nitya agnihotra homa
Preparations:
- homa kuṇḍa (with stand)
- aluminum foil to cover the floor (not to be placed in copper homa kuṇḍa)
- ghee (1 tea spoon, melted) – in a small cup with a long-handled spoon (copper or steel recommended)
- ¼ of a cow dung cake (patty); can break this further into two pieces
- dried coconut (1 sq.in)
- camphor (optional)
- akṣata
- two (2) cups of water – one for personal use and one for kalaśa (कलश); (two (2) tablespoons of water in each is sufficient; can use pañca pātra uddhariṇi (पञ्च पात्र उद्धरिणि) as personal cup of water)
- dried fruits and nuts for pūrṇāhuti (पूर्णाहुति) (two raisins and one almond or walnut should suffice); can add one (1) bay leaf and one (1) clove for medicinal purposes
- some fruits for naivedyam (नैवेद्यम्) (one apple, couple of bananas, or an orange – whatever is seasonal)
- one sheet of kitchen paper towel (to wipe/dry hands)
auṃ śrī gurubhyo namaḥ
1. ātma śuddhi auṃ apavitraḥ pavitro vā sarvāvasthāṃ gato’pi vā । yaḥ smaretpuṇḍarīkākṣaṃ sa bāhyābhyantaraḥ śuciḥ | Meaning: Whatever condition one is in – impure, pure, or any other condition, s/he is purified inside and outside, when s/he thinks of puṇḍarikākṣa (another name of viṣṇu). |
2. ācamanam auṃ kēśavāya svāḥ auṃ nārāyaṇāya svāḥ auṃ mādhavāya svāḥ auṃ govindāya namaḥ auṃ viṣṇavē namaḥ auṃ madhusūdanāya namaḥ auṃ trivikramāya namaḥ auṃ vāmanāya namaḥ auṃ śrīdharāya namaḥ auṃ hṛṣīk󠅛eśāya namaḥ auṃ padmanābhāya namaḥ auṃ dāmodarāya namaḥ auṃ saṅkarṣaṇāya namaḥ auṃ vāsudēvāya namaḥ auṃ pradyumnāya namaḥ auṃ aniruddhāya namaḥ auṃ puruṣottamāya namaḥ auṃ adhokṣajāya namaḥ auṃ nārasiṃhāya namaḥ auṃ acchyuttāya namaḥ auṃ janārdhanāya namaḥ auṃ upendrāya namaḥ auṃ haraye namaḥ auṃ śrīkṛṣṇāya namaḥ auṃ śrīkṛṣṇa parabrahmaṇe namaḥ
| sip one spoon of water sip another spoon of water sip another spoon of water wash your hands (primarily right hand) These 24 names of viṣṇu are supposed to be the most important and sacred of all names for the Lord. For each of these names, one can touch various parts of their body, which is detailed in any sandhyāvandanam book / instructions. |
3. bhūtoccāṭanam uttiṣṭhantu bhūtapiśācā yete bhūmi bhārakā: | | Take few drops of water in your right hand and throw it over (or under) your left shoulder for the water to fall behind you. Meaning: Let the ghosts and demons who are the burden of the earth go away (get destroyed), so that i can start brahma karma (pūjā ritual) without their distractions. |
4. prāṇāyāma auṃ bhūḥ auṃ bhuvaḥ auṃ svaḥ auṃ mahaḥ, auṃ janaḥ auṃ tapaḥ auṃ satyam । auṃ tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ bhargo devasya dhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ pracodayāt । auṃ āpojyotīraso’mṛtaṃ, brahma bhūrbhuvaḥ svaḥ auṃ | Take a deep breath and hold it by holding your nose. After chanting the mantram, release the breath slowly. |
5. sankalpam mama upātta samasta durikṣaya dvārā śrī yajñēśvara yajñ󠅛anārāyaṇa yajñ󠅛amātā anugraha siddhyarte (prītyarthe) bhūrloke akhilāṇḍa koṭi brahmaṇḍa khaṇḍayormadhye pascima deśe kraunca dvīpe ramaṇaka varṣe aindrakaṇḍe uttara amerikā kṣetre praśānti samudra tīre ucca parvata deśī bhūmi maṇḍalāntaragate sukhada nāmnī nagara madhye mama (asmāt) śobhana gṛhe asmin dine vyāvahārika cāndramānena śrīmadbhagavato mahāviṣṇorājñayā pravartamānasya adya brahmaṇaḥ dvitīya parārdhe śvetavārāha kalpe vaivasvata manvantare aṣṭāviṃśatitame kaliyuge prathama pāde prabhavādi ṣaṣṭhi saṃvatsarānāṃ madhye ______ samvatsare ______ āyane ______ ṛtau ______ māse ______ pakṣe ______ tithau ______ vāsare ______ nakṣatre śubha yoge śubha karaṇe evam guṇa viśeṣaṇa visiṣṭāyām śubha tithau ______ gotrodbhavasya ______ nāmadeyasya mama saha kuṭumbasya sarvariṣṭa nivāraṇārthe, kṣema sthairya, dhairya, vīrya, vijaya, abhaya āyuḥ, ārogya, aiśvarya, bhakti jñana vairāgya abhivṛdhyarthe, putra-pautrābhivṛdhyarthe, dharmārtha, kāma, mokṣa, caturvida, phala puruṣārtha siddhyarthe, sarvābhīṣṭa siddhyarthe, yatāśakti homa karmaṇi kariṣye | With the ring finger on the right hand, touch the water in the kalaśa. Then say the sankalpam. sankalpam is a promise that one is performing a ritual (agni hotra homam) to its completion. One if identifying their self to the divine by stating the (spatial) time of their ritual, the physical location where they are performing it, their name and lineage, and what specific rituals one wishes to perform to completiion at this time. |
6. gaṇapati prārthana vakratuṇḍa mahākāya sūrya kōṭī samaprabhā। | One always starts any activity with a small prayer to Lord gaṇeṣa, the remover of all obstacles, to bless them to succeed in their activity without any hitches. |
7. agni pratiṣṭāpana auṃ bhūḥ bhuvaḥ suvaḥ auṃ auṃ meṣārūḍhāy vaiśvānarāya śānḍilya gotrāya yajña puruṣāya namo namaḥ | | Establish (start) the fire in homa kuṇḍa Then say this mantra |
8. brahma āvāhanam asmin homa karmaṇi brahmāṇam tvāṁ vṛṇe | brahmaṇe namaḥ | sakalārādhanaiḥ svarcitam || | Since one is doing this homa by themselves, this mantra can be recited (mentally). Meaning: I submit to you that you should remain as brahmā for this homa. I pay my obeisance to you. Please conduct this homa auspiciously in all respects. |
9. pariṣecanam adite anumanyasva anumate anumanyasva sarasvate anumanyasva devasavitaḥ prasūva | Sprinkle water around (outside) the homa kuṇḍa while chanting this: On the southern side (on the side to your right), go from west to east On the western side (side closer to you), go from south to north On the northern side (the side to your left), go from south to north Starting from the northwest corner, go a full circle around the homa kuṇḍa in the clockwise direction. The above is a prayer seeking permission from aditī, anumatī and sarasvatī devī-s |
10. Invoking agni in the middle of the homa kuṇḍa catvāri śṛṃgā trayo asya pādā dve śīrṣe sapta hastāso asya | tridhā baddho vṛṣabho roravīti maho devo martyāgṃ ā viveśa || agni devata dhāyāmī eṣa hi devaḥ pradiśo’nu sarvāḥ pūrvo hi jātaḥ sa u garbhe antaḥ | sa vijāyamānaḥ sa janiṣyamāṇaḥ pratyaṅgmukhāstiṣṭhati viśvatomukhaḥ || prāṅamukho deva he agne mama abhimukho bhava || | Take some flowers and akṣata in both the hands and recite the following mantra. Place the flowers in the middle of the homa kuṇḍa. Meaning: agni deva always faces east. You the performer of the homa are also facing east, essentially you are facing agni’s back. So, you are requesting agni to turn towards you (so agni is facing west) while you are doing the homa (facing east). This way agni receives your prayers and then delivers it to the appropriate deities per your request. |
