Homam

IMPORTANCE OF HOMAM

 

There are some rituals like Homam, Yagnam which are performed for atonement of sins and possession of righteousness. Basically, this is carried out so that one could grab punyan (merit) in order to fulfill one’s material or spiritual desires.

The two main components used while performing Homam, Yagnam or Tarpanam are fire and water. It is proclaimed that the entire universe constitutes of five major elements known as the ‘panchabhootas’. Amongst these five elements, Earth is considered the heaviest and most concrete element. Comparatively, air and space are the lightest of all and very philosophical. This is the reason that the saints have chosen fire and water as the major elements in their ‘sadhana’.

Similar to the five elements present in the universe, these are present in the human body too. Inside the body, fire is present in two forms – Jatara-Agni (Digestive fire in the body) anf Bhoota-Agni (Internal Spiritual Fire in the body). Generally, Jatara-Agni burns brighlty in most humans and Bhoota-Agni is a merely low dim flame. It is believed that the deity satisfies the desires of the person who performs this ritual. Homam has been considered as the fastest way to acquire the deity’s grace. Some of the very well-known Homams performed by the saints in temples are Chandi Homam, Ayush Homam, Sudarshana Homam, Mrityunjaya Homam, Pashupata Homam and Ganapati Homam. It is also said that the gases coming out of the kunda re-energizes the aura and rejuvenates the soul. In the earlier days, people used to perform these fire rituals everyday. These people came to be known as Nitya-Agnihotris. The most excellent example of Nitya-Agnihotri is Lord Rama.

TYPES OF HOMAM

GANAPATI HOMAM

Ganapati Homam brings prosperity, health and wealth. If a person is suffering from any problem then praying to Lord Ganesha can heal their obstacles. It is performed to get happiness, prosperity and good health of your dear ones. If you are planning to start a new venture, then Ganesh Homam is a must. Also, Maha Ganapati Homam is performed when one is getting married, or when you are undergoing losses, or any other obstacle or during your child’s or your birthday celebrations. Lord Ganesha, or the Lord of Gananas, is worshipped for intelligence, success and buddhi. Ganesha is also considered as the God of knowledge and education, literature and fine arts. Recommended Time to Perform : This ritual is believed to be performed during Sankatahara Chaturthi or atleast once in a year. If you wish to perform a customized Homam then the dates can be fixed as per your Janma Nakshatra and the Tithi of that date.

SUDHARSHANA HOMAM

In order to grant immediate relief to the sufferings of his devotees during this homam, Lord Sudarshana uses his mighty weapon “Chakra”. This homam will always help you in relieving your sufferings and worries. By performing this homam, you feel entitled with positive energy. As we know, “Sudarshana Chakra” has healing characteristics. Therefore, this homam can protect you from many health sufferings. This is considered to be the best homam for protecting yourself from harmful things, negative chants and evil eyes. Recommended Time to Perform : This Homam is performed on Ekadashi, Dwadashi and Poornima Tithis that comes on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

SARASWATI HOMAM

This homam relates to Goddess Saraswati who is considered to be the God of Wisdom, Intelligence and Knowledge. This homam has proved to be highly beneficial for students who wish to improve their career prospects and enhance their academic rankings. The main ingredient in this homam is Amla. Recommended Time to Perform : Just before 3 months of the students exams or tests, this homam should be performed. Although you can choose any appropriate date as per your Nakshatra analysis. You can even perform this homam during Panchami Tithi.

SWAYAMVARA PARVATHI HOMAM

The Swayamvara Parvathi Homam is performed to resolve all the pre-marital and post-marital problems and lead a peaceful and harmonious life. This homam has the effect to conquer all the bad effects of adverse planetary combinations in your birth chart. It is believed that Lord Shiva himself chanted this mantra to Parvati. This homam can remove all the obstacles that delay marriage and enable one to find their perfect life partner. Recommended Time to Perform : The most auspicious time to perform this homam is during Panchami Tithis that fall on Fridays. Also, your birth star days can be considered as the best time to perform this homam.

