MahA samprOkshanam : why do we Homams ?: Part I

[Guest guest]

Dear BhakthAs of Sri RanganAthA:

 

There are many events planned for the MahA SamprOkshaNam

for Lord RanganAthA Temple(May 23-27). There are Veda PaarAyanam ,

Prabhandha PaarAyanam , Nithya AarAdhanam , Thirumanjanam ,

AlankAram and Cultural events .

 

The Most important items during any Vaidhika KarmA

like PerumAL's MahA samprOkshaNam are Homams performed

in consecrated YaagasAlai . After Agni prathishtai,

and Saanthi Homam , Nithya Homams and PoorNAhUthis are

performed daily for the consecration of the Temple as a place

sacred for the residence of the PerumAL and ThAyar at

the different Sannidhis.

 

On the second day (May 24),the Lord's eyes are

ceremonially opened (NethrOnmeeLanam)and right after

that Agni KunDa Homam is done to set in

motion the other Homams on the subsequent days.

 

Let us reflect on why we do Homams ( yaj~nams/Yaagams)

by taking as an example Purusha Sooktham , which describes

the greatest of Yaagams done by SaadhyA DEvAs (Nithya Sooris)

and Rishis for the creation of the Cosmos through

the invocation of the Parama Purushan , Sriman NaarAyanan .

 

Prior to study of the Purusha Sooktham as the primordial

Homam in a Yaagam called Sarvahuth Yaagam , let us study

the references to the mysteries of Yaj~nam and the Lord's

role in it as a doer, helper and enjoyer of the fruits of

the Homam . The references are in Sri VishNu Sahasra Naamam

almost at the very end of the Sahasra Naamam ( Names 971-982).

Let us cover the brief meanings of these 12 Naamams relating

to Homams /Yaj~nams based on Professor A.SrinivAsa raghavn's

translation of Swamy PrAsara Bhattar's BhAshyam :

 

971: (PraNavam) Yaj~nya Nama:

 

The Lord is identified here as the Yaj~nam or Sacrifice.

He serves as the UpAyam for those , who do not have

the spiritual rigor/Tapas and yet wish to attain His sacred

feet . Through japa Yaj~nam , He Himself becomes the Yaj~nam.

 

972: ( " ) Yaj~napathayE nama:

 

As the Lord of the Yaj~nam , He gives the Yaj~na

phalan to those , who performed the Yaj~nam to please

Him. A Supreme example is Lord VaradarAjA , who appeared

before Chathur Mukha BrahmA to bless him with the fruits

of that Yaj~nam performed on Hasthigiri at Kaanchi.

 

973: ( " ) YajvanE nama:

 

The Lord Himself becomes the performer of

the Yaj~nam for the purification of those

who are unable to observe the daily rites .

He says: " I Myself am doing without fail this

type of Yaj~nA at both dawn and dusk of every day " .

 

974: ( " ) Yaj~ngAya nama:

 

There are capable adhikAris , who perform these

Yaj~nams.Those Yaj~nams become auxilaries to the Yaj~nam

that He does at dawn and dusk of every day. These

Yaj~nams become sEsham to the One performed by

the Sarva Seshi, Bhagavaan Sriman NaarAyanan.

 

975: ( " ) Yaj~na-VAhanAya nama:

 

He assists those who perform the Homams by

blessing them with sakthi , adhikAram , faith

and accessories to complete their Yaj~nams.

 

976: ( " ) Yaj~nabhruthayE nama:

 

Even if the Homam is imperfectly performed

and has deficencies (Vikalasam) as a result ,

out of His KaaruNyam , He rectifies it

and blesses the performer of the Homam to

think of Him (KrishNAnusmaraNam) and reach

thereby the final sacrificial offering stage

known as PoorNAhUthi.

 

977: ( " ) Yaj~na-kruthayE nama:

 

He is the Creator of the Homam and Yaj~nam

for the KshEmam of the Universe (Jagath Hitham).

 

978: ( " ) Yaj~nE nama:

 

He is the YajamAnan (Master) for whom

all the Homams are done.

 

979: ( " ) Yaj~na BhujE nama:

 

He is the ultimate enjoyer of all the sacred

offerings associated with the Homams & Yaj~nams.

 

980: ( " ) Yaj~na SaadhanAya nama:

 

He stands as the gateway to Dhivya Jn~Anam that

leads one to the performance of the Homams/Yaj~nams.

 

981: ( " ) Yaj~nAntha-kruthE nama:

 

He provides the fruit of the Homams .

What is that Fruit ? Attainment of True

Knowledge about Him as ShAdguNya Sampoorna BhagavAN

is that supreme fruit of the HOmam .

 

982: ( " ) Yaj~na GuhyAya nama:

 

He is the secret of the Homam and Yaj~nams.

Professor A.SrinivAsa Raaghavan's translation of

Swamy ParAsara Bhattar's commentary for this

naamam is : " Though BhagavAn is not in wants

(NirapEkshan) , He accepts the offerings (Havis

and PoorNAhUthi) made in a sacrifice (HOmam/Yaj~nam)

as though He has long been expecting them and enjoys

them. Thus , He feels satisfied and also satisfies

those who perform the Homams to please Him.This is

understood by the wise and not by those , who have

superficial knowledge about the injunctions , means and

fruits of sacrifices . Hence , the name : " the secret

of the Yaj~nam/Homam " .

 

Please come and witness the Homams for Prathishtai

of the Lord in His consecrated temple.These Homams

and the ways of performing them to please the Lord

has been elaborated by Sages Sounakar, Aapasthampar

and BhOdhAyanar . The Rthviks will be performing

these ancient Homams at the Temple in YaagasAlA

with specially constructed Agni Kuntams .

 

In the next posting , adiyEn will cover the First

Homam/Yaj~nam known as the Sarvahuth Yaj~nam

( all encompassing Yaj~nam of Yaj~nams) that

is described in Purusha Sooktham .This Yaj~nam

created the four VedAs and the entire Naama-Roopa

prapancham .In view of the importance of this

Aadhi Homam/Yaj~nam , Purusha Sooktham that

describes it is housed in all the Four VedAs

with some variations( Rg Vedam : Tenth mandalam,

Nintieth Sooktham ; Sukla Yajur Veda VaajasanEya

Samhithai(31-1-16);KrishNa Yajur Vedam TaittirIya

AraNyakam(3-12-13); Saama Vedam (4-3) and Atharvana

Vedam (19-6-3).

 

Veda PurushAya nama:

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri SatakOpan