srini_sadhu: I bow down to the Divine in You
srini_sadhu: Om Sang Saraswatyai Namaha!
Janitri Rybacki: Pranams to All...
Shubal Kopp: Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge with us in this way, Srini.
nodivision108: Ditto
srini_sadhu: Homa is one of the seven forms of Siddhantachar.
The others are Puja, Path, Nrit, Geet, Pravachan, and Arpan
srini_sadhu: All of these help us go inward and remember God
srini_sadhu: Homa is the abbreviated form of Yajna and means Sacred Fire Ceremonies
srini_sadhu: Yajna comes from the root word Yuj which means to unite
srini_sadhu: In Yajna we strive the unite the fire of knowledge in the ajna chakra with the fire outside
srini_sadhu: Do you have questions or thoughts?
nodivision108: Can you elaborate about ajna chakra and the fire outside?
srini_sadhu: The ajna chakra is in the subtle body in a space that corresponds to the physical location of the space between the eyebrows.
amritagita: What is the meaning or symbolism behind Homa
srini_sadhu: When we unite the inner chakra with the outer fire through focus we remove duality
srini_sadhu: Duality goes away when there is any form of union
Ramya: Raghu -- Today after Chandi Homa, Maa led us in a beautiful song about Agni
Shubal Kopp: Does the fire element have qualities that add particular benefit to creating union?
srini_sadhu: Yes Durga, we will discuss the benefits of homa shortly
Ramya: The song said something to this effect -- Oh Divine Fire, lift my body and make me a light in your temple. The symbolism was that the fire purifies us and makes us become divine light
nodivision108: Srini, I love that you keep answering my questions while I am typing them.
srini_sadhu: Jai Maa Chris
srini_sadhu: Could we discuss the benefits from performing Homa in your experience?
srini_sadhu: Your thoughts?
Janitri Rybacki: to me, it's a huge feeling of contentment
amritagita: I can't say I have performed Homa, except when done by priest at my house for a blessing
nodivision108: Helps straighten my crooked path.
Rich Jewett: I've never actually performed Homa, but I've attended - I find the havan like a doorway when I meet Devi.
srini_sadhu:
srini_sadhu: Beautiful!
Nanda Krishnamurthi: Gauri here says homa is a "Karmacue"
srini_sadhu: We will talk about burning Karma
Ramya: Gauri says it burns karma
srini_sadhu: Homa sends innumerable positive vibrations into the environment, both physically and subtly
Shubal Kopp: Intuitively speaking, I've noticed when sitting by the homa fire that the energy in the atmosphere seems very clear.
srini_sadhu: The Mantras, our bhava and the pure offerings combine to create these vibrations
srini_sadhu: Swamiji says Fire is the purest of the five elements
amritagita: What are things I would need to do one.
srini_sadhu: Water can become impure, so can air and earth
srini_sadhu: But whatever we offer into the Holy fire, the fire consumes but remains pure
Ramya: Raghu - we will come to that very shortly!
srini_sadhu: So Homa evokes for me the feeling of purity
srini_sadhu: How does Homa benefit worshipper?
srini_sadhu: Thoughts?
srini_sadhu:
Janitri Rybacki: i see something beyond the worshipper, it benefits the environment - people, animals, purifies them. So, it must purify the worshipper.
Nanda Krishnamurthi: i correlate homa with something that happened in India a few years ago
Shubal Kopp: The more one offers, the less attached one becomes. One becomes lighter - both not carrying so much and also shining like the fire!
Rich Jewett: It makes life more real than real.
srini_sadhu: Fire is Agni Devata, a very riveting object for concentration. As we offer mantras and offerings into the fire, we focus on the fire as an object of worship.
Nanda Krishnamurthi: it was the bhopal gas tragedy - and supposedly that one of the people that had done agnihotra in his home was saved because of the purifying effect the homa had on his home
Ramya: Thanks Durga!
amritagita: The Lalita Saharanamam says about Divine Mother coming from the Cid Agni Kund
Ramya: Rich - it is so interesting your comment on the intensity of the experience in homa!
srini_sadhu: The other benefit of Homa is that we burn karma
srini_sadhu: Swamiji frequently says come let’s burn some Karma before we begin a session at the fire.
srini_sadhu: How do we burn karma when we offer mantras and offerings at the fire?
srini_sadhu: By focusing on the mantras and the fire, our mind is not in the world.