PUTRAKAMESHTI PARVATHI HOMAM

This is a special kind of homam performed by the couples who want a male child or by childless couples. According to the Atharva Veda, this homam helps in having children, recovering from all the paternal inherited Doshas and blessed with prolonged life with the blessings of Lord Narayana. According to Ramayana, King Dasharatha of Ayodhya performed this homam upon the recommendation of Sage Vashishta and under the supervision of Rishishringa Muni. As soon as the homom completed successfully, Agnidev, the Lord of Fire, appeared and handed a bowl of sweet to the King. This sweet was given to all his three queens to give birth to Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna. Recommended Time to Perform : This homam is usually recommended to be done on Wednesdays or Thursdays or any favourable date adaptable with your Janma nakshatra

DHANVANTARI HOMAM

Dhanvantari Homam is basically done in the remembrance of Lord Dhanvantari Moorthy who is believed to be the embodiment of Lord Vishnu. This homam is considered to be the best homam amongst all because it brings relief from all sorts of severe health issues. For all those who suffer from frequent health problems, this homam is highly recommended. Also, you can perform this homam once every year to resolve all health related issues. Recommended Time to Perform : The most preferable day to perform this homam is on Ekadashi which is considered to be the most auspicious day for Lord Vishnu.

AYUSHA HOMAM

This homam is performed for long life and removal of all obstacles under the supervision of learned Purohits. Ayusha homam is carried to worship the god of life (Ayur Devatha). This can be performed once every year for healthy life. By conducting this homam, you get the blessings for long life from Ayur Devatha. This homam is mainly essential for children in balarishta yoga. Recommended Time to Perform : Ayush homam can be done on the birthdays based on the stars. One can also conduct this homam at the right time after analyzing the birth chart.

MAHA RUDRA HOMAM

The Maha Rudra Homam is a very powerful fire ritual that cleanses the inner spiritual system of a person. Rudra means Shiva and as the supreme Lord of the universe, Shiva provides the individual with inner peace and gives all worldly pleasures. The science behind this homam states that this homam connects us to fire which is one of the five elements in nature. It is believed that Lord Krishna, during the war of Kurukshetra chanted the Sri Rudram. Also, there are eleven Anuvakas or chapters in Sri Rudra and also eleven Anuvakas in the Chamaka Prashna. It is believed that greater the number of repetitions of the mantra, greater is the effect. Recommended Time to Perform : This homam is basically performed by eleven pandits who chant the Rudram eleven times a day for eleven continuous days.

NAVA GRAHA HOMAM

This Homam is usually performed to remove all obstacles from life and gain ‘Ayur, Arogya and Saukhyam’ (longevity, health and happiness). The main things required to perform this puja are nine varieties of flowers, nine cereals, nine vastrams and nine types of Naivedyams. Every graha is worshipped with a specific flower during the puja. The nine planets namely, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu are worshipped during the homam as an effective remedy for the Navagraha Doshas. This homam is of extreme benefit as it has the power to counter the flaws in one’s horoscope. Recommended Time to Perform : The Homam can be performed after consulting a learned astrologer. Astrologer would recommend the proper Muhurat based on an individual’s natal chart. The date and time are fixed as per the performer’s nakshatra on any single date.

PUSHKARA HOMAM

The Pushkara Homam is conducted to maintain the eternal happiness of a person on a permanent basis. It is important to be connected to eternity because this takes you to heights of happiness and bundles of peacefulness. By performing Pushkara Homam, you reach the Supreme being and then it is sure that He would embellish permanent happiness over you.

