Q&A with Swamiji .....216...Homa for the death of a pet

[Guest guest]

Question from Chris:

My homa went very well, I thought. It was great fun (despite

the reason ie death of my pet).

 

I would like your input though. I faced the north when doing the

initial puja, etc., through the offerings to the yantra (since

I saw that the yantra is direction-specific). Since it was a

homa for a death, I assumed I should be facing south (since

south is the direction of Lord Yama), so I moved my asan for

the lighting of the fire and the homa. Is this proper, or did I

err?

 

Somewhat related, in the Shiva puja, when offering flowers to

the various murtis of Shiva in the eight directions, we offer

to Soma in the south. It made me wonder if death and rebirth

are then part of the somavijnana. It seems logical..

 

Swamiji's response :

I personally perform all yajnas facing North or East. Only when I

perform the shraddha and tarpan do I face South.

 

Actually Soma resides in the North. Please take a look at the Yantra

in the Shiva Advanced book on page 217 and the mantra on page 218.