Homams
Homams are an important religious practice in Hinduism. Ritual in which making offerings into a consecrated fire is the primary action.
Although a consecrated fire is the central element of every homa ritual, the procedure and items offered to the fire vary by what occasions the ceremony, or by the benefit expected from the ritual. Procedures invaribly involve –
* the kindling and consecration of the sacrificial fire;
* the invocation of one or more divinities; and,
* the making of offerings (whether real or visualized) to them with the fire as via media, amid the recitation of prescribed prayers and mantras.
Different types of Homams
Homams | Purpose |
---|---|
Ganapathi homa | to overcome obstacles |
Sudarshana homa | for success in an undertaking |
Aayushya homa | to ward of evil influences present in a child’s life immediately following its birth, thereby ensuring longevity |
Dhanavantri homa | for good health |
Durga homa | to cancel negative energies; for self-confidence |
Gayatri homa | to facilitate positive thinking and subsequently performing good karma |
Kritya Pariharana | to counter the effects of black magic |
Lakshmi Kubera homa | for wealth and material prosperity |
Mangala Samskarana homa | to celebrate auspicious events; to attain Moksha |
Mahadevi homa | for the stimulation of a marriage and for marital felicity among those already married |
Navagraha homa | to appease the Nine planets and limit the evil influences in one’s horoscope |
Punyahavachana homa | for the naming of a child |
Vastu homa | a house-warming; to encourage good Vastu (energy in buildings) |
Vidya homa | o benefit students; to facilitate learning |
Vishwa Shanthi homa | for universal peace and harmony, as also harmony between the self and the universe |
Viraja Homa | urification rites performed as part of the formal ceremonies by which a person takes the vows of renunciation (Sannyas), thereby becoming a Sanyasi (monk) |