Question about Yagna

[Guest guest]

Question: What is the difference between Homa and Yagna and what

mantras and actions such as pradakshina and mudras are used

to begin these rituals - I have tried to discern the from Siva

Puajs -

but as usual just end up bewildering myself

 

DhanyavaadaH

 

Jai Maa

janaardana

 

Answer from Swamiji: Often the two are used synonymously, but

actually there is a

difference. Homa is a fire ceremony which is of a shorter duration,

and comprises

a smaller scope of sankalpa. For example, if we were to perform a

Sahasranam, a thousand names of one God or Goddess, along with

attendant

mantras, this would be a homa.

 

Yajna by comparison is generally of much longer duration, and

entails a

more involved sankalpa. For example, if we were to perform a Sahasra

Chandi Yajna, reading the entire Chandi Path before the same fire

every

day for a thousand days, along with various scriptures and mantras,

this

would be a yajna.