Importance of using right quantity of materials in homa/havan

Krishna Yajurveda 2.5.4 says

यस्मै वा अल्पेना$$हरन्ति ना$$त्मना तृप्यति नान्यस्मै ददाति यस्मै महता तृप्यत्यात्मना  ददात्यन्यस्मै

To whom something is offered in small quantity is himself not satisfied, he will not give to others.

To whom something is offered in plentiful is satisfied, and he will  give to others.

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What is yajna ?

येन सदनुष्ठानेन इन्द्रप्रभृतयो देवाः सुप्रसन्ना: सुवृष्टिं कुर्युस्तद्  यज्ञपदाभिधेयम्  |
By performing which devas such as Indra are pleased and cause good rains is called yajna.
येन सदनुष्ठानेन स्वर्गादिप्राप्तिः सुलभा स्यात् तद् यज्ञपदाभिधेयम् |
By performing which attainment of heaven etc. are easily accomplished is called yajna.
येन सदनुष्ठानेन संपूर्णं विश्वं कल्याणं भजेत् तद् यज्ञपदाभिधेयम् |
Performance of which is auspicious to the entire universe is called yajna.
येन सदनुष्ठानेन आध्यात्मिक - आधिभौतिक - आधिदैविक तापत्रयोन्मूलनं सुकरं स्यात्  तद् यज्ञपदाभिधेयम् |
By the performance of which, the troubles of threefold nature, aadhyaatmika, aadhibhautika and aadhidaivika are easily removed, is called yajna.
मन्त्रैर्देवतामुद्दिश्य द्रव्यस्य दानं यागः
Offering to devatas accompanied by mantras is called yaga.

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Do not perform shubha karma in noisy environment !!!

पेषणादिकयन्त्रेषु शब्दो यावत्प्रवर्तते
तावत्कर्म न कर्तव्यं तथा सन्ध्याद्वये$पिवा

When noise from machines etc. are heard, shubha karmas should not be performed, also during twilight.

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Y chromosome and gothra

http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=Articles&ArticleID=1094

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When to offer ahuti during havan !

मन्त्रेणोङ्गारपूतेन स्वाहान्तेन विचक्षणः
स्वाहावसाने जुहुयात् ध्यायन् मन्त्रदेवताम्

With the mantra sanctified by ॐ  and ending with स्वाहा , the ahuti should be offered at the end of स्वाहा  meditating on the deity of the mantra.

There is a more precise direction.

सकारे सूतकं विद्याद्धकारे मृत्युमादिशेत्
आहुतिस्तत्र दातव्यः यत्र आकार दृश्यते

स्वाहा is made up of    स् + व्  + आ  + ह्  + आ
स् is impure on account of sutaka
ह्  is attached to death.
Hence the ahuti should be offered when the आ succeeding ह् is seen - ie:- at the very end of स्वाहा

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Importance of anujna ( permission ) from brahmins at the start of any ritual.

The performer of the ritual such as shanti, at the beginning briefly mentions the task that is ahead to the brahmins in the assembly and requests for their blessings for eligibility of the ritual. This is called anujna.

..............कर्तुं योग्यता सिद्धिं अनुगृहाण  this is the request.

brahmins say योग्यता सिद्धिरस्तु  - may you be eligible.

Dharma shastra says

ब्राह्मणानां विना वाक्यैः क्रियाः स्युर्निर्निष्फलाः स्मृताः
कर्तव्या ब्राह्मणानुज्ञा कर्मणां परिपूर्तये
Any task performed without obtaining the permission of the brahmins will be fruitless. The act of anujna should be performed for successful completion of the task,

How these blessings should be obtained ?

महादनुग्रहश्च द्रव्यदानेन कारयितव्यः
The blessings should be obtained by offering daanam.

दाने सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्  ( तैत्तिरीय आरण्यकम् )


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Do not make promises to Gods !!!!

In the vedic religion, there is a sequence to be followed when making an offering to gods and seeking their blessings for some tangible result.

1.विग्रहः  - presence of gods ( by invocation or being present in a temple etc.)
2. हविः स्वीकारः  - acceptance by the gods of the offering made.
3. तद्भोजनम्  - its consumption by them
4. तृप्तिः - satisfaction
5. प्रसादः - blessings.

First give, then only ask. People unaware of these rules go around making promises like

If  I get this job, I will .................. to my kuladevata
If I can buy a house before..... I will visit Tirupati and offer ..........
If I pass this exam, I will ......................
If my daughter gets married in a good family, I will ...............

Gods don't get lured by these promises. On the contrary, the one who makes such promises will be doomed if they are not fulfilled. The rules are very stringent.

1. If the delivery of the promise is delayed by 24 hrs double the promise has to be fulfilled.
2. If  the delay is three nights, then six times.
3. If the delay is 10 nights, it is sixteen times.
4.If the delay is one month, then it should be hundred times.
5.If the delay is a year, then one thousand times.
5. Beyond a year, he goes to hell.

See how it woks. Say the promise was to offer a Sari to kuladevi on getting a job. The clock starts ticking the moment the appointment order is received. If the promise is not fulfilled on the same day and done after one month, 100 saris will have to be offered and so on.

Some people are confused. Giving something to gods and asking fir something, is it not like bribing ? What do the gods need from humans?. They have everything !

This is ignorance. The vedic system is one of mutual dependence and mutual nourishment of divinity and humanity. The creator God's role is limited to creation. Thereafter it is a different system that is in place.

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Do not offer money to sanyasis !!

वानप्रस्थस्य पक्वान्नं ताम्बूलं ब्रह्मचारिणः
संन्यासिनः सुवर्णं च दाता अपि नरकं व्रजेत्

By donating cooked food to someone observing vanaprastha ashrama, or tamboolam to a brahmachari or money (suvarnam)  to a sanyasi, the donor will go to hell.

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Can a representative perform religious rituals ?

आत्मा पुत्रः पुरोधाश्च भ्राता पत्नी पिता सखा
इज्यायां धर्मकार्ये च जायन्ते प्रतिरूपकाः
एभिः कृतं महादेवि स्वयमेव कृतं भवेत्
                                     - स्मृतिमुक्ताफलम्
The son, priest, brother, wife, father or a friend can represent and perform religious rituals. Whatever is done by them is as good as done by self.

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The rules to be observed by a pregnat woman

From Dharmashastra.

1. Avoid bumpy rides, mountaineering, climbing heights, strenuous movements, quick movements, boat ride, carrying heavy objects and sitting postures where there is pressure on the belly.

2.Avoid grief, agitation, worries, over work, sleep during day and keeping awake at night

3. After pumsavanam avoid, coition, pungent and strong drugs and spices

4. After the fifth month she should not take part in religious rituals.

5. She should not eat during twilight.

6. She should not go near ant hills /ash heap /bones/ skulls, bathe in deep water, stay in empty rooms, draw on the ground with nails, ash or charcoal.

7. She should avoid yawning and stretching of the body.

8.Her hair should always be tied, she should be always clean.

9. She should not quarrel, laugh much or utter inauspicious words.

10. She should not remain with her feet wet.

11.She should serve the elders, give alms , be concerned about the well being of her husband

12. She should always be peaceful and cheerful.

Rules to be observed by the husband.

1. He should fulfill the wife's all reasonable desires and demands.

2. Avoid long distance travels, bathing in the sea and hair cut after the third month.

3. Should not carry a corpse.

4.After the seventh month avoid pilgrimages.

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