400 Types of Yagas (Fire Ceremonies)

Courtesy: R B Kishore

400 Types of Yagas! (Fire Ceremonies) "What is a Yajna? It is the performance of a religious duty involving Agni, the sacrificial fire, with the chanting of mantras. The word itself is derived from the root "Yaj" meaning "to worship", to evince devotion. The performance of yajna is to please Paramatman (god) and various duties. Yajna is also called 'Yaga'. Three fold purpose The Vedic sacrifices have a threefold purpose.  (1) The first is to earn the blessings of the deities so that we as well as all other creatures may be happy in this world.  (2) The second is to ensure that, after our death, we will happily live in the world of the celestials.  (3) The third purpose is the most important and it is achieved by performing sacrifices, as taught by the Gita, without any expectation of reward. Here we desire neither happiness in this world nor residence in paradise. We perform sacrifices only because it is our duty to invoke the blessings of the gods for the welfare of the world. Prince Charles and Camilla Parker with Swami Chidananda Saraswati at Rishikesh taking part in a Yajna. 1.Maha Ganapathy Homam: To get the blessings of Lord Ganesh 2.Sudarsana Homam: It is performed to get rid of evil spirits and troubles from enemies. 3.Navagraha Homam: It is performed to pacify the Nine Planets and avoid the evil effects of planets. This is also done in all the new buildings and new houses. 4.Ayush Homam: This is performed on every birth day of a family member for healthy and long life. 5.Agnihotra: Done by the married people. 6.Kushmanda homam : This homa is a Prayaschitha Homa performed to get rid of the sins done by a person. Prayaschita means atonement. 1000 priests at a Yagashala. 7.Samidhadhanam: Every Brahmin bachelor is supposed to do it every day with peepal or palasa sticks and ghee in the fire. 8.Aupasanam: Done by the married people every day in the morning and the evening. They start doing it after the birth of the first baby. 9.Mahamrutyunjaya homam : This is performed by repeating the Mrtyunjaya (Conquering death) mantra from the Rudram of Yajur Veda. 10.Lagu Mrutyunjaya homam: another type of the above one. 11.Vasthu homam: It is done during the construction of new houses or buildings 12. Purushasukta homam: Done with the recitation of Purushasukta from the Rik Veda. Picture of Sri Ganapati Sachidananda in a Yagashala. 13.Sri Sukta homam: Sri Suktam is a Vedic hymn in praise of Goddess. 14.Bhagavadgita homam :  15.Punyahavachanam: 16.Agnimukam:  17.Jayadhihomam:  18Vichinnagni sandhanam: 19.Sri vidya navavarana homam:  20.Agnistoma : 21.Jyotistoma:  22.Mahavrata yaga:  23.Gasava yagam: 24.Ukthya yagam :  25.Avahanthihomam 26.Rudram Homam   27.Rudra Ekadasani   28.Maha Rudram Sri Sathaya Sai Baba organised the biggest Ati Rudra in Chennai and Puttaparthi 29.Ati Rudram   Rudra Ekadasi: When Rudram is recited 121 times (11 priests recite it 11 times) it is Rudra Ekadasi. When Rudram is recited 1331 times (11X11X11) it is Maha Rudram When Rudram is recited 14641 times (11X 11X11X11) it is Ati Rudram Sri Sathya Sai Baba performed Ati Rudram in Chennai and Puttaparthi. It was the biggest Homam done in modern times. 30.Atirathram: Atirathram is very popular because of its performance every year in Kerala.  31.Aswamedham: Kshatriya rulers (kings) only did this in ancient India. 32.Purushamedham : It is the sacrifice of a man. But in the later times, they did it only with the dummies made up of flour, without sacrificing a man. 33.Rajasuyam: Kings do it to re establish their sovereignty. 34.Vajapeyam: See Kanchi Shankaracharya's talk given above. 35.Somayagam : Details are given already. 36.Puthrakameshti yagam : Done by Dasaratha to get issues. Full article and many photos in the link below http://tamilandvedas.com/2014/03/06/400-types-of-yagas-fire-ceremonies/

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