into the Khalsa brotherhood. The ceremony requires the drinking of the Amrit. This water is created by mixing a number of soluble ingredients, including sugar, and is then mixed with a Khanda (a type of sword) with the accompaniment of scriptural recitation of five sacred Banis (chants).

In Buddhism

Amrita, under its Tibetan name of dutsi, also features in Tibetan Buddhist mythology, where it is linked to the killing of the monster Rahu by Vajrapani, whose blood dripped onto the surface of this earth, causing all kinds of medicinal plants to grow.

Dutsi also refers to a herbal medicine made during ceremonies involving many high lamas in Tibetan Buddhism, known as drubchens. It usually takes the form of small, dark-brown grains that are taken with water, or dissolved in very weak solutions of alcohol, and is said to improve physical and spiritual well-being.^{[citation needed]}

References

Dallapiccola, Anna L. Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend. ISBN 0-500-51088-1

External links

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 ''Amrit'' features in the ''[[Samudra manthan]]'', where the gods, because of a curse from the sage Durvasa, begin to lose their immortality. With the help of the ''[[asuras]]'' (demons), they churned the sea in order to find the nectar of immortality, ''amrit''. After drinking it, the gods regained their immortality and defeated the demons.
-In yogic philosophy (see [[yoga]], [[Hindu philosophy]]) amrita is a fluid that can flow from the [[pineal gland]] down the throat in deep states of meditation. Modern neurochemistry holds that the [[pineal gland]] produces [[Dimethyltryptamine]], a [[psychedelic]] [[tryptamine]], which is probably responsible for our [[REM sleep|REM]]-[[dreams]]. It is considered quite a boon: some yogic texts say that one drop is enough to conquer death and achieve immortality.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
+In yogic philosophy (see [[yoga]], [[Hindu philosophy]]) amrita is a fluid that can flow from the [[pineal gland]] down the throat in deep states of meditation. It is considered quite a boon: some yogic texts say that one drop is enough to conquer death and achieve immortality.  Modern neurochemistry holds that the [[pineal gland]] produces [[Dimethyltryptamine]], a [[psychedelic]] [[tryptamine]], which is probably responsible for our [[REM sleep|REM]]-[[dreams]]. {{Fact|date=February 2007}}
 "Amrit" is also a common Hindu first name for men; the feminine is "Amritā".