The Agnistoma Somayaga in the Shukla Yajurveda
by Madan Haloi | 2018 | 109,416 words
This page relates ‘Part 2.2: The Homa Sacrifice’ of the study on the Agnistoma Somayaga as described in the Shukla Yajurveda (dealing with Vedic Rituals). The Agnistoma sacrifice (lit. “praise of Agni”) connects god with men and is performed in the spring season. It is the model of all the Soma sacrifices and forms a large and complicated ceremony preceded by four preliminary ritualistic days. This thesis deals with all the details involved in the Agnistoma sacrifice.
Part 2.2: The Homa Sacrifice
[Full title: Types of Sacrifices in General (2): Homa]
Out of the four types of sacrifices, Homa is the first. This type of sacrifice was obligatory for all the Vedic people. In this type of sacrifice, the main oblation material is cow milk and is offered to the fire god and to the Sun god. Either the Adhvaryu or the householder himself can perform this sacrifice. As stated in the Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra, here, the libation is made sitting beside the āhavanīya fire uttering the word svāhā[1]. All the Homa type of sacrifices are performed following the procedure of the Agnihotra.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
cf., upaviṣṭahomāḥsvāhākārapradānā juhotayaḥ/ Kātyāyana Śrautasūtra , 1.28.