Significance of Ajya oblations
Ajya oblations, according to Dharmashastra, refer to various sacrificial offerings made with clarified butter or ghee during rituals. These offerings symbolize devotion and respect to deities and can be part of various ceremonies, including childbirth and marriage rituals. Ajya oblations are intended to invoke divine favor and ensure prosperity and restoration of faculties. They are prepared following specific guidelines and often accompanied by prescribed mantras, highlighting their significance in connecting participants with divine forces during sacrificial rites.
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Hindu concept of 'Ajya oblations'
Ajya oblations in Hinduism refer to sacrificial offerings made with clarified butter (ghee) during rituals to honor deities. These offerings signify devotion and aim to invoke divine favor, prosperity, and a connection with the divine forces.
From: Paraskara-grihya-sutra
(1) Sacrificial offerings made with ghee as part of the penance following the year of alms.[1] (2) Offerings made using Ajya, typically clarified butter, during the sacrificial ritual along with prescribed texts.[2] (3) Ghee offerings made during the sacrifice, signifying devotion and respect to deities.[3] (4) Offerings made of ghee, typically used in Vedic rituals to honor deities.[4] (5) Offerings made during rituals that involve the use of clarified butter, dedicated to various deities.[5]
From: Gobhila-grihya-sutra
(1) A series of sacrificial offerings made using the 'cow's names' formulas, each performed separately.[6] (2) Sacrificial offerings made with clarified butter as part of the childbirth rituals to invoke divine favor.[7] (3) Sacrificial offerings made with clarified butter, as part of the ceremony.[8] (4) A ritual offering involving clarified butter (Ajya), which is used in ceremonies to appease deities or ensure good fortune.[9] (5) Offerings made using ghee, which are to be prepared in specific manners during sacrificial ceremonies.[10]
From: Asvalayana-grihya-sutra
(1) Offerings made into the Dakshina fire during the sacrificial rites.[11] (2) Sacrificial offerings made to deities, specifically consisting of clarified butter in this context.[12] (3) Types of offerings made using clarified butter during a sacrificial ritual to seek restoration or return of one's faculties and prosperity.[13] (4) The offerings made using clarified butter to deities including Savitri, Brahman, Belief, Insight, Wisdom, Memory, Sadasaspati, Anumati, the metres, and the Rishis.[14] (5) Liquid offerings made as part of the sacrificial rites, associated with the deities Agni and Soma.[15]
From: Sankhayana-grihya-sutra
(1) The offerings made during a sacrifice, often consisting of ghee.[16] (2) Offerings made with clarified butter during the sacrificial ritual to various deities.[17] (3) Ajya oblations refer to offerings made with a liquid substance, typically ghee or clarified butter, during the ritual process.[18]
From: Apastamba Grihya-sutra
(1) Specific offerings made of clarified butter, performed silently before cooking and sacrificing the cow’s omentum.[19] (2) Sacrificial offerings of clarified butter made during the ritual, as indicated by specified Mantras.[20] (3) Refers to the offerings that are part of the ritual, made with a clarified butter or similar substances.[21]
From: Khadira-grihya-sutra
(1) A type of offering involving clarified butter, which is to be made during the marriage, excluding any special rules.[22]