How Homam Works

To fulfill our wishes and remove obstacles in daily life and profession, we perform Poojas, Homams, and Parayanams. These help attain goals by removing negativity, increasing focus, and invoking Devatha Anugraham (Divine Grace) for success.

The Science of Mantras

Rishis, through their immense Tapas (penance), realized that Vedas exist as Sabda Rasees (Sound Groups) in the atmosphere. They captured these sounds in their minds, chanted them, and passed them down. These Rishis are called Mantra Drashtas (Seers of Mantras).

Sasthra says we can invoke the Devatha's presence in Water, Fire, and the Brahmin. Hence, all Vaideeka Karmas involve a combination of Kumbha Sthapana (Water), Agni (Homam), and Brahmana Poojanam (Feeding).

• 🔥 "Agni Sarva devathaha" – All Devathas are in Fire.
• 💧 "Apo vai Sarva Devathaha" – All Devathas are in Water.
• 🧘 "Brahmano vai Sarva Devathaha" – All Devathas are in the Brahmin.

All Vedic Homams and Poojas are the combination of Kumbha Sthapana and Homam.

Kumbha Prathishtapanam

Vedoktha Devathas have no physical shape; they exist as energy (Chaithanyam). To worship them, we perform Kumbha Sthapanam to give them a physical form using the five elements (Panchabhootha). The Kumbha represents the body of the Devatha:

Devatha Anugraham

When Devatha Sannidhyam (presence) comes in water and fire, and even after the Kartha has done the worship, there is no direct proof that the Devatha has given blessings.

However, when the Brahmin says ‘Prathivachanam’ like “Sumuhoorthosthu”, it is considered direct proof. Since the entire Vedas reside in the brain of the Brahmin (who did the Vedadyanam), all Devatha presence is there in the Brahmin. His chanting is equivalent to the Devatha giving Anugraham directly.

Importance of Agni Upasana

Bharatham means "Agni". The name itself came because people lived here were Agni Upasakas. Vedas prescribe Agni Upasana from birth to death.

• Jathakarma: Starts with Bhalekarana Homam to purify the newborn.
• Rig Veda: Starts with “Agni meeley purohitham”.
• Antyeshti: The body is given to Agni as material for the final Homam.

"Agni Mukho Vai Devaha" — Fire is the mouth of the Gods. We can give food (Havis) to Devathas only through Agni. Just as our stomach fire (Jatharagni) digests food and sends energy to our organs, the sacrificial fire (Agni) absorbs the Havis and transfers the energy to the Devathas.

This shows that our organs work properly only through Devatha Anugraham. Homam makes the Devatha Sannidhyam stronger in our body, ensuring our organs function properly and our wishes are fulfilled.

Classification of Homas

• Samskara Homas: Done during Shodasha Samskaras (e.g., Upanayanam, Vivaham).
• Prayaschitha Homas: Remedial rituals for sins of past and present births.
• Kamya Homas: Done for fulfilling specific wishes.

Structure of a Homam (Prayaschitha & Kamya)

I. Poorvangam (Preliminaries)

• Kruchracharanam: Self-purification process to get eligibility for karma.
• Poorvanga Godanam: Giving 1/4th cost of a cow to Brahmin (as per Sathathara Maharishi).
• Poorvanga Nandi Sradham: Ancestral worship (Hiranya Sradha).
• Punyahavachanam: Purification of materials.
• Poorvanga Vaishnava Sradham: For Lord Vishnu.
• Poorvanga Dasa Danam: Giving Dakshina for representatives.
• Acharya Varanam: Formally handing over the Karma to the Acharya.
• Rithwik Varanam: Requesting Rithwiks to join the Karma.

II. Pradhana Bhagam (Main Ritual)

• Kumbhasthapanam
• Japam
• Homam (All Prayachitha/Kamya in Agnimukha; Samskara in Ajya Bhaga)
• Dakshinai
• Devatha Udwasanam
• Abhishekam (if Yajaman is present)

III. Utharangam (Conclusion)

• Utharanga Godanam
• Utharanga Vaishnava Sradham
• Utharanga Manakalpitha Danam
• Aseervadam (Blessings)