Homa: About different Homas and their purpose

Homas are powerful ancient fire rituals that have been performed in India by the Vedic sages for over 5000 years. Sri Krishna in Bhagavad Gita quotes, "This creation is a yagna". Yagna also means sacrifice and by this he meant that creation is an eternal flow of birth and death; it is a sacrifice where one’s death gives way for the birth of another, continuously, something gets sacrificed for something to arise. This is how the Vedas interpret the creation and in the purview of the Vedas, the homa is but a miniature model of this Universal Sacrifice. As a sadhaka participates with all his heart and as various offerings like molten butter, herbs, sticks of certain trees are offered into the sacrificial fire along with the powerful chanting of mantras, the energy generated enables the sadhaka to tune into the Cosmic consciousness or God whereby his prayers are answered. It is well known that the presence of fire has an immediate bearing on the sadhaka’s Kundalini and the energy fields of that place which makes prayer all the more easier. The time taken to perform a homa can be anything between 1hr. to 3hrs depending on the nature of the homa. Certain homas include certain rituals while certain others include a different set of rituals.

Who can benefit from a homa? Anybody can have a homa performed in his/her name. All that is needed is the name and age of the person, his/her specific problem. The more clearly the crisis is mentioned, prayer becomes more specific and divine grace also flows in better. Homas can act across time and space because even as the performer mentally holds the picture of the client and performs the homa, the client would feel the effects. It is indeed good if the client were to be physically present but if not possible, a photograph would serve the purpose. It is anyway good if the also the client were to sit in meditation wherever he/she is as the homa is performed.

About the different homas:

Sudharshana Homa - overall success
This homa is generally performed to accomplish any task successfully and also for prosperity. Other benefits include removal of negative energies, healing of the body and mind. This is a very powerful homa and a corporation aspiring for overall growth and success can opt for this homa. This homa also has a yantra (the yantra is a copper plate with special sacred symbols) that has the power to dispel all negative thoughts and attract positive thoughts essential for success.

Lakshmi Kubera Homa - financial success
This homa is a prayer for the financial well being of a person or a corporation. A corporation looking for greater economic development must go in for this homa.

Navagraha Homa - flaws in the horoscope
This homa has the power to counter flaws in the horoscope and enable a person to prosper in life in case astrological defects are the main blocks to his well-being. The homa is done to worship the nine planets i.e. The Sun, The Moon, The Mars, The Mercury, The Jupiter, The Venus, The Saturn, The Rahu, and The Ketu. Every planet has its own importance. Sun is the king of planets which gives health. Moon is the planet which rules over mind and gives success. Mars or Mangala is the planet which gives prosperty and wealth. Mercury is the planet which gives knowledge, Jupiter gives education, Venus gives the knowledge of art, music etc. Saturn gives happiness and also teaches vairagya. Rahu makes the life stronger. Ketu prospires the family.

Gayatri Homa - bad karma
This homa liberates us from negative karmas and past life vasanas. Liberates us from all karma bandhanas that affects our growth in health and wealth. It helps in setting right our relationship with family and society. Helps us to achieve high goals. The deity Gayatri is propitiated in India for centuries when it comes to inner awakening which the Hindus call ‘the rebirth of a person’. The Gayatri mantra has the potential to sever all karmic ties that hinder a person’s awakening. Awakening or rebirth is not just restricted to the spiritual realm alone. A spiritual seeker can benefit from this homa. But a person for whom negative karma or for whom the past has been very negative and is inturn overpowering his present life, can benefit out of this homa as it is concerned with rebirth. Past life Vasanas is the karma that is carried over from past lives. Karma bandhanas means, Karmic bondages that bind a person. To a large extent, karma is accumulated in relationships and hence when one sets right his relationships within his family and with his society, the karmic burden naturally comes down. The homa is helping us to have positive relationships with our family and society, and it assists us in reaching high goals.

Dhanvanthri Homa - healing
Yes, it is true that in certain cases, this homa has healed diseases for which no doctor could offer cure because they couldn’t diagnose in the first place. This homa is dedicated to the Indian God of medicine, Dhanavantri who is also the origin of the Indian form of medicine, Ayurveda.

Vidya Homa - for students
This is a homa that would specifically benefit students as the mantra of this homa directly affects the agneya chakra which is the seat of intelligence and knowledge. Durga homa: This is a homa specifically to cleanse negative energies (thoughts, fear, etc.) The main deity is the goddess Durga, who is worshipped for ages when it comes to protection from evil forces and destruction of evil forces.

Kritya Pariharana Homa - black magic
This homa is only to redeem an individual or a family from the evil effects of black magic, voodoo etc. This homa is never performed commonly and if performed, it requires the person to be directly present for it. Also, this homa bears maximum effect only if it were to be performed at the client’s residence.

Mangala Samskarana Homa - auspicious events
This homa paves way for any auspicious event in life. Mainly it generates auspicious vibrations; it cleanses the atmosphere (physically & psychically). In a family, the person who is ripe in age and seeks a peaceful end can pray for that in the course of this homa.

Maha Devi Homa - marriage and partner
This is specifically dedicated to clear the path of person who wants to get married. It also generates auspicious vibrations, which attract good alliances and ensure a happy marriage. This homa can also be performed to be blessed with children and to ensure longevity of your life-partner.

Vasthu Homa - Vasthu (or Vastu or Vaastu)
This homa is to appease the forces that control the flow of energies in a house, office or anywhere. This homa has to also be accompanied with other means of Vastu correction, which differ from place to place. The period of effect of this homa will directly be linked to the karma of a person. The lesser the karma, Vastu problems can be cleared faster and forever this homa must be repeated after a period of a year in order to recharge the energies in the place.. A plan of the house would indeed be helpful but even otherwise it would do.

Aayushya Homa - anniversaries
Basically meaning, ‘Homa for Longevity’. This is performed during all anniversary functions like birth anniversary, marriage anniversary etc. This homa is a prayer for the healthy long life of the client.

Punyahavachana homa - naming
This is actually done during the naming ceremony after child birth. The giving of a name is a very ceremonious event because that becomes the identity of the child thereafter. This homa is for sanctifying that purpose. This homa can also be performed by someone who wishes to change his/her name at a latter stage in life.

Durga Homa - negative energies
Removes various forms of negative energies that can create negative thoughts, fears etc. Can prevent from actions causing bad karma and gives self-confidence.

Ganapathi homa - overcome hindrance
This homa is done before starting any new task or project. It will ensure that goals are attained without any hindrance.