Two questions for Swamiji on the use the om agnir jyotir prayer

[Guest guest]

srini wrote:

 

You can do Prana Pratishta to an external object, including a murti

or deity; to the fire, or to a pot. So, you can do it outside the fire.

When we are chanting Sahasranama (1000 names) of a God or Goddess we

say Namaha after each name when we are not at the fire. We substitute swaha

for

Namaha when we are at the fire.

 

Example:

 

Not at the fire: Om Shivayah Namaha

At the fire: Om Shivayah Swaha

 

 

 

Dear Swamiji ~ alas ~ I have a question relating to the use of the word,

'svaha,' in a particular case and another question about using a specific

prayer, separate from recitation of scriptures. One of my favorite parts of a puja,

which seems to be included in most of them, is the chant which starts: om

agnir jyotir jyotir agnih svaha ... (the Divine Fire is the light...).

I love this prayer.

 

So my first question is: is it okay for to take this prayer and use it,

separate from puja, as a mantra?

 

Second question: This has Swaha at the end of almost every line. When I am

doing recitation (which for me is my way of doing puja for now, because of my

health), should I leave the Swaha out of this one, or is it okay to include

it?

 

Thank you so much for your generous gift of time to your devotees ~ Linda