Guest guest Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Namasthe,I am interested in doing Maha Ganapati Homam daily, and have few questions regarding it.1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors)? Can a homam kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a copper one? 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the mantras mentally along with the audio?3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that should be followed apart from having vegeterain food? 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine?Thanks!Phani Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Namaste Phani, 1. Yes. Please ensure it is clean. Yes, Red bricks with sand are fine. There are many shapes that can be used, a square shape is suggested by most. 2. I would recommend reading it aloud too. 3. Pls ensure a bath before homam and keep stomach light/empty before homam. 4. You can start on any date, or if you prefer you can do it on a Chaturthi. Please keep it simple and practical so that you are encouraged to stick to the routine as much as possible. Good Luck -Narayan- , " Phanikumar Velaga " <itsverysimple wrote: > > Namasthe, > > I am interested in doing Maha Ganapati Homam daily, and have few questions > regarding it. > > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors)? Can a homam > kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a > copper one? > 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the > mantras mentally along with the audio? > 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that > should be followed apart from having vegeterain food? > 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine? > > Thanks! > > Phani > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Namaste Phani, > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors)? Can a homam > kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a > copper one? Yes, you can do it on a rooftop. Doing it in the open is actually better than doing it in closed space. But realize that a rain can cause problems. Keep an umbrella around to protect the fire if it rains while you are doing homam. It is not good if fire is extinguished by rain in the middle of a homam. Yes, you can construct a homa kundam with bricks and sand at the bottom. Use a square shaped huma kunda. > 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the > mantras mentally along with the audio? One can repeat mentally while listening attentively (not casually). Actually, even listening to mantras with all the attention focused is as powerful as saying mantras. Suppose person X is chanting a mantra and thinking of some mundane matter in the mind. Suppose person Y is listening to it with focus and thinking of the mantra and its deity. Then the mantra may do nothing for person X and yet person Y may benefit from the mantra. The word mantra means " one that protects the mind " . One can say a mantra or listen to a mantra, to be protected. The key is control over the mind and keeping the mind focused on the mantra. However, there is a difference between meditation and homam. Mantra is submitted in the internal fire in meditation and it is submitted in the external fire as well in a homam. So making some external sound (even if feeble) is a good idea as opposed to silent chanting or just listening. Try to repeat slowly. > 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that > should be followed apart from having vegeterain food? Yes. Anybody whose upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony) has been performed can do it. Bachelor or married is irrelevant. One should follow the yamas and niyamas set by one's guru. Whatever rules one's guru sets, one should follow them strictly. At the minimum, one should eat only vegetarian food on the day of homam and take a bath before homam. Another rule I will recommend is to avoid eating any solid food 2 hours before homam. By the way, if one without a sacred thread wants to do homam for spiritual progress, I am willing to take responsibility and allow them to do it. Such a person can think of me or my guru as guru and perform homam. I am willing to take on any karma incurred in the process until the person crosses some minimum threshhold of purity through homam and other spiritual practices. Sacred thread or no sacred thread, mantropadesa or no mantropadesa, it does not matter after a while, when the person crosses a threshhold of purity. The goal of upanayanam and other mantropadesa by guru is to speed this up and make the person cross the threshhold of purity. As long as one desires no specific material benefits (and ready to receive whatever god gives) and does homam for spiritual progress, I am willing to help, even if it means some suffering for me. > 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine? For Mahaganapathi homam, the best is a Chaturthi morning. But any day is fine really. * * * Mentioning rain and rooftop homam reminded me of my India trip. When I went to India in May 2008, I and my guru Manish traveled together to several places (on a specific project). We ended up doing homam in the morning in several places (wherever we were). Before the trip, my guru told me to carry an umbrella with me. As monsoons come only in June/July in India, I did not take it seriously. We were in New Delhi in mid-May. We proceeded to the rooftop of the apartment complex we were in, to do a homam. Manish told me, " Narasimha, it is going to rain heavily in this city after our homam finishes " . I just smiled. To my surprise, it did rain as soon as our homas finished. After we offered poornaahuti, it suddenly started raining with really big drops. Luckily, there was a small towel/blanket on the rooftop close to us. Together, we held it on top of the two small homa kundas, closed our eyes and meditated. We held the cloth cover on the homa kundas until fire in the two homa kundas went off and then packed everything and went down. We left for Kurukshetra later that day, but we were told that a heavy rain continued for a few days in New Delhi. In fact, rain followed us on that trip as we covered the north, east and west of India. It rained in every place we went to, as we finished our task in that place and prepared to move on. Best regards, Narasimha Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana Spirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org ---- Phanikumar Velaga <itsverysimple wrote: > Namasthe, > > I am interested in doing Maha Ganapati Homam daily, and have few questions > regarding it. > > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors)? Can a homam > kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a > copper one? > 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the > mantras mentally along with the audio? > 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that > should be followed apart from having vegeterain food? > 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine? > > Thanks! > > Phani Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 3, 2008 Report Share Posted December 3, 2008 Dear Narasimhaji Reading your response another question came into my mind. You said: It is not good if fire is extinguished by rain in the middle of a homam. Is it not good that the fire gets extinguished by rain, or the fact that the fire is getting extinguished? I mean actyually i feel when someone starts doing homa regularly, there can be instances when the homa agni gets extinguished while the homa is still on..happened with me couple of times... i seriously dont knbow what to make of it but as one member in this list had suggested to me, i relight the fire and keep continuing with the homa. -Regards Rajarshi The upsurge (of consciousness) is Bhairava - Shiva Sutra--- On Thu, 4/12/08, Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr wrote: Narasimha PVR Rao <pvrRe: Regarding Maha Ganapati Homam Cc: "Phanikumar Velaga" <itsverysimpleThursday, 4 December, 2008, 6:48 AM Namaste Phani,> 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors) ? Can a homam> kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a> copper one?Yes, you can do it on a rooftop. Doing it in the open is actually better than doing it in closed space. But realize that a rain can cause problems. Keep an umbrella around to protect the fire if it rains while you are doing homam. It is not good if fire is extinguished by rain in the middle of a homam.Yes, you can construct a homa kundam with bricks and sand at the bottom. Use a square shaped huma kunda.> 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the> mantras mentally along with the audio?One can repeat mentally while listening attentively (not casually). Actually, even listening to mantras with all the attention focused is as powerful as saying mantras.Suppose person X is chanting a mantra and thinking of some mundane matter in the mind. Suppose person Y is listening to it with focus and thinking of the mantra and its deity. Then the mantra may do nothing for person X and yet person Y may benefit from the mantra. The word mantra means "one that protects the mind".. One can say a mantra or listen to a mantra, to be protected. The key is control over the mind and keeping the mind focused on the mantra.However, there is a difference between meditation and homam. Mantra is submitted in the internal fire in meditation and it is submitted in the external fire as well in a homam. So making some external sound (even if feeble) is a good idea as opposed to silent chanting or just listening. Try to repeat slowly.> 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that> should be followed apart from having vegeterain food?Yes. Anybody whose upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony) has been performed can do it. Bachelor or married is irrelevant.One should follow the yamas and niyamas set by one's guru. Whatever rules one's guru sets, one should follow them strictly. At the minimum, one should eat only vegetarian food on the day of homam and take a bath before homam. Another rule I will recommend is to avoid eating any solid food 2 hours before homam.By the way, if one without a sacred thread wants to do homam for spiritual progress, I am willing to take responsibility and allow them to do it. Such a person can think of me or my guru as guru and perform homam. I am willing to take on any karma incurred in the process until the person crosses some minimum threshhold of purity through homam and other spiritual practices. Sacred thread or no sacred thread, mantropadesa or no mantropadesa, it does not matter after a while, when the person crosses a threshhold of purity. The goal of upanayanam and other mantropadesa by guru is to speed this up and make the person cross the threshhold of purity.As long as one desires no specific material benefits (and ready to receive whatever god gives) and does homam for spiritual progress, I am willing to help, even if it means some suffering for me.> 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine?For Mahaganapathi homam, the best is a Chaturthi morning. But any day is fine really.* * *Mentioning rain and rooftop homam reminded me of my India trip.When I went to India in May 2008, I and my guru Manish traveled together to several places (on a specific project). We ended up doing homam in the morning in several places (wherever we were). Before the trip, my guru told me to carry an umbrella with me. As monsoons come only in June/July in India, I did not take it seriously. We were in New Delhi in mid-May.. We proceeded to the rooftop of the apartment complex we were in, to do a homam. Manish told me, "Narasimha, it is going to rain heavily in this city after our homam finishes". I just smiled.To my surprise, it did rain as soon as our homas finished. After we offered poornaahuti, it suddenly started raining with really big drops. Luckily, there was a small towel/blanket on the rooftop close to us. Together, we held it on top of the two small homa kundas, closed our eyes and meditated. We held the cloth cover on the homa kundas until fire in the two homa kundas went off and then packed everything and went down. We left for Kurukshetra later that day, but we were told that a heavy rain continued for a few days in New Delhi. In fact, rain followed us on that trip as we covered the north, east and west of India. It rained in every place we went to, as we finished our task in that place and prepared to move on.Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home..comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath..org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- Phanikumar Velaga <itsverysimple@ gmail.com> wrote: > Namasthe,> > I am interested in doing Maha Ganapati Homam daily, and have few questions> regarding it.> > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors) ? Can a homam> kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a> copper one?> 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the> mantras mentally along with the audio?> 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that> should be followed apart from having vegeterain food?> 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine?> > Thanks!