What is Homam?
Homams are Poojas performed for a particular deity by invoking Agni - the God of fire.
It is said that when Lord Brahma (the creator among the Trinity) created man, he also created "Homam" for man's livelihood and his attainment of spiritual desires. The fundamental premise of Homam is derived from the Vedams, although, according to "Purusha Sooktham", it is the other way around - Vedams originated from Homam! Anyhow, Vedams and Homam are eternal truths having neither beginning nor end, and are "Apourusheyam" (divine, not the creation of humans). Karmam (work or action) is an integral part of living. Right and wrong Karmams can hardly be discerned by human intellect, and has to be guided by knowledge. Vedams, indeed, contain the highest form of knowledge. The singular goal of Vedam is to guide man through the correct path. And Homam forms the essence of all the Karmams prescribed in the Vedams.
The goal of all Homams is the prosperity of the people at large by energizing and protecting the environment. The Sun is considered as the main source of energy supply, and fire is considered as a representation of the Sun's energy. According to the ancient texts on Homam, any offer to Fire as a god, is actually an offer to Sun. Any such offer is either to enrich energy in the environment or to destroy the undesirable elements in the environment, and thus, in both ways, environment is protected. Attaching divine nature to such rituals (like Homam) induced people to practice them.
Maha mrithyunjaya Homa is dedicated to Lord Siva. On worshipping Siva one can escape from miseries and troubles this materialistic world as well as the problems related to inner soul. Lord Siva Shiva is the winner of death. This homa has performed to achieve death. Everybody has a great fear is that of death. Twenty-one mantras are chanted during this homa. The main offerings in the homa are Durva grass (famous purifying blood) and an herb called Amritha, materials used for chamatha twigs, peril twigs, sesame, Karuka leaves, milk, and palpayasam. This homa is performed for birthdays for long and healthy life.
It is also performed to cure chronic illness. The homa also help to overcome the evil effects of enemies (sathru dosha Nivarana). It will be also helps us to mitigate the dangerous life due to accidents and serious ills. It is done for a long and healthy life, are to be get rid of prolonged sickness. This Homa performed Lord Siva to protect the person suffering from the ailments. Performing this homa once in year is essential to protect us from long life.
The Mruthyunjaya Homam is performed to achieve Jaya or Victory over Mritya or death. The object of worship of this homa is Lord Shiva. One of the synonyms of Lord Shiva is Mrityu. Mrityu which means death of the death or the destroyer of death. The prominent offerings in this homa are durva grass and an herb called amrita. The former is famous for purifying blood and the latter is used as a medicine for incurable diseases like arbuda or cancer. Since these are used as offerings in this homa, it is believed that this homam bestows longevity on the performer. The hymns are devoted to Mrityu, the God of death, praying for long life. These hymns are used in the purnahuti or the final offering in the famous Soma sacrifice. This homa also alleviates Mrityu dosha or untimely death.
MRITYUNJAYA MANTRA
Aum Tryambakam Yajamahe
Sugandhim Pushti Vardhanam
Urva rukamiva Bandhanat
Mrtyor muksheeya Maamritat
O three-eyed one, O Shiva we worship and adore thee. You are the fragrance of life, who nourishes us, restores our health, and causes us to thrive. As, in due time, the stem of the cucumber weakens, and the gourd is freed from the vine, so free us from attachment and death, and do not withhold immortality.
Focus on the meaning of each word as you chant. Here is a word by word translation:
tri-ambaka-m “the three-eyed-one”
yaja-mahe “we praise”
sugandhi-m “the fragrant”
pusti-vardhana-m
“the prosperity-increaser”
urvaruka-m “disease, attachment, obstacles in life, and resulting depression”
iva “-like”
bandhanat “from attachment Stem (of the gourd); but more generally, unhealthy attachment”
mrtyor “from death”
mukshiya “may you liberate”
ma “not”
amritat realization of immortality
The Rig Veda says, Lord Shiva gave the mantra to Sage Shukracharya to pass on to human beings.
When chanted with love and devotion, it will protect us from all evil, remove diseases, and bestow upon us peace, prosperity and good health. It will ultimately free us from the cycle of birth and death.
