Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 55
Dharmānukathana
Narration of Dharma
तिलतैलेन संस्नाप्य विष्णुं वा शिवमेव च । स याति तत्तत्सारूप्यं पितृभिः सह सप्तभिः ॥ ५५ ॥
tilatailena saṃsnāpya viṣṇuṃ vā śivameva ca | sa yāti tattatsārūpyaṃ pitṛbhiḥ saha saptabhiḥ || 55 ||
तीळतेलाने विष्णू किंवा शिव यांचा अभिषेक केल्यास तो त्या देवतेचे सारूप्य प्राप्त करतो आणि सात पितरांसह कल्याण पावतो.
Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada in dialogue style)
Vrata: none (general abhiṣeka rule applicable to Viṣṇu/Śiva)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
FAQs
It teaches that a simple, sincere ritual act—anointing/bathing Viṣṇu or Śiva with sesame oil—can yield a high spiritual fruit: sārūpya (divine likeness), and it also elevates one’s ancestral line (up to seven pitṛs).
Bhakti is shown as accessible through concrete worship (abhiṣeka/upacāra). Devotion expressed in offering and reverence to the chosen deity (Viṣṇu or Śiva) becomes the direct cause of divine grace and liberation-like attainment (sārūpya).
Ritual procedure (kalpa-oriented practice) is implied: using a specific dravya (tilataila) for abhiṣeka and understanding its phala (result), linking worship acts with prescribed outcomes, including pitṛ-benefit across seven generations.