To Shankari Kali about Essentials for Homa (was HOMA AND 9 PLANETS)

May 2, 2007

Shankari Kali wrote:

....I would like to have a sacred fire, but I'm a bit wary of the cost of all the unusual items required.

Dear Shankari Kali ~ I too would be interested to know what is absolutely essential, and in the absence of being able to have everything, what or which are the most important. I know from seeing Swamiji perform puja on the banks of a river in Colorado, and from the story about how he saved a village from drought (quite a story*) by chanting the Chandi Path sitting in a tree, that Swamiji sometimes says, and shows, just do the practice with what you have. In the tree, he pulled leaves off to offer to the Goddess as he had none of the usual things. And at the Homa in Colorado, he said, for all of us who didn't have flowers, to take the "flowers" from within our hearts and offer them to the Diety. When I watched the class about setting up the sacred fire, there was something especially sweet about seeing Swamiji pick up a flower and touch it to his head and heart before offering it to the fire. It reached right into my own heart. Swamiji Ki Jai! ~ Linda

*the book is "Sahib Sadhu," a story about Swamiji, his spiritual journey, and how me and Maa met. It is really a wonderful book.See what's free at AOL.com.

May 3, 2007

That's just so beautiful. I would like to hear about Swami saving a village. Should we just pick up native items (from Washington), and offer them to the goddess? I'm more than willing to try. It's still cold here, so a fire would be nice. I think I'll listen to Swami's audio about the Homa, and try and see if I can start one up this weekend.Peace,Shankari Kalinierika wrote: Shankari Kali wrote: ...I would like to have a sacred fire, but I'm a bit wary of the cost of all the unusual items required. Dear Shankari Kali ~ I too would be interested to know what is absolutely essential, and in the absence of being able to have everything, what or which are the most important. I know from seeing Swamiji perform puja on the banks of a river in Colorado, and from the story about how he saved a village from drought (quite a story*) by chanting the Chandi Path sitting in a tree, that Swamiji sometimes says, and shows, just do the practice with what you have. In the tree, he pulled leaves off to offer to the Goddess as he had none of the usual things. And at the Homa in Colorado, he said, for all of us who didn't have flowers, to take the "flowers" from within our hearts and offer them to the Diety. When I watched

the class about setting up the sacred fire, there was something especially sweet about seeing Swamiji pick up a flower and touch it to his head and heart before offering it to the fire. It reached right into my own heart. Swamiji Ki Jai! ~ Linda *the book is "Sahib Sadhu," a story about Swamiji, his spiritual journey, and how me and Maa met. It is really a wonderful book.See what's free at AOL.com.

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