> > Phani Unlimited freedom, unlimited storage. Get it now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Dear Rajarshi, This has happened to me a couple of times early on when I started doing Homa. The best thing is as you did, lit it back and continue with it. This is also a reason why I keep lots of camphor handy with me. When faced with such a scenario, I usually crush the camphor and offer it to the embers, which then slowly ignites. Also, when you want to prevent a fire from extinguishing, dont blow direcly into the fire in the homa kundam. Blow it on your hands and direct it towards the agni in the kundam. Hope this helps. Regards -Narayan- , rajarshi nandy <rajarshi14 wrote: > > Dear Narasimhaji >  > Reading your response another question came into my mind. You said: >  >  It is not good if fire is extinguished by rain in the middle of a homam. > > Is it not good that the fire gets extinguished by rain, or the fact that the fire is getting extinguished? >  > I mean actyually i feel when someone starts doing homa regularly, there can be instances when the homa agni gets extinguished while the homa is still on..happened with me couple of times... i seriously dont knbow what to make of it but as one member in this list had suggested to me, i relight the fire and keep continuing with the homa. >  > -Regards >  Rajarshi >  > > >  > > The upsurge (of consciousness) is Bhairava - Shiva Sutra > > --- On Thu, 4/12/08, Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr wrote: > > Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr > Re: Regarding Maha Ganapati Homam > > Cc: " Phanikumar Velaga " <itsverysimple > Thursday, 4 December, 2008, 6:48 AM Namaste Phani, > > > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors) ? Can a homam > > kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a > > copper one? > > Yes, you can do it on a rooftop. Doing it in the open is actually better than doing it in closed space. But realize that a rain can cause problems. Keep an umbrella around to protect the fire if it rains while you are doing homam. It is not good if fire is extinguished by rain in the middle of a homam. > > Yes, you can construct a homa kundam with bricks and sand at the bottom. Use a square shaped huma kunda. > > > 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the > > mantras mentally along with the audio? > > One can repeat mentally while listening attentively (not casually). Actually, even listening to mantras with all the attention focused is as powerful as saying mantras. > > Suppose person X is chanting a mantra and thinking of some mundane matter in the mind. Suppose person Y is listening to it with focus and thinking of the mantra and its deity. Then the mantra may do nothing for person X and yet person Y may benefit from the mantra. The word mantra means " one that protects the mind " . One can say a mantra or listen to a mantra, to be protected. The key is control over the mind and keeping the mind focused on the mantra. > > However, there is a difference between meditation and homam. Mantra is submitted in the internal fire in meditation and it is submitted in the external fire as well in a homam. So making some external sound (even if feeble) is a good idea as opposed to silent chanting or just listening. Try to repeat slowly. > > > 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that > > should be followed apart from having vegeterain food? > > Yes. Anybody whose upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony) has been performed can do it. Bachelor or married is irrelevant. > > One should follow the yamas and niyamas set by one's guru. Whatever rules one's guru sets, one should follow them strictly. At the minimum, one should eat only vegetarian food on the day of homam and take a bath before homam. Another rule I will recommend is to avoid eating any solid food 2 hours before homam. > > By the way, if one without a sacred thread wants to do homam for spiritual progress, I am willing to take responsibility and allow them to do it. Such a person can think of me or my guru as guru and perform homam. I am willing to take on any karma incurred in the process until the person crosses some minimum threshhold of purity through homam and other spiritual practices. Sacred thread or no sacred thread, mantropadesa or no mantropadesa, it does not matter after a while, when the person crosses a threshhold of purity. The goal of upanayanam and other mantropadesa by guru is to speed this up and make the person cross the threshhold of purity. > > As long as one desires no specific material benefits (and ready to receive whatever god gives) and does homam for spiritual progress, I am willing to help, even if it means some suffering for me. > > > 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine? > > For Mahaganapathi homam, the best is a Chaturthi morning. But any day is fine really. > > * * * > > Mentioning rain and rooftop homam reminded me of my India trip. > > When I went to India in May 2008, I and my guru Manish traveled together to several places (on a specific project). We ended up doing homam in the morning in several places (wherever we were). Before the trip, my guru told me to carry an umbrella with me. As monsoons come only in June/July in India, I did not take it seriously. We were in New Delhi in mid-May. We proceeded to the rooftop of the apartment complex we were in, to do a homam. Manish told me, " Narasimha, it is going to rain heavily in this city after our homam finishes " . I just smiled. > > To my surprise, it did rain as soon as our homas finished. After we offered poornaahuti, it suddenly started raining with really big drops. Luckily, there was a small towel/blanket on the rooftop close to us. Together, we held it on top of the two small homa kundas, closed our eyes and meditated. We held the cloth cover on the homa kundas until fire in the two homa kundas went off and then packed everything and went down. We left for Kurukshetra later that day, but we were told that a heavy rain continued for a few days in New Delhi. In fact, rain followed us on that trip as we covered the north, east and west of India. It rained in every place we went to, as we finished our task in that place and prepared to move on. > > Best regards, > Narasimha > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - > Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homam > Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpana > Spirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdom > Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. net > Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.org > Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - > > ---- Phanikumar Velaga <itsverysimple@ gmail.com> wrote: > > Namasthe, > > > > I am interested in doing Maha Ganapati Homam daily, and have few questions > > regarding it. > > > > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors) ? Can a homam > > kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a > > copper one? > > 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the > > mantras mentally along with the audio? > > 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that > > should be followed apart from having vegeterain food? > > 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine? > > > > Thanks! > > > > Phani > > > > > > > > > > Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to http://messenger./invite/ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Dear Narayanji Thanks a lot for your advice. I remember you had advised me about this previously and I follow your advise of completing the homa always till teh end. What I was curious about is that, does it indicate bad things or something asubha? As Narasimhajhi mentions in his mail that it is not a good thing for the fire to get extinguished.. Thanks once again for you reply. -Regards Rajarshi The upsurge (of consciousness) is Bhairava - Shiva Sutra--- On Thu, 4/12/08, naaraayana_iyer <narayan.iyer wrote: naaraayana_iyer <narayan.iyer Re: Regarding Maha Ganapati Homam Date: Thursday, 4 December, 2008, 1:51 PM Dear Rajarshi,This has happened to me a couple of times early on when I starteddoing Homa. The best thing is as you did, lit it back and continuewith it. This is also a reason why I keep lots of camphor handy withme. When faced with such a scenario, I usually crush the camphor andoffer it to the embers, which then slowly ignites.Also, when you want to prevent a fire from extinguishing, dont blowdirecly into the fire in the homa kundam. Blow it on your hands anddirect it towards the agni in the kundam.Hope this helps.Regards-Narayan-, rajarshi nandy <rajarshi14@ ...>wrote:>> Dear Narasimhaji>  > Reading your response another question came into my mind. You said:>  >  It is not good if fire is extinguished by rain in the middle of ahomam.> > Is it not good that the fire gets extinguished by rain, or the factthat the fire is getting extinguished?>  > I mean actyually i feel when someone starts doing homa regularly,there can be instances when the homa agni gets extinguished while thehoma is still on..happened with me couple of times.... i seriously dontknbow what to make of it but as one member in this list had suggestedto me, i relight the fire and keep continuing with the homa.>  > -Regards>  Rajarshi>  > > >  > > The upsurge (of consciousness) is Bhairava - Shiva Sutra> > --- On Thu, 4/12/08, Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr wrote:> > Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr> Re: Regarding Maha Ganapati Homam> > Cc: "Phanikumar Velaga" <itsverysimple@ ...>> Thursday, 4 December, 2008, 6:48 AM> > > > > > > Namaste Phani,> > > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors) ?Can a homam> > kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be usedinstead of a> > copper one?> > Yes, you can do it on a rooftop. Doing it in the open is actuallybetter than doing it in closed space. But realize that a rain cancause problems. Keep an umbrella around to protect the fire if itrains while you are doing homam. It is not good if fire isextinguished by rain in the middle of a homam.> > Yes, you can construct a homa kundam with bricks and sand at thebottom. Use a square shaped huma kunda.> > > 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should onerepeat the> > mantras mentally along with the audio?> > One can repeat mentally while listening attentively (not casually).Actually, even listening to mantras with all the attention focused isas powerful as saying mantras..> > Suppose person X is chanting a mantra and thinking of some mundanematter in the mind. Suppose person Y is listening to it with focus andthinking of the mantra and its deity. Then the mantra may do nothingfor person X and yet person Y may benefit from the mantra. The wordmantra means "one that protects the mind". One can say a mantra orlisten to a mantra, to be protected. The key is control over the mindand keeping the mind focused on the mantra.> > However, there is a difference between meditation and homam. Mantrais submitted in the internal fire in meditation and it is submitted inthe external fire as well in a homam. So making some external sound(even if feeble) is a good idea as opposed to silent chanting or justlistening. Try to repeat slowly.> > > 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Otherconditions/niyamas that> > should be followed apart from having vegeterain food?> > Yes. Anybody whose upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony) has beenperformed can do it. Bachelor or married is irrelevant.> > One should follow the yamas and niyamas set by one's guru. Whateverrules one's guru sets, one should follow them strictly. At theminimum, one should eat only vegetarian food on the day of homam andtake a bath before homam. Another rule I will recommend is to avoideating any solid food 2 hours before homam.> > By the way, if one without a sacred thread wants to do homam forspiritual progress, I am willing to take responsibility and allow themto do it. Such a person can think of me or my guru as guru and performhomam. I am willing to take on any karma incurred in the process untilthe person crosses some minimum threshhold of purity through homam andother spiritual practices. Sacred thread or no sacred thread,mantropadesa or no mantropadesa, it does not matter after a while,when the person crosses a threshhold of purity. The goal of upanayanamand other mantropadesa by guru is to speed this up and make the personcross the threshhold of purity.> > As long as one desires no specific material benefits (and ready toreceive whatever god gives) and does homam for spiritual progress, Iam willing to help, even if it means some suffering for me.> > > 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine?> > For Mahaganapathi homam, the best is a Chaturthi morning. But anyday is fine really.> > * * *> > Mentioning rain and rooftop homam reminded me of my India trip.> > When I went to India in May 2008, I and my guru Manish traveledtogether to several places (on a specific project). We ended up doinghomam in the morning in several places (wherever we were). Before thetrip, my guru told me to carry an umbrella with me. As monsoons comeonly in June/July in India, I did not take it seriously. We were inNew Delhi in mid-May. We proceeded to the rooftop of the apartmentcomplex we were in, to do a homam. Manish told me, "Narasimha, it isgoing to rain heavily in this city after our homam finishes". I justsmiled.