Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori
Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori
Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori
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WORSHIP 99<br />
deva offering, 1 bhatayajiia or bali, in which offerings are<br />
made <strong>to</strong> Deva, Bhūta, and other Spirits and <strong>to</strong> animals;<br />
pitṛ -yajña or tarpaṇ a, oblations <strong>to</strong> the pitṛ ; Brahmayajña,<br />
or study of the Vedas and Manusyayajña, 2 or<br />
entertainment of guests (atithisaparyā). By these five<br />
yajñas the worshipper places himself in right relations<br />
with all beings, affirming such relation between Deva,<br />
Pitṛ , Spirits, men, the organic creation, and himself.<br />
Horna, or Deva-yajña, is the making of offerings <strong>to</strong><br />
Fire, which is the carrier thereof <strong>to</strong> the Deva. A firepit<br />
(kuṇ ḍ a) is prepared and fire when brought from the<br />
house of a Brāhmaṇ a is consecrated with mantra. The<br />
fire is made conscious with the mantra, Vaṃ vahnicaitanyāya<br />
namah, and then saluted and named. Meditation<br />
is then made on the three nāḍ is (vide ante)—Iḍ ā,<br />
Piṇgala, and Suṣumnā—and on Agni, the Lord of Fire.<br />
Offerings are made <strong>to</strong> the Iṣṭ adevata in the fire. After<br />
the pūjā of fire, salutation is given as in Ṣ adāṇga-nyāsa,<br />
and then clarified butter (ghee) is poured with a wooden<br />
spoon in<strong>to</strong> the fire with mantra, commencing with Oṃ<br />
and ending with Svāhā. Homa is of various kinds, 3<br />
several of which are referred <strong>to</strong> in the text, and is performed<br />
either daily, as in the case of the ordinary nityavaiśva-deva-homa,<br />
or on special occasions, such as the<br />
upanayana or sacred thread ceremony, marriage, vrata,<br />
and the like. It is of various kinds, such as prayakittahoma,<br />
sṛ śtikṛ t-homā, janu-homa, dhārā homa and others,<br />
some of which will be found in the “Principles of <strong>Tantra</strong>.”<br />
1 Offerings of food and other things are made in the domestic fire. (See<br />
Krīya-kāṇḍa-vāridhi, p. 917).<br />
2 Also called Nṛ -yajña (man-sacrifice).<br />
3 See Kriyā-kāṇḍa-vāridhi; p. 133. Homa may be either Vaidik, Paurāṇik,<br />
or Tāntrik.