Guide To Hindu Homa (Havan) And Festivals

By London Swaminathan

Hindu ‘Fire ceremonies’ called Yaga, Yagna, Homa, and Havan are observed by the Hindus for thousands of years. My book is a collection of my articles written over ten years on this subject. I have added the festivals celebrated by the Hindus as well. It is not a comprehensive one. There are many more not reported here. But important rituals and fasts are covered in it. In the last section of the book, I have included my articles on Boons and Curses and Haloes and Importance of Days of the Week. In a way, they are all related to the title of book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pustaka Digital Media
• Release date: Feb 3, 2024
• ISBN: 6580553510368

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Guide To Hindu Homa (Havan) And Festivals

Author:

London Swaminathan

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Table of Contents

Foreword

1. Four Hundred  Types of Yagas

2. Nava Graha Homam

3. Ayush Homam

4. Aavahanthi Homam

5. Jayathi Homam

6. Mrtyunjaya Homa

7. Ati Rudra Yagam

8. Vastu Homa

9. Purusha Sukta Homa, Sri Sukta Homa and Gayatri Homa

10. Chandi Homam, Bhagavad Gita Homam, Pratyankara sulini homam

11. Sudarsana Homam : Hindu Guide to Havan ,Homas and Yagas

12. Things needed for Puja, Havan, Homa and Yagna

13. Hindus’ Great Investment Festival Akshaya Trithiyai

14. Hindus celebrate Four Navaratris with Little Girl Puja

15. No one can beat Hindus in Fasting-- Sir Monier Williams-1

16. No one can beat Hindus in Fasting- 2

17. No one can beat Hindus in Fasting- 3

18. Strange Hindu Vratas that Manu recommends!

19. Hindu Swastika Festival

20. Akshaya Navami Day is Important because of Rama’s Meeting with Bharata

21. Mahalaya Amavasai and Ancestors Worship

22. Ancestor Worship in Japan- Feast of Lanterns

23. Who named the Days of the week?

24. Is Saturday a Good Day ?- Part 1

25. Is Saturday a good day? -Part 2

26. The Great Lamp Festival- Karthikai Deepam

27. An Interesting study of Boons and Curses

28. Haloes are Real: New Scientist

29. Phenomenal Memory Power of Hindu Ascetics!

30. Three Books on a ‘Deity with a Thousand Names’: Vishnu Sahasranama

Foreword

Hindu ‘Fire ceremonies’ called Yaga, Yagna, Homa, and Havan are observed by the Hindus for thousands of years. My book is a collection of my articles written over ten years on this subject. I have added the festivals celebrated by the Hindus as well. It is not a comprehensive one. There are many more not reported here. But important rituals and fasts are covered in it. In the last section of the book, I have included my articles on Boons and Curses and Haloes and Importance of Days of the Week. In a way, they are all related to the title of book.

The fire ceremonies fall into a category which can be done only by the priests. Other festival rituals are done by housewives. Some may seek help from the priests. Hindus living in different parts of India celebrate some festivals on a grand scale. It differs from region to region; Hindus have celebrations all through the year. If a person keeps a festival calendar with him, then the person can enjoy festivals for all 365 days. This book serves as a short guide to those who want to know the basic details.

London swaminathan

October 2023

[e-mail]

1. Four Hundred Types of Yagas

Post No. 891 dated 6th March 2014

The Brahmin spoiled himself and spoiled others. By abandoning his Dharma he became a bad example to others. Now, after he had divested himself of his dharma, there was nothing to give him distinction, to mark him out from others — Kanchi Paramacharya Pujya Sri ChandraSekarendra Sarasvati.

Kanchi Paramacharya Sri Chandrasekarendra Saraswati Swamikal mentioned in one of his lectures that there are 400 different types of Yagas (Fire Altar Ceremonies) and Yajnas.

Following are excerpts from his talks on different occasions:

"What is a Yajna?