CHANDI HOMAM

According to the followers of Shaktism sect in Hinduism, Homam is the supreme form of worship. Chandi is another name of the Goddess mentioned in Devi Mahatmayam. According to Devi Mahatmayam, this Goddess is shown as eighteen armed, each of which has a different weapon. This Homam is conducted to endeavour the blessings of Goddess Durga. By performing this Homam, you can benefit from good health and a happy family life. This puja is conducted in almost all the temples. Recommended Time to Perform : This is conducted during the 9 days of Navratri. Also, you can plan for this puja on days like Ashtami, Navami, Chaturdashi, Magha Amavasya, Jyeshta Amavasya, Chaithra and Karthik Pournami. Performing the Homam during daytime and finishing it before sunset is the best practice.

PROCEDURE TO PERFORM HOMAM

Place the Havan kund on the East so that when you sit for havan, you sit facing the east. Also, place a spoonful of water and tumbler on the northeast side of the havan kund with some akshat and flower in it.

  • Permission —- Think of Lord Ganesh deep in your mind, who is considered to be the supreme power. Also, do not forget to remember the saint of your gotra, your guru and all the Gods and take their permission.
  • Achmanium —- Now, you have to take some water from the tumbler with a spoon and drink it by chanting “Om Kesavaya Swaha”. Again take water and say “Om Narayanay Swaha”. And at last take water and say “Om Madhavaya Swaha”.
  • Ganesh Puja —- Whatever homam you are conducting, start by praying to Lord Ganpati to get his blessings in order to make the puja successful.
  • Pranayam —- The next step is to do Pranayam. For this place your little finger and the ring finger on the left nostril and thumb on the right nostril. Then, firstly close your left nostril and take a deep breath from the right nostril chanting the Gayatri mantra. After this, close the right nostril and chant the Gayatri mantra. Next, you have to open the left nostril and release the breath chanting the Gayatri mantra again. Keep your right nostril closed and take a deep breath from the left nostril reciting the Gayatri mantra, close the left nostril again recite the Gayatri mantra. Again, open the right nostril and release the breath reciting the Gayatri mantra again. This makes one set. You can repeat this as many times you want as it will purify your mind as well as the body.

 

  • Sankalpa —- Then you have to declare the intention what the havan is about. Deep in your mind think of the God and take little akshat. Now, leave the akshat in front of the havan kund. Finally, light the lamp(pradeep/Diya) with ghee or oil.
  • Kalash Shudhi —- Recite the verse and a take a little water from the tumbler and sprinkle it on yourself. This is done to purify the water in the tumbler which was placed in the northeast of the havan kund.
  • Starting the Fire —- Now place the woods inside the kund and a piece of camphor/ kapoor. Light the camphor chanting the mantra “Om bhurbhuvassuvarom”. Then you have to pray to Agni Devta (Fire God) while performing the havan. During the havan, keep putting drops of ghee on the burning woods so that it catches fire well.
  • Maha Ganpati Havan —- Start by offering sandalwood into the agni, then offer flowers, then offer naivedyam. All the items are offered to Maha Ganpati in the havan kund. Keep putting little ghee every time reciting the following mantra “Om Gam Ganapataya Namaha Swaha”.
  • Main Part —- After you are done with the offerings, start chanting the mantra of the deity and keep pouring little drops of ghee while reciting the mantra 108 times. At last, offer naivedyam to the God and aarti to the deity with camphor in the havan kund.
  • Purnahuti —- Purnahuti is a combination of two words i.e. ‘purna’ and ‘ahuti’ where purna means complete and Ahuti means offering. Place a half dry coconut inside a red cloth along with all the items used in havan and a one rupee coin. Then soak this cloth in ghee so that this helps the ahuti to burn properly. Now put the purnahuti in the fire but be careful while dropping that it does not disturb the fire.
  • Kshama/ Forgiveness —- During the purnahuti, sit straight and pray to your deity. Pray to God for all your mistakes you have done knowingly or unknowingly, and ask for his forgiveness.

After the havan completes, take ash from the kund, mix it with ghee and apply it to the idol and then to your forehead. This can be preserved and used later

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