Ramya: Gauri says - because we are throwing masala in
srini_sadhu: As we continue this practice daily, we transform our minds, our samskaras
srini_sadhu: That is the sense in which we burn our samskaras.
srini_sadhu: We go inward toward God, away from the World
srini_sadhu: This was Swamiji's answer to my question on this
srini_sadhu: On a practical level, Maa says it is good to offer the masala as much as possible into the fire.
Shubal Kopp: I would guess via the acts of (1) letting go and (2) offering so as to let God, we become a love channel.
Janitri Rybacki: what is masala?
amritagita: What exactly is the masala?
Nanda Krishnamurthi: i think having the fire in front of us makes the sadhana more vivid
srini_sadhu: Durga, Swamiji said something similar
Ramya: Masala is the offering we put in the fire.
Janitri Rybacki: thank you
srini_sadhu: He said in Homa when we sit for long it is like offering ourselves to the fire
Nanda Krishnamurthi: easier to focus on the fire than our mental imagination of the deity - imho
Ramya: Masala has seven ingredients: rice, barley, black sesame seeds, and small quantities of milk, ghee, sugar, and honey.
Rich Jewett: Homa makes Divinity more real than our karma, reduces our attachment to samskaras.
Ramya: Yes - Nanda - also as we have to focus on reading the verses, getting the masala and offering at the right time - our mind is more focused.
srini_sadhu: So Homa purifies the atmosphere, increases our focus, burns our kaarma/samskara
srini_sadhu: One more thing
srini_sadhu: It is a form of Tapsaya
Nanda Krishnamurthi: thank you Ramya
srini_sadhu: Especially when you are sitting very close to the fire, it trains our mind to go beyond heat
srini_sadhu: Swamiji has a great class on five fires sadhana that He performed where He explains this
srini_sadhu: In Five Fires Sadhana, you are surrounded by four fires in each direction and the Sun above
srini_sadhu: The Heat dries you out making it an extreme austerity
Shubal Kopp: The notion -- (1) letting go and (2) offering so as to let God, so we become a love channel -- comes from a memory of watching Swami holding an offering - something apparently delicious that Shree Maa had prepared before his face. He had been fasting for days (must've been so hungry!) and sitting before the fire 'til there were blisters on the tops of his toes. He was theatrical to teach us the nature of what he was doing... he looked at the prasad with visible appreciation for it's potential delectability and then gave it right up to Chandi by offering it into the fire!
srini_sadhu: Wow!
Ramya: Thanks Durga for sharing this beautiful story!
Rich Jewett: That's Swamiji!
Nanda Krishnamurthi: In those instances He embodies the deity who is about to consume the goodis,
srini_sadhu: The Ancient practice of Homa is very rare today. We owe deep debt to Maa and Swamiji for keeping this alive
nodivision108: Swami is a gas!
Shubal Kopp: He smiled SO sweetly after that offering... embodying a love channel!
srini_sadhu: Before we discuss some practices related to Homa, something interesting about Agni
srini_sadhu: Divine Fire has seven tongues:
srini_sadhu: Any one know them?
Nanda Krishnamurthi: (Gauri here) It is really a blessing to learn homa from Maa and Swamiji....Jaaaaaaaaaaaaaai Maa
srini_sadhu: The seven are Kali, Karali, Manojava, Sulohita, Sudhumravarna, Ugra, Pradipta
Nanda Krishnamurthi: Kali?
srini_sadhu: Kali is Black and the others are Increasing, Swift, Excellent Shine, Purple, Fearful, and Giving Light
srini_sadhu: In Homa if you look closely you will notice this black element in the fire
srini_sadhu: Any questions or thoughts?
nodivision108: Are other tongues noticeable also?
Nanda Krishnamurthi: What do the tongues mean?
Ramya: Yes Chris and Gauri -- Tongues are characteristics -
Ramya: If you look at the fire - you can see sometimes it is "swift", sometimes "bright", we also see purple color sometimes
srini_sadhu: Raghu had asked about how to do Homa, so could we talk about Homa Viddhi
Ramya: ok
Nanda Krishnamurthi: Yes please!
srini_sadhu: This is a vast topic of which we know little. Rather than expounding on it I wish to list the major topics under it that can serve as an outline for further enquiry.
srini_sadhu: Some of the issues that arise here, are the fire pit and how to construct it, How do we enkindle the fire and what mantras we chant when so doing, what do we offer at the fire, how do we keep it alive and how do we put it out.
srini_sadhu: Please share your thoughts and questions anytime
Nanda Krishnamurthi: How do we keep it alive...i've had problems there/
srini_sadhu: The Mantras for enkindling a fire are in the Hanuman Puja Book
srini_sadhu: In general we offer Masala at the fire. We also offer ghee, pudding and other prasad, and coconuts.
