amrita | nectar
Portions from Wikipedia:
Amrita or Amrit is a Sanskrit word that literally means “immortality”, and is often referred to in texts as nectar. The word’s earliest occurrence is in the Rigveda where it is one of several synonyms of soma, the drink which confers immortality upon the gods. It is related etymologically to the Greek ambrosia, and it carries the same meaning. It has various significances in different Dharmic Traditions.
Hinduism:
Amrita (“Nectar of the Goddess”) is repeatedly referred to as the drink of the gods, which grants them immortality.
Manthan
Amrita features in the “ocean-churning” (Sanskrit: Samudra manthan) legend. It describes how the gods, because of a curse from the sage Durvasa, begin to lose their immortality. Assisted by their mortal enemies the asuras, they churn the ocean (which was made of milk in those days) and create (among other wonderful things) amrita, the nectar of immortality.
In yogic philosophy (see yoga, Hindu philosophy) amrita is a fluid that can flow from the pituitary 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.
Amrita is sometimes said to miraculously form on/flow from statues of Hindu gods in a manner similar to statutes of Christian saints weeping water or blood. The substance so formed is consumed by worshippers and is alleged to be sweet tasting and not at all similar to honey or sugar water.
Vajrayana:
Amrita (Tibetan: bDud.rTsi, pronounced “dutsi”), also plays a significant role in Vajrayana Buddhism as a sacramental drink which is consumed at the beginning of all important rituals (e.g. abhisheka, ganachakra, Homa). In the Tibetan tradition, bDud.rTsi is made during drubchens – lengthy ceremonies involving many high lamas. 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.
A Vajrayana text called Dri.Med. Zhal.Ph’reng (“the immaculate crystal garland”) describes the origin of amrita in a version of the Hindu “ocean-churning” legend re-told in Buddhist terms. In this Vajrayana version, the monster Rahu steals the amrita and is blasted by Vajrapani’s thunderbolt. As Rahu has already drunk the amrita he cannot die but his blood, dripping onto the surface of this earth, causes all kinds of medicinal plants to grow. At the behest of all the Buddhas, Vajrapani reassembles Rahu who eventually becomes a protector of Buddhism (according to the Tibetan “Nyingma” tradition).
Wrathful Vajrapani
A legend from the “Immaculate Crystal Garland” (Dri Med Zhel Phreng) contains references to the use of soma/amrita in the Tibetan traditions. In the Legend of Chakdor, “all buddhas” gather on Mount Meru to produce the water of life (dutsi, or amrita) and use Mount Meru itself to churn the World Ocean, so that the dutsi may rise to the surface. The demon Rahu then steals it from Vajrapani and drinks it, then urinating into a large vessel, and flees. Vajrapani pursues him and splits him in two with his vajra. The other deities deliberate as to how to dispose of Rahu’s urine, which contains the amrita as well as the demon’s poison. It is decided that Vajrapani shall drink Rahu’s urine. Drinking it changes Vajrapani’s complexion from fair to dark, and he develops a tremendous rage against demons, in particular against Rahu, who is still alive, due to the effect of the amrita he drank; where drops of the amrita fall, medicinal plants can be found. As a punishment, the deities make Rahu into a horrible monster, more dreadful than he ever was before.