> > To my surprise, it did rain as soon as our homas finished. After weoffered poornaahuti, it suddenly started raining with really bigdrops. Luckily, there was a small towel/blanket on the rooftop closeto us. Together, we held it on top of the two small homa kundas,closed our eyes and meditated. We held the cloth cover on the homakundas until fire in the two homa kundas went off and then packedeverything and went down. We left for Kurukshetra later that day, butwe were told that a heavy rain continued for a few days in New Delhi.In fact, rain followed us on that trip as we covered the north, eastand west of India. It rained in every place we went to, as we finishedour task in that place and prepared to move on.> > Best regards,> Narasimha> ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -> Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homam> Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpana> Spirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdom> Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. net> Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.org> Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org> ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -> > ---- Phanikumar Velaga <itsverysimple@ gmail.com> wrote: > > Namasthe,> > > > I am interested in doing Maha Ganapati Homam daily, and have fewquestions> > regarding it.> > > > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors) ?Can a homam> > kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be usedinstead of a> > copper one?> > 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should onerepeat the> > mantras mentally along with the audio?> > 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Otherconditions/niyamas that> > should be followed apart from having vegeterain food?> > 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine?> > > > Thanks!> > > > Phani> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go tohttp://messenger. / invite/> Connect with friends all over the world.. Get India Messenger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Namaste Rajarshiji, The implications could be many. One of it could be indicative of the strength of the performers Bhuta Agni level. But, let's not read too much between the lines. After all, practice makes/takes us closer to perfection. As a child (which we all are) all these are OK and when such things happen, apologize mentally and carry on Enjoy! -Narayan- , rajarshi nandy <rajarshi14 wrote: > > Dear Narayanji >  > Thanks a lot for your advice. I remember you had advised me about this previously and I follow your advise of completing the homa always till teh end. > > What I was curious about is that, does it indicate bad things or something asubha? As Narasimhajhi mentions in his mail that it is not a good thing for the fire to get extinguished.. >  > Thanks once again for you reply. >  > -Regards >  Rajarshi > > > The upsurge (of consciousness) is Bhairava - Shiva Sutra > > --- On Thu, 4/12/08, naaraayana_iyer <narayan.iyer wrote: > > naaraayana_iyer <narayan.iyer > Re: Regarding Maha Ganapati Homam > > Thursday, 4 December, 2008, 1:51 PM Dear Rajarshi, > > This has happened to me a couple of times early on when I started > doing Homa. The best thing is as you did, lit it back and continue > with it. This is also a reason why I keep lots of camphor handy with > me. When faced with such a scenario, I usually crush the camphor and > offer it to the embers, which then slowly ignites. > > Also, when you want to prevent a fire from extinguishing, dont blow > direcly into the fire in the homa kundam. Blow it on your hands and > direct it towards the agni in the kundam. > > Hope this helps. > > Regards > -Narayan- > > , rajarshi nandy <rajarshi14@ ...> > wrote: > > > > Dear Narasimhaji > >  > > Reading your response another question came into my mind. You said: > >  > >  It is not good if fire is extinguished by rain in the middle of a > homam. > > > > Is it not good that the fire gets extinguished by rain, or the fact > that the fire is getting extinguished? > >  > > I mean actyually i feel when someone starts doing homa regularly, > there can be instances when the homa agni gets extinguished while the > homa is still on..happened with me couple of times... i seriously dont > knbow what to make of it but as one member in this list had suggested > to me, i relight the fire and keep continuing with the homa. > >  > > -Regards > >  Rajarshi > >  > > > > > >  > > > > The upsurge (of consciousness) is Bhairava - Shiva Sutra > > > > --- On Thu, 4/12/08, Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr@> wrote: > > > > Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr@> > > Re: Regarding Maha Ganapati Homam > > > > Cc: " Phanikumar Velaga " <itsverysimple@ ...> > > Thursday, 4 December, 2008, 6:48 AM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Namaste Phani, > > > > > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors) ? > Can a homam > > > kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used > instead of a > > > copper one? > > > > Yes, you can do it on a rooftop. Doing it in the open is actually > better than doing it in closed space. But realize that a rain can > cause problems. Keep an umbrella around to protect the fire if it > rains while you are doing homam. It is not good if fire is > extinguished by rain in the middle of a homam. > > > > Yes, you can construct a homa kundam with bricks and sand at the > bottom. Use a square shaped huma kunda. > > > > > 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one > repeat the > > > mantras mentally along with the audio? > > > > One can repeat mentally while listening attentively (not casually). > Actually, even listening to mantras with all the attention focused is > as powerful as saying mantras. > > > > Suppose person X is chanting a mantra and thinking of some mundane > matter in the mind. Suppose person Y is listening to it with focus and > thinking of the mantra and its deity. Then the mantra may do nothing > for person X and yet person Y may benefit from the mantra. The word > mantra means " one that protects the mind " . One can say a mantra or > listen to a mantra, to be protected. The key is control over the mind > and keeping the mind focused on the mantra. > > > > However, there is a difference between meditation and homam. Mantra > is submitted in the internal fire in meditation and it is submitted in > the external fire as well in a homam. So making some external sound > (even if feeble) is a good