Guest guest Posted February 24, 2004 Report Share Posted February 24, 2004 Generally oblations are made to the fire, while offerings can be made at any time, with or without a deity. , "Chris Kirner" <chriskirner1956> wrote: > I was wondering if someone would be kind enough to answer these > questions for me. > > What is the difference between an oblation and an offering? > > What is the purpose and meaning of each? > > Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2004 Report Share Posted February 24, 2004 Offering is generally associated with some "kaamya vrata" and there is an element of some desire/gains at some point in time. Where as the oblation has an interesting significance and is nicely explained by Yaska. At the time of each oblation it is customary to say "........ svaahaH" Yaaska explains the expression svaahaa, as it implies the renunciation of ego, svatvahava: su aahaa iti vaa, svaa vaag aaheti vaa, svam praaheti vaa, svahuta.m havirjuhoti iti vaa Hope this helps, Regrads, Dr. Yadu , "swami_satyanandasaraswati" <swami_satyanandasaraswati> wrote: > Generally oblations are made to the fire, while offerings can be > made at any time, with or without a deity. > > > , "Chris Kirner" > <chriskirner1956> wrote: > > I was wondering if someone would be kind enough to answer these > > questions for me. > > > > What is the difference between an oblation and an offering? > > > > What is the purpose and meaning of each? > > > > Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Dr. Yadu Thanks. Yes, I was taught, when invoking Agni internally, to associate the ghee oblation with the offering of the ego to Agni. The meaning of these acts still elude me. There is much about the meaning of ceremony that eludes me. I feel very natural praying to God to please accept my heart; to Agnideva to accept and burn the dross of my ego in his purifying flames. There is nothing else between us, but that which I carry within. Of course, it is a great honor to be able to sit in front of God when he inhabits his body of flame. But when he comes I am feeding him ghee and rice and herbs. What need has he of ghee and rice and herbs? Pandit Tigunait taught that the offerings purify and support the atmosphere, physical and metaphysical, but that still doesn't seem to satisfy me. This whole relationship between inner and outer, between jiva and deva, is very mysterious. I think there is much more to it than simply throwing things into a fire - beyond the mantra shakti which accompanies ceremony. Chris , "ymoharir" <ymoharir> wrote: > Offering is generally associated with some "kaamya vrata" and there > is an element of some desire/gains at some point in time. > > Where as the oblation has an interesting significance and is nicely > explained by Yaska. > > At the time of each oblation it is customary to say "........ svaahaH" > > Yaaska explains the expression svaahaa, as it implies the > renunciation of ego, svatvahava: > > su aahaa iti vaa, svaa vaag aaheti vaa, svam praaheti vaa, svahuta.m > havirjuhoti iti vaa > > Hope this helps, > > Regrads, > > Dr. Yadu > > , "swami_satyanandasaraswati" > <swami_satyanandasaraswati> wrote: > > Generally oblations are made to the fire, while offerings can be > > made at any time, with or without a deity. > > > > > > , "Chris Kirner" > > <chriskirner1956> wrote: > > > I was wondering if someone would be kind enough to answer these > > > questions for me. > > > > > > What is the difference between an oblation and an offering? > > > > > > What is the purpose and meaning of each? > > > > > > Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Hello Chris: >>>>>But when he comes I am feeding him > ghee and rice and herbs. What need has he of ghee and rice and herbs?<<<<<< He has no need of any of this it is the Sadhaka's ego that needs oblation. Shiva smahita tell us "aayurvai ghR^itam". Meaning - Consumption of Ghee helps longevity. Medically speaking this absolutely make no sense because Ghee is all saturated fat, so it should not only be bad for you but deadly. However, small amount of Ghee is OK and rather essential as well, because our heart muscle derives the energy from fat and not carbohydrates. Yogi is usually starving. Therefore it is OK. If he is deprived of fat completely then his heart would not survive either ?!! That is why most of gee is oblates rather than consumed by the saadhakaa. Our Veada defines food very elegantly. "yata adyate tat annam" (Meaning - What we eat is food). It also tell us yat atti tat annama ( Meaning - What eats you is also food) Example - Fungi, Mushrooms, high Cholesterol. Rice represents the carbohydrates that are necessary for the energy production. Some "Herbs" have medicinal properties. These were cleverly utilized by Charaka. (The delivery form is actually through nasal passage.). Some herbs have excellent mosquito repellent properties. Indian Frankessence (bosewellia serrata has excellent applications in the management of Artheritis. Some recent research have documented the presence of COX-II inhibitors as well.) All rituals have some symbolic meaning, usually more than one and has to understood from your own teacher or one must strive to learn it by themselves through svaaddhyaaya. Hope this helps. Best Wish for your continued progress. Regards, Dr. Yadu , "Chris Kirner" <chriskirner1956> wrote: > Dr. Yadu > > Thanks. > > Yes, I was taught, when invoking Agni internally, to associate the > ghee oblation with the offering of the ego to Agni. > > The meaning of these acts still elude me. There is much about the > meaning of ceremony that eludes me. > > I feel very natural praying to God to please accept my heart; to > Agnideva to accept and burn the dross of my ego in his purifying > flames. There is nothing else between us, but that which I carry > within. > > Of course, it is a great honor to be able to sit in front of God when > he inhabits his body of flame. But when he comes I am feeding him > ghee and rice and herbs. What need has he of ghee and rice and herbs? > > Pandit Tigunait taught that the offerings purify and support the > atmosphere, physical and metaphysical, but that still doesn't seem to > satisfy me. > > This whole relationship between inner and outer, between jiva and > deva, is very mysterious. I think there is much more to it than > simply throwing things into a fire - beyond the mantra shakti which > accompanies ceremony. > > Chris > > > > , "ymoharir" <ymoharir> wrote: > > Offering is generally associated with some "kaamya vrata" and there > > is an element of some desire/gains at some point in time. > > > > Where as the oblation has an interesting significance and is nicely > > explained by Yaska. > > > > At the time of each oblation it is customary to say "........ > svaahaH" > > > > Yaaska explains the expression svaahaa, as it implies the > > renunciation of ego, svatvahava: > > > > su aahaa iti vaa, svaa vaag aaheti vaa, svam praaheti vaa, > svahuta.m > > havirjuhoti iti vaa > > > > Hope this helps, > > > > Regrads, > > > > Dr. Yadu > > > > , "swami_satyanandasaraswati" > > <swami_satyanandasaraswati> wrote: > > > Generally oblations are made to the fire, while offerings can be > > > made at any time, with or without a deity. > > > > > > > > > , "Chris Kirner" > > > <chriskirner1956> wrote: > > > > I was wondering if someone would be kind enough to answer these > > > > questions for me. > > > > > > > > What is the difference between an oblation and an offering? > > > > > > > > What is the purpose and meaning of each? > > > > > > > > Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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