11. agniralankāram auṃ indrāya namaḥ | (east) auṃ agnaye namaḥ | (south east) auṃ yamāya namaḥ | (south) auṃ nirṛtaye namaḥ | (south west) auṃ varuṇāya namaḥ | (west) auṃ vāyave namaḥ | (north west) auṃ somāya namaḥ | (north) auṃ īśānāya namaḥ | (north east) Finally, in the middle of homa kuṇḍa – auṃ agnaye namaḥ auṃ hutavahāya namaḥ auṃ hutāsine namaḥ auṃ kṛṣṇa vartmane namaḥ auṃ deva mukhāya namaḥ auṃ sapta jihvāya namaḥ auṃ vaiśvānarāya namaḥ auṃ jātavedase namaḥ | This is preparing and decorating the agni for homa. Mainly this is about worshiping eight cardinal deities. These cardinal deities are referred to as aṣṭa dikpālakā-s. On the sides of the homa kuṇḍa place akṣata (and flowers) after reciting the mantra for the respective cardinal directions. Starting from east, go clockwise around the homa kuṇḍa. Worship agni by chanting these names of agni and placing akṣata in the middle of homa kuṇḍa. |
12. agni hotra homa auṃ agnaye svāhā’ agnaye idam na mama auṃ somāya svāhā’ somāya idam na mama auṃ sūryāya svāhā’ sūryāya idam na mama auṃ prajāpataye svāhā’ prajāpataye idam na mama auṃ pañcabhūtāya svāhā’ pañcabhūtāya idam na mama auṃ klīm kṛṣṇāya svāhā’ kṛṣṇāya govindāya idam na mama auṃ namo nārāyaṇāya svāhā’ namo nārāyaṇāya idam na mama auṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya svāhā’ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya idam na mama auṃ prāṇāya svāhā’ auṃ apānāya svāhā’ auṃ vyānāya svāhā’ auṃ udānāya svāhā’ auṃ samānāya svāhā’ auṃ brahmaṇe svāhā’ auṃ vaiśvānarāya vidmahe lālīlāya dhīmahi tanno agni: pracodayāt svāhā’ agnaye idam na mama anena svāhā svadhā devi sameta agnaye namaḥ suprītamastu, suprasannamastu, varadobhavatu, varadābhavantu auṃ yajñ󠅛eśvarāya svāhā’ auṃ yajñ󠅛a varāha nārāyaṇāya svāhā’ auṃ yajñ󠅛a mātre nama: svāhā’ | Pour two to three drops of ghee on the fire (in the homa ku). Make sure the ghee drops after the svāhā at the ऽ in devanāgari script or apostrphe in English. idam na mama means it does not belong to me. |
13. Performing homa to your preferred deity (example of gāyatrī japa homa is provided below) auṃ bhur-bhuva: suvaḥ tat savitur vare’eṇyam bhargo devasya dhīmahi dhiyo yo na: pracodayāt svāhā’ā | In addition to offering prayers to your preferred deity, the gist of a homa is one is trying to rid oneself of all their attachments, emotions, etc.; burn off things we don’t need and / or that are not helpful. It is also important to express gratitude during this brief meditation. |
14. naivedyam bhūrbhuvasvaḥ tatsavitura vareṇyam deva savita prasuva satyam tvartena pariṣiñcayāmi (during day-time, before sunset) rutam tvā satyena pariṣiñcayāmi (during night-time, after sunset) amṛtamastu amṛto pastaraṇamasi auṃ prāṇāya svāhā auṃ apānāya svāhā auṃ vyānāya svāhā auṃ udānāya svāhā auṃ samānāya svāhā auṃ brahmaṇe svāhā auṃ agnaye namaḥ Sanskrit names for various items: nārikela (coconut), kadalīphala (banana), kāśmīraphala (apple), kṣīram (milk), kṣīrānnam (paayasam or kheer), citrānnam (pulihora, tamarind rice, lemon rice or any mixed rice), śakrakanda (sugar candy), gūḍaśakala (jaggery), etc. naivedyam samarpayāmi madhye-madhye pānīyaṃ samarpayāmi amṛtāpi dhānamasi, iti uttarā-poṣanaṃ samarpayāmi hastau-prakṣālayāmi, pādau-prakṣālayāmi, mukhe śuddha-ācamanīyam samarpayāmi। कॄष्णार्पणमस्तु ॥ kṛṣṇārpaṇamastu ॥ | naivedyam is offering food to the deity (agni for this homa ritual) Sprinkle water with flower on the naivedyam in clock-wise direction while reciting the following mantra Wave your hands from the food item toward the homa kuṇḍa This line refers to the deity to whom we are offering the naivedyam Sprinkle water in anti-clockwise direction around the naivedyam for this mantra Sprinkle water on the deity/plate with flower chanting the following mantra |