idea as opposed to silent chanting or just > listening. Try to repeat slowly. > > > > > 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other > conditions/niyamas that > > > should be followed apart from having vegeterain food? > > > > Yes. Anybody whose upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony) has been > performed can do it. Bachelor or married is irrelevant. > > > > One should follow the yamas and niyamas set by one's guru. Whatever > rules one's guru sets, one should follow them strictly. At the > minimum, one should eat only vegetarian food on the day of homam and > take a bath before homam. Another rule I will recommend is to avoid > eating any solid food 2 hours before homam. > > > > By the way, if one without a sacred thread wants to do homam for > spiritual progress, I am willing to take responsibility and allow them > to do it. Such a person can think of me or my guru as guru and perform > homam. I am willing to take on any karma incurred in the process until > the person crosses some minimum threshhold of purity through homam and > other spiritual practices. Sacred thread or no sacred thread, > mantropadesa or no mantropadesa, it does not matter after a while, > when the person crosses a threshhold of purity. The goal of upanayanam > and other mantropadesa by guru is to speed this up and make the person > cross the threshhold of purity. > > > > As long as one desires no specific material benefits (and ready to > receive whatever god gives) and does homam for spiritual progress, I > am willing to help, even if it means some suffering for me. > > > > > 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine? > > > > For Mahaganapathi homam, the best is a Chaturthi morning. But any > day is fine really. > > > > * * * > > > > Mentioning rain and rooftop homam reminded me of my India trip. > > > > When I went to India in May 2008, I and my guru Manish traveled > together to several places (on a specific project). We ended up doing > homam in the morning in several places (wherever we were). Before the > trip, my guru told me to carry an umbrella with me. As monsoons come > only in June/July in India, I did not take it seriously. We were in > New Delhi in mid-May. We proceeded to the rooftop of the apartment > complex we were in, to do a homam. Manish told me, " Narasimha, it is > going to rain heavily in this city after our homam finishes " . I just > smiled. > > > > To my surprise, it did rain as soon as our homas finished. After we > offered poornaahuti, it suddenly started raining with really big > drops. Luckily, there was a small towel/blanket on the rooftop close > to us. Together, we held it on top of the two small homa kundas, > closed our eyes and meditated. We held the cloth cover on the homa > kundas until fire in the two homa kundas went off and then packed > everything and went down. We left for Kurukshetra later that day, but > we were told that a heavy rain continued for a few days in New Delhi. > In fact, rain followed us on that trip as we covered the north, east > and west of India. It rained in every place we went to, as we finished > our task in that place and prepared to move on. > > > > Best regards, > > Narasimha > > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - > > Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homam > > Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpana > > Spirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdom > > Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. net > > Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.org > > Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org > > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - > > > > ---- Phanikumar Velaga <itsverysimple@ gmail.com> wrote: > > > Namasthe, > > > > > > I am interested in doing Maha Ganapati Homam daily, and have few > questions > > > regarding it. > > > > > > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors) ? > Can a homam > > > kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used > instead of a > > > copper one? > > > 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one > repeat the > > > mantras mentally along with the audio? > > > 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other > conditions/niyamas that > > > should be followed apart from having vegeterain food? > > > 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine? > > > > > > Thanks! > > > > > > Phani > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to > http://messenger. / invite/ > > > > > > > > > > > > Connect with friends all over the world. Get India Messenger at http://in.messenger./?wm=n/ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Hare Rama Krishna Dear Narayana, Hope you are fine! Havent seen you in years. anyway,, used to be.. long time ago...other yugas, when brahmans were very potent due to shakti/punya etc that they could light fire just from MANTRA! Yogis could travel on light rays. In fact one thing I marvel about is how Krishna etc can invoke his weapons and such just by sound vibration,etc was practice before things degenerated, its nice to read Mahabharata and Srimad Bhagavatam. Best wishes Lakshmi , " naaraayana_iyer " <narayan.iyer wrote: > > Namaste Rajarshiji, > > The implications could be many. One of it could be indicative of the > strength of the performers Bhuta Agni level. But, let's not read too > much between the lines. After all, practice makes/takes us closer to > perfection. As a child (which we all are) all these are OK and when > such things happen, apologize mentally and carry on > > Enjoy! > -Narayan- > > > , rajarshi nandy <rajarshi14@> > wrote: > > > > Dear Narayanji > >  > > Thanks a lot for your advice. I remember you had advised me about > this previously and I follow your advise of completing the homa always > till teh end. > > > > What I was curious about is that, does it indicate bad things or > something asubha? As Narasimhajhi mentions in his mail that it is not > a good thing for the fire to get extinguished.. > >  > > Thanks once again for you reply. > >  > > -Regards > >  Rajarshi > > > > > > The upsurge (of consciousness) is Bhairava - Shiva Sutra > > > > --- On Thu, 4/12/08, naaraayana_iyer <narayan.iyer@> wrote: > > > > naaraayana_iyer <narayan.iyer@> > > Re: Regarding Maha Ganapati Homam > > > > Thursday, 4 December, 2008, 1:51 PM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Dear Rajarshi, > > > > This has happened to me a couple of times early on when I started > > doing Homa. The best thing is as you did, lit it back and continue > > with it. This is also a reason why I keep lots of camphor handy with > > me. When faced with such a scenario, I usually crush the camphor and > > offer it to the embers, which then slowly ignites. > > > > Also, when you want to prevent a fire from extinguishing, dont blow > > direcly into the fire in the homa kundam. Blow it on your hands and > > direct it towards the agni in the kundam. > > > > Hope this helps. > > > > Regards > > -Narayan- > > > > , rajarshi nandy <rajarshi14@ ...