Learn to Perform the Ancient Vedic Fire Ceremony (Yajna) at Home
​for the Peace of the World 

Yajna, homa, or havan is ritual worship making offerings to the Devas through the sacred fire (Agni). An example of a Vedic fire ceremony is the Agnihotra which is performed twice daily by married householders. Agni burns the offerings carrying their subtle essence to the inner realms for the Devas. The Devas use the prana of the offerings to send blessings to the people and purify the atmosphere through the smoke. Combining mantras (mystical incantations), tantras (ritual actions), yantra (mystical diagrams), dhyanams (meditations), mudras (hand gestures), nyasas (visualizations), upacaras (ceremonies), and ahutis (offerings), yajna empowers our prayers and intentions by opening channels to the inner realms to empower the Devas efforts to bless humanity. ​

The ceremony of Yajna deepens our meditation by stimulating all five senses. The practice awakens the fire of pure consciousness at the ajna chakra as it burns away our karmas and attachments. It helps uplift consciousness of society and removes negative energies from the environment helping to bring about normal rains and stable weather conditions, and to avert disease, pandemics, accidents, poverty, and natural disasters. 

Ayurveda Courses with Swamiji
Discover ancient Ayurvedic wisdom on rare topics with a Spiritual Master and Teacher.

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Topics we will cover in this course

We invite you to come join Swamiji, Founder and Spiritual Director of Soma Matha Spiritual Center, on this 20 lesson journey into the foundations of Yajna, the Vedic ritual of fire ceremony to discover:
​ 
  - Background of the Vedic origins of the rituals and modern practices. 
  - Materials and implements needed for the rituals along with adaptations for modern homes. 
  - How to perform all the rituals will be described in detail along with the mystical significance of the rituals and suggestions for abbreviating and simplifying the rituals for modern time restrictions. 
  - Texts with notes from the lectures and illustrations and diagrams will be provided for continued study along with texts for various rituals. 
  - Suggestions for how to use the sacred ash and water from the rituals and how to get the most out of the practice will be covered also. 
  - The course provides everything needed to begin performing simple homam rituals at home for the peace of the world.    ​

Course Details

- Total Class length - Approximately  1 hour of instruction
     - Recorded Class - Can be watched multiple times at a time that is convenient to you.
- Language: English
- Instructor: Swamiji
- We will be providing the opportunity for people to order difficult to source implements including copper homa kundas, and various spoons and vessels needed for the rituals, blessed by Swamiji.  We will also suggest alternative materials and possible sources for needed items.  ​

Course Syllabus

Background
History
Meaning of yajna, homam, havana, and other terms for worship
​Description of the rituals 

Vedas - Vedic Shastras
Sruti Smriti  
Four vedas
Four parts of Vedas
Recensions of Vedas
6 Vedangas 
Upavedas
Other vedic texts 
Puranas
Tantras
Agamas
Itahasas
Other texts  

Types of Agni 
10 forms of agni (5 natural, 5 ritual)
Different types and names of agni 

Vedic Rituals including daily rituals: samidha danam, agnihotra and aupasanam. 
the 3 Vedic Fires 
the Four Vedic Priests 
21 Vedic Yajnas
7 Paka Yajnams
7 Havir Yajnams
7 Soma Yajnams
40 Obligatory Rites 
16 Samskaras - Rites of Passage 
Pancha Maha Yajnams 
Daily Rituals - Samidha Danam, Agnihotra, and Aupasanam
Monthly and other less regular yajnams 

Pursha Medha
Substitutes for Animals in the rituals 
Identity of Soma Plant 
Nambudiri Brahmins and the Vedic rituals 

Vedic Fire Altar
Description of the Vedic fire altar
Modern Agamic Fire Altars
Place for Homam at Home 

Who Can Perform? Women, Children Etc.?
Women in Vedas 

Reason for Performing Effects of Yajnam 
Power of Homam 
Effects of Homam Inner and Outer
Yajnam and Rain 
Special Rain from Yajnam

Importance of Water in the Rituals 
Varuna
Water Vessels - Pranita and Prokshani Patras 
Use of Water in the Rituals 
Prokshanam 
Kumbhabhishekam 

Agamic Verses Vedic Yajnam 

Modern Practice of Agnihotra and Our Views

Adaptations for the Modern Home

Yagya Upakarana (Vessels Used in Yajna Rituals) 
Traditional Implements for Vedic Rituals
Necessary Implements for Homam 
Kunda - Fire Altar
Vessels 
Spoons
Offerings 

Practical 
Preforming Homam

Importance of Sanskrit mantras 
Definition of mantra 
Introduction to Sanskrit Sounds for Westerners 
Introduction to Veda Chanting and Veda Swaras for beginners

Preliminaries for yajnam
Karma dharma 
Yama niyama 
Dinacharya 
Sandhya vandanam  
Pancha yajnam 
Yajnam in combination with other pujas / practices 

Rituals 
Logistics of fire worship
Rituals for establishing the sacred fire for the first time 
Special offerings for accidental extinguishing of the fire or lack of practice

Preliminary offerings
Tips for keeping the fire burning  
​Sankalpa 
Rituals of preparation and starting the fire
Traditional methods of starting the fire
Purvangam
Worship of agni 

Main offerings - Pradhana homam 
Samidha danam offerings
Agnihotra offerings
Aupasana offerings
Ganapati homam
Homam to other deities
Invoking deities into the fire
Specific offerings for specific deities
Specific offerings for specific purposes 
Different types of homams
Mantras for homam 
Alteration of the vedic mantras for offering in the sacred fire

Concluding offerings 
Uttarangam
Purnahuti - final offering
Vasordhara - pouring a stream of ghee 
Prarthanam and concluding mantras 

How to empower and receive the blessings
Raksham - The sacred homa ash
Teertha Prokshanam - Sprinkling Holy water 
Treatment of the Implements and the Place of Homam   
How to get more from the practice 

​In addition to notes on the course materials, various mantras for using in homa and vidhis for various rituals will be provided so that people can conduct various types of homa for different deities and purposes at home.  Abbreviated and simplified versions of the rituals for those not versed in the Veda mantras will be provided so that people will be able to conduct some homam rituals on their own regardless of their level of knowledge of mantras or time restrictions.   ​

Meet the Master

Gaṇanāthāmṛtānanda Svāmī aka Swamiji

As the founder and director of Soma Matha Spiritual Center, Swamiji has taught the mystical Vedic Sciences to sincere students from all backgrounds for over 20 years, and has provided counsel and spiritual services for various Temples, Churches, and other spiritual organizations in the US and India. Swamiji works tirelessly to preserve the authenticity of the Vedic Sciences, which have been revealed to the world by the ancient Sages for peace, health, prosperity, and liberation from suffering for all in the world.​ His teachings range from introductory courses on Sanskrit mantra to advanced meditation and rituals. His online courses and webinars explain the ancient tradition in approachable modern terminology and empowers each teaching so that the knowledge comes to life for students, not only in their intellectual understanding, but in their practical experience.

ॐ वैश्वानराय विद्महे लालीलाय धीमहि।
तन्नो अग्निः प्रचोदयात्॥
om vaiśvānarāya vidmahe lālīlāya dhīmahi |
tanno agniḥ pracodayāt ||