15. (ātma pradakṣiṇa / prārthana) namaskāram auṃ svasti: śraddhāṃ yaśa: vidyāṃ buddhiṃ śriyaṃ balaṃ āyuṣyam teja ārogyam havya vāhana dehi me auṃ namaḥ iti | (ātma pradakṣiṇa / prārthana) namaskārāṃ samarpayāmi | If possible, go around the homa kuṇḍa. Else, do ātma pradakṣina. Then do namaskāram to agni (homa kuṇḍa). |
16. āratī auṃ yajñeśvarāya sarvamaṅgalam auṃ yajñavarāha nārāyaṇāya sarvamaṅgalam auṃ yajñamātre jyotirmaṅgalam auṃ amṛta tatvāya sūyāgni somāya divya maṅgalam auṃ pañcabhūtāya prakṛti puruṣāya ananta viśvāya siddhamaṅgalamaṅgalam, siddhamaṅgalamaṅgalam, siddhamaṅgalamaṅgalam | All rituals should be completed with an āratī. This is a simple and short āratī for this abbreviated homa ritual. |
17. pūrṇāhutī auṃ pūrṇamada: pūrṇamidam pūrṇātpūrṇamudacyate | pūrṇasya pūrṇamādāya pūrṇamevā vaśiṣyate || auṃ śānti: śānti: śāntihī sarvasya pūrṇa maṅgalam bhavatu | Before the fire completely burns out, do āhutī (mix a drop of ghee with a teaspoon of dried fruits and nuts and drop it in the fire) while chanting the mantram |
18. pariṣecanam auṃ adite anumanyasva auṃ anumate anumanyasva auṃ sarasvate anumanyasva auṃ devasavitaḥ prasūva | Sprinkle water around (outside) the homa kuṇḍa while chanting this: On the southern side (on the side to your right), go from west to east On the western side (side closer to you), go from south to north On the northern side (the side to your left), go from south to north Starting from the northwest corner, go a full circle around the homa kuṇḍa in the clockwise direction. The above is a prayer thanking aditī, anumatī and sarasvatī devī-s for allowing you complete the homa and prayer to agni and your preferred deity |
19. agnim udvāsana, rakṣā, āśirvādam suvarbhuvarbhū:roṃ anena svāhā svadhā devī sameta agniṃ udvāsya auṃ sarva maṅgala māṅgalyaṃ, sarva pāpa praṇāśanaṃ, cintā śoka praśamanaṃ, āyur vadhana uttamaṃ acyuttāya namaḥ, anantāya namaḥ, govindāya namaḥ (three times) | Gently move the homa kuṇḍa by less than half a centimeter. Take some ash from the homa kuṇḍa, mix it with a drop of ghee. This is called rakṣa. Apply this as a small dot to the kalaśam. Also, everyone can apply this on their forehead (as homa prasādaṃ). Sprinkle water from the kalaśam on self and everyone else while chanting this mantraṃ |
20. prāyaścittam mantrahīnaṃ kriyāhīnaṃ bhaktihīnaṃ hutāśana | yaddhutantu mayā deva paripūrṇaṃ tadastu te || prāyaścittānyaśeṣāṇi tapaḥ karmātmakāni vai | yāni teṣāmaśeṣāṇāṃ kṛṣṇānusmaraṇaṃ paraṃ || śrī kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa kṛṣṇa || | Any mistakes either in the form of action or in the recitation of mantras that have crept in while performing this yajña unknowingly may kindly be forgiven. By merely thinking of kṛṣṇa, who presides over prāyaścitta (atonement), tapas, actions and everything else, one is requesting to be blessed with complete fulfilment of this ritual. |
21. ācamanam (optional) auṃ kēśavāya svāḥ auṃ nārāyaṇāya svāḥ auṃ mādhavāya svāḥ auṃ govindāya namaḥ | sip one spoon of water sip another spoon of water sip another spoon of water wash your hands |
Here are some additional mantram-s for wealth, good health and salvation (liberation).
kubera
auṃ yakṣāya kuberāya vaiśravaṇāya dhanadhānyādhipataye
dhanadhānya smṛiddhim me dehi dāpaya svāhā’
dhanvantari
namo bhagavate vāsudevāya dhanvantaraye
amrtakalaśa hastaya sarvamaya vinasaya
trailokyanāthāya śrī mahāviṣṇave namaḥ svāhā’
mṛtyunjaya
tryambakam yajāmahe sugandhim puṣṭivardhanam
urvārukamiva bandhanān mṛtyor mokṣīya mā’mṛtāt