srini_sadhu: When we offer Mantras at the fire we chant each mantra followed by Swaha
Nanda Krishnamurthi: Can one use newspaper?
srini_sadhu: NO!!
srini_sadhu: Swamiji says be aware and keep checking
Ramya: You can put kindling wood or camphor
srini_sadhu: Camphor is the last resort
srini_sadhu: Here we have a blower that gets it started
srini_sadhu: A few cinders and kindling wood is what you need
srini_sadhu: When we offer Mantras at the fire we chant each mantra followed by Swaha
nodivision108: A hollow metal rod can help.
srini_sadhu: We have something similar Chris here at the Mandir
Ramya: Swaha is the wife of Agni. Swamiji was telling us a story about Swaha just a few days ago.
Ramya: In the ancient times, when sadhus offered oblations at the fire, the Gods discovered that Agni Devata was consuming all the offerings and the other Gods were not receiving any of the offerings.
Ramya: To solve this, they created Goddess Swaha. They told Swaha, your job is whenever a devotee offers anything in the fire, Agni will take a portion and the rest Swaha will take and give it to the deity to whom it rightfully belongs.

Ramya: They married Swaha to Agni
Janitri Rybacki: Thanks Ramya! Always wondered about Swaha's meaning.
srini_sadhu: Swa means My Own and Ha means God. So Swaha means “God is my own” or “I am one with God”.
Ramya: Janitiri -- isn't it beautiful -- every time we offer a mantra in the fire we say "Swaha" -- I am one with God or God is my own - each time we affirm this beautiful relationship!
Shubal Kopp: And I always wondered about who did the receiving -- Agni or the deity to whom the homa is dedicated!
Nanda Krishnamurthi: now you know!
Ramya: Agni gets a share and some goes to the deity - what a magnificient creation!
srini_sadhu: Before we begin any Homa, we chant
Om Bhuh Swaha, Om Bhuva Swaha, Om Sva Swaha, Om Bhu Bhuva Sva Swaha
srini_sadhu: We also end the Homa with the same mantras.
srini_sadhu: And then we break our asan.
srini_sadhu: When we put out the fire at the end of Sacrifice we chant the mantras from the Purnahuti pouring a glass of milk into the Fire.
Ramya: Mantras to help set up a homa and do a homa are in Hanuman Puja book and Advanced Shiva Puja book
srini_sadhu: Rig Veda and Yajur Veda contain a lot of the source material for how to do Yajna, implements to use, etc.
srini_sadhu: Is everything OK so far?
Nanda Krishnamurthi: fab-u-lous
Rich Jewett: Of course!
nodivision108: OM
Ramya: Swamiji has also answered questions on the practical aspects of doing homa in the FAQs on the website
Cynkay Morningsong: really good
srini_sadhu: Thank you, we would like to discuss the seventh aspect of Siddhantachar - Arpan
Ramya: We have been discussing sidhantachara - behavior in accordance with scriptures
Ramya: Puja, Path, Homa
Ramya: Now we can talk a little bit about Arpanam - this means offering of service
Nanda Krishnamurthi: As in seva?
Ramya: While "Arpanam" is stated as a specific type of behavior in Siddhantachar, this offering occurs in all the other behaviors and indeed we want it to permeate our every action. We want our every action to be an offering to God, an offering to God's creation.

Ramya: Gauri - if seva is done with pure intention as an offering to God - It is arpan!
Nanda Krishnamurthi: Thanks, Ramya!
Ramya: We do different types of karma - what makes a karma an offering?
Nanda Krishnamurthi: detatchment and intention
srini_sadhu: Remembering God and that we are doing the work for God helps.
srini_sadhu: Maa gave us some beautiful advice on this a few weeks ago
Shubal Kopp: Selflessness.
Ramya: Maa was saying that we should see everybody as God and serve them.
Ramya: How do we do this?
Ramya: She said that if you see someone creating - Think of Brahma, Somebody is taking care of everything -- A form of Mahavishnu. Somebody is giving knowledge - Lord Shiva!
Ramya: So with each person we interact - we relate to a divine Being. As we work we serve the Divine in our brothers and sisters.
srini_sadhu: Maa sees everyone as a form of Thakur or Lord Shiva
Ramya: This helped me a lot!
nodivision108: Remembering that others, like us, are not the body we see.
Ramya: Yes Chris!
Ramya: Durga - how can we become selfless?