It is the performance of a religious duty involving Agni, the sacrificial fire, with the chanting of mantras. The word itself is derived from the root Yaj meaning to worship, to evince devotion. The performance of yajna is to please Paramatman (god) and various duties. Yajna is also called ‘Yaga’.

Three fold purpose

The Vedic sacrifices have a threefold purpose. (1) The first is to earn the blessings of the deities so that we as well as all other creatures may be happy in this world. (2) The second is to ensure that, after our death, we will happily live in the world of the celestials. (£) The third purpose is the most important and it is achieved by performing sacrifices, as taught by the Gita, without any expectation of reward. Here we desire neither happiness in this world nor residence in paradise. We perform sacrifices only because it is our duty to invoke the blessings of the gods for the welfare of the world.

Lord Krishna says,

Keep performing sacrifices. You will attain all good fortunes. May these sacrifices of yours be the cow that grants you all you desire (Kamadhenu)

"One is enjoined to perform 21 sacrifices. These are of three types: Paka yajna, Havir yajna and Soma yajna. In each category there are seven divisions. In all the seven Pakayajnas as well as in the first five Haviryajnas there is no animal sacrifice. It is only from the sixth Haviryajna onwards (niruda pasubandha) that animals are sacrificed.

To tell the truth, there is no sacrifice, in which a large number of animals are killed. For Vajapeya, which is the highest type of Yajna performed by the Brahmins, only twenty three animals are mentioned. For Asvamedha (horse sacrifice), the biggest of the sacrifices conducted by imperial rulers, one hundred animals are mentioned.

There are three types of sacrifices mentioned in the Atharva Veda-:

Santikam for peace, Paustikam for strength and Abhicarikam to bring injury to enemies. There are sacrifices which come independently under the Atharvaveda. According to Valmiki Ramayana Indrajit performed the Nikumbhila mentioned in this Veda.

Thevaram sung at Omampuliyur temple has good information about Yagas.

Aupasana: Aupasana begins with marriage and it is performed every day until one becomes a sanyasin or until one’s death.

Though members of the fourth Varna/caste do not wear the sacred thread they have the marriage ‘samskara’, along with it, Aupasana. Aupasana is one of the rights of this caste and it is to be conducted every day with the recitation of certain verses.

Samidhadhana : SAMIDHADHANA is performed by the student/bachelor twice a day offering sticks of Palasa tree in the fire. The rite is not continued after marriage.

Now I am adding my comments:- swami

400 types of Yagas

I.have tried to list as many Yagas as possible by looking at various sources:

1.Maha Ganapathy Homam: To get the blessings of Lord Ganesh it is performed in the beginning of all Hindu ceremonies and new ventures. Lord Ganesh is the god for success and wisdom. He will give troubles for those who ignore s him. He is always remembered in every new endeavour, whether it is secular or religious.

2. Sudarsana Homam: It is performed to get rid of evil spirits and troubles from enemies.

3. Navagraha Homam: It is performed to pacify the Nine Planets and avoid the evil effects of planets. This is also done in all the new buildings and new houses.

4. Ayush Homam: This is performed on every birth day of a family member for healthy and long life. The first birth anniversary of every child is celebrated with Ayush Homam and lot of people are fed on that day.

5. Agnihotra: Done by the married people. During the Bhopal Poison gas tragedy nearly 3000 people died. But two people who performed Agnihotra escaped from the evil effects of poisonous gas. It was widely reported in the news papers.

6. Kushmanda homam : This homa is a Prayaschitha Homa performed to get rid of the sins done by a person. Prayaschita means atonement.

7. Samidhadhanam: Every Brahmin bachelor is supposed to do it every day with peepal or palasa sticks and ghee in the fire. It is a very short ceremony with positive mantras. They praise the Gods as the greatest, brightest, most intelligent, strongest, boldest etc and pray for the same qualities.

8. Aupasanam: Done by the married people every day in the morning and the evening. They start doing it after the birth of the first