Shubal Kopp: As far as skills, patience and equanimity seem pretty useful!
srini_sadhu: Less we think about ourselves, more selfless we become
Ramya: Yes - Thanks! I am learning that we need to be clear on what skills we need and then make a sankalpa - a plan to get them!
Ramya: I saw a quote from Maa which said something like -- Be Free. Leave Selfishness Behind.
Ramya: Thanks Durga!
srini_sadhu: Two things that Maa and Swamiji repeatedly emphasize when doing work, offering service are paying attention and completing work
Ramya: They emphasize - Being Conscious, Aware every moment and finishing our karma.
Nanda Krishnamurthi: paying attention shows respect, Swamiji says
Shubal Kopp: That is, patience and equanimity seem useful for seeing all as Divine. As for selflessness... finding and taking opportunities to conscious plunge one's whole self into the act of offering seems key.
srini_sadhu: Switch off the light, dry the dishes and put them away, clean up before you leave
srini_sadhu: Etc.!
srini_sadhu: Please share your thoughts about offering and how it affects your lives
Ramya: How do we integrate these thoughts in our every day life -e.g. making our actions an offering, being selfless?
Nanda Krishnamurthi: it makes my heart feel full to overflowing and makes me want to smile all the time!
Rich Jewett: It's about focusing, not being distracted, flaky, making something else more important.
Nanda Krishnamurthi:
nodivision108: In "Interviews with Sadhus of India" we are reminded that performance of unselfish action is the way to God.
Ramya: Thanks Rich! Focus -- Making an overall goal and a goal for each day and seeing how far we go - towards our Destination (God)!
Nanda Krishnamurthi: when we act selflessly, it just feel right....like you are walking a straight line!
Ramya: Yes - that is true Gauri - but the key is (at least for me) to remember - remember all the time, every moment make an offering to God.
Ramya: What can help us remember?
nodivision108: Mantras
Nanda Krishnamurthi: I always have Maa on mymind...She walks beside me all the way
srini_sadhu: Breathing mindfully
Ramya: Mantras and spiritual practices help us to remember - and help us make a spiritual life - Thanks Chris!
Nanda Krishnamurthi: I remember Maa saying that if an angry thought comes, one should repeat the mantra until it's gone
nodivision108: Jai Maa!
Ramya: One thing i learnt from Maa is to do each action with a sankalpa - a firm determination - this helps us to be conscious and aware.
srini_sadhu: So spiritual practice is not just the time we spend in the altar in the morning or evening. It goes on the whole day.
Rich Jewett: I love it!
Ramya: To sum up - some things that can help us to lead a spiritual life --
Ramya: 1. Make an overall goal for life - where do we want to go?
Ramya: 2. Make a goal for what we want to do each day. Look at night and check. Learn.
Ramya: 3. Do each action with a sankalpa
Ramya: 4. Be efficient in each action
Ramya: 5. Complete your karma
Ramya: 6. Offer to God!
Ramya: Jai Maa!
srini_sadhu: Final thoughts?
Ramya: Any final thoughts?
Rich Jewett: Thank you so much!
Shubal Kopp: Well, I have a question. Is there time?
Cynkay Morningsong: Thank you
srini_sadhu: sure
amritagita: Thank you, this will help me in my sadhana
Nanda Krishnamurthi: Pranams to our highly efficient teachers!
Janitri Rybacki: thank you for the help here!
srini_sadhu: Please go ahead Durga
Ramya: Thank you Rich and everybody for being part of this beautiful discussion group - it has helped me so much to learn and understand and feel God's presence!
Shubal Kopp: Thank you. It would be fine to hear your response in the chatroom! After a puja the offered food that has been received, embraced/eaten, and blessed by the deity propitiated is shared by worshippers, as 'prasad'. In homa, food offerings are consumed in the fire. Is the ash resulting from the homa akin to puja prasad, or does it have a different significance? What is the difference?
amritagita: I look forward to meeting you all next week at the Retreat
nodivision108: Thank you sweet devotees of Maa for this class. Namaste.
srini_sadhu: My thought would be to explore the root meaning of the word prasad
srini_sadhu: I will get back on that one Durga
Cynkay Morningsong: Until next week...Namaste'
srini_sadhu: If you are coming to the retreat, please email me
Shubal Kopp: Great -- I'll check the online discussion. Thank you.
Ramya: Thank you everybody! Namaste!
Shubal Kopp: Namaste, everyone!
Ramya has left the conference.
Janitri Rybacki: Namaste...