> > > wrote: > > > > > > Dear Narasimhaji > > >  > > > Reading your response another question came into my mind. You said: > > >  > > >  It is not good if fire is extinguished by rain in the middle of a > > homam. > > > > > > Is it not good that the fire gets extinguished by rain, or the fact > > that the fire is getting extinguished? > > >  > > > I mean actyually i feel when someone starts doing homa regularly, > > there can be instances when the homa agni gets extinguished while the > > homa is still on..happened with me couple of times... i seriously dont > > knbow what to make of it but as one member in this list had suggested > > to me, i relight the fire and keep continuing with the homa. > > >  > > > -Regards > > >  Rajarshi > > >  > > > > > > > > >  > > > > > > The upsurge (of consciousness) is Bhairava - Shiva Sutra > > > > > > --- On Thu, 4/12/08, Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr@> wrote: > > > > > > Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr@> > > > Re: Regarding Maha Ganapati Homam > > > > > > Cc: " Phanikumar Velaga " <itsverysimple@ ...> > > > Thursday, 4 December, 2008, 6:48 AM > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Namaste Phani, > > > > > > > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors) ? > > Can a homam > > > > kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used > > instead of a > > > > copper one? > > > > > > Yes, you can do it on a rooftop. Doing it in the open is actually > > better than doing it in closed space. But realize that a rain can > > cause problems. Keep an umbrella around to protect the fire if it > > rains while you are doing homam. It is not good if fire is > > extinguished by rain in the middle of a homam. > > > > > > Yes, you can construct a homa kundam with bricks and sand at the > > bottom. Use a square shaped huma kunda. > > > > > > > 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one > > repeat the > > > > mantras mentally along with the audio? > > > > > > One can repeat mentally while listening attentively (not casually). > > Actually, even listening to mantras with all the attention focused is > > as powerful as saying mantras. > > > > > > Suppose person X is chanting a mantra and thinking of some mundane > > matter in the mind. Suppose person Y is listening to it with focus and > > thinking of the mantra and its deity. Then the mantra may do nothing > > for person X and yet person Y may benefit from the mantra. The word > > mantra means " one that protects the mind " . One can say a mantra or > > listen to a mantra, to be protected. The key is control over the mind > > and keeping the mind focused on the mantra. > > > > > > However, there is a difference between meditation and homam. Mantra > > is submitted in the internal fire in meditation and it is submitted in > > the external fire as well in a homam. So making some external sound > > (even if feeble) is a good idea as opposed to silent chanting or just > > listening. Try to repeat slowly. > > > > > > > 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other > > conditions/niyamas that > > > > should be followed apart from having vegeterain food? > > > > > > Yes. Anybody whose upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony) has been > > performed can do it. Bachelor or married is irrelevant. > > > > > > One should follow the yamas and niyamas set by one's guru. Whatever > > rules one's guru sets, one should follow them strictly. At the > > minimum, one should eat only vegetarian food on the day of homam and > > take a bath before homam. Another rule I will recommend is to avoid > > eating any solid food 2 hours before homam. > > > > > > By the way, if one without a sacred thread wants to do homam for > > spiritual progress, I am willing to take responsibility and allow them > > to do it. Such a person can think of me or my guru as guru and perform > > homam. I am willing to take on any karma incurred in the process until > > the person crosses some minimum threshhold of purity through homam and > > other spiritual practices. Sacred thread or no sacred thread, > > mantropadesa or no mantropadesa, it does not matter after a while, > > when the person crosses a threshhold of purity. The goal of upanayanam > > and other mantropadesa by guru is to speed this up and make the person > > cross the threshhold of purity. > > > > > > As long as one desires no specific material benefits (and ready to > > receive whatever god gives) and does homam for spiritual progress, I > > am willing to help, even if it means some suffering for me. > > > > > > > 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine? > > > > > > For Mahaganapathi homam, the best is a Chaturthi morning. But any > > day is fine really. > > > > > > * * * > > > > > > Mentioning rain and rooftop homam reminded me of my India trip. > > > > > > When I went to India in May 2008, I and my guru Manish traveled > > together to several places (on a specific project). We ended up doing > > homam in the morning in several places (wherever we were). Before the > > trip, my guru told me to carry an umbrella with me. As monsoons come > > only in June/July in India, I did not take it seriously. We were in > > New Delhi in mid-May. We proceeded to the rooftop of the apartment > > complex we were in, to do a homam. Manish told me, " Narasimha, it is > > going to rain heavily in this city after our homam finishes " . I just > > smiled. > > > > > > To my surprise, it did rain as soon as our homas finished. After we > > offered poornaahuti, it suddenly started raining with really big > > drops. Luckily, there was a small towel/blanket on the rooftop close > > to us. Together, we held it on top of the two small homa kundas, > > closed our eyes and meditated. We held the cloth cover on the homa > > kundas until fire in the two homa kundas went off and then packed > > everything and went down. We left for Kurukshetra later that day, but > > we were told that a heavy rain continued for a few days in New Delhi. > > In fact, rain followed us on that trip as we covered the north, east > > and west of India. It rained in every place we went to, as we finished > > our task in that place and prepared to move on. > > > > > > Best regards, > > > Narasimha > > > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - > > > Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homam > > > Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpana > > > Spirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdom > > > Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. net > > > Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.org > > > Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org > > > ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - > > > > > > ---- Phanikumar Velaga <itsverysimple@ gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Namasthe, > > > > > > > > I am interested in doing Maha Ganapati Homam daily, and have few > > questions > > > > regarding it. > > > > > > > > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors) ? > > Can a homam > > > > kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used > > instead of a > > > > copper one? > > > > 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one > > repeat the > > > > mantras mentally along with the audio? > > > > 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other > > conditions/niyamas that > > > > should be followed apart from having vegeterain food? > > > > 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine? > > > > > > > > Thanks! > > > > > > > > Phani > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Add more friends to your messenger and enjoy! Go to > > http://messenger. / invite/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Connect with friends all over the world. Get India > Messenger at http://in.messenger./?wm=n/ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008  Namaste, Narayan has already answered aptly. It is ideal if the fire does not go off in the middle. But, if it does, don't worry. Re-ignite it as Narayan said, pray to Agni in the mind and continue. Suppose a servant is asked by his master to carry a vessel of milk to a place without spilling it on the way. Suppose a little milk is spilled on the way. What should he do? Should he abandon the project or atleast carry the remaining milk to the destination? * * * As Narayan said, fire going away can signal the bhutagni being weak. But, one is better off ignoring those things and not thinking too much about the significance. * * * I recommend doing homam without worrying about how well or badly it went and what results it brought. Let me give an analogy. Think of your favorite deity as the master and yourself as a servant. A servant simply serves the master. Similarly, all the sadhana you do and your other activities are your way to serve your master. A rich landlord may be very wealthy and have many big checks everyday to cash and also many big checks everyday to mail others. Yet, he may need a servant to physically carry papers to the bank and do the needful. Similarly, god is capable of doing anything in this world and yet god needs human beings who execute god's agenda in this world. That is why various gods (including Vishnu himself) and various rishis keep coming back to earth every now and then. The supreme god of this world operates through various physical persons present on earth. We do homam and other spiritual sadhana, purify ourselves and try to help others, because that is god's work. Just as a servant carries master's papers to the bank, we do such work for god. Doing what is applauded by others as good work tends to promote ego and we need to guard against it. A servant carrying a million dollar check to the bank and cashing it is NOT superior to a servant carrying a $100 check to the bank and cashing it. Both are merely doing their master's work and do not own anything. Both are just *instruments* used by the master to carry out his agenda. Similarly, one who does what are considered great deeds in this world and one who does what are considered meagre deeds in this world are both servants of god helping god execute god's agenda in this world. Neither really owns anything. One may consider oneself superior to the other because his/her deeds are considered superior by the world, but he/she is just as foolish as a servant who considers himself/herself superior to another servant carrying something less valuable. If this attitude of being a servant of god fully penetrates one's attitude, thinking and instincts, one is safe no matter what situations his previous karmas place one in. One can remain happy and blissful in pleasure and pain, in praise and criticism and in light and darkness. Have the same attitude towards your sadhana like homam. It is a job you are doing for god. You do the best you can. But you own nothing. You are doing it for god. Best regards,NarasimhaDo a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpanaSpirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org - rajarshi nandy Thursday, December 04, 2008 12:47 AM Re: Regarding Maha Ganapati Homam Dear Narasimhaji Reading your response another question came into my mind. You said: It is not good if fire is extinguished by rain in the middle of a homam. Is it not good that the fire gets extinguished by rain, or the fact that the fire is getting extinguished? I mean actyually i feel when someone starts doing homa regularly, there can be instances when the homa agni gets extinguished while the homa is still on..happened with me couple of times... i seriously dont knbow what to make of it but as one member in this list had suggested to me, i relight the fire and keep continuing with the homa. -Regards Rajarshi The upsurge (of consciousness) is Bhairava - Shiva Sutra--- On Thu, 4/12/08, Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr wrote: Narasimha PVR Rao <pvrRe: Regarding Maha Ganapati Homam Cc: "Phanikumar Velaga" <itsverysimpleThursday, 4 December, 2008, 6:48 AM Namaste Phani,> 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors) ? Can a homam> kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a> copper one?Yes, you can do it on a rooftop. Doing it in the open is actually better than doing it in closed space. But realize that a rain can cause problems. Keep an umbrella around to protect the fire if it rains while you are doing homam. It is not good if fire is extinguished by rain in the middle of a homam.Yes, you can construct a homa kundam with bricks and sand at the bottom. Use a square shaped huma kunda.> 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the> mantras mentally along with the audio?One can repeat mentally while listening attentively (not casually). Actually, even listening to mantras with all the attention focused is as powerful as saying mantras.Suppose person X is chanting a mantra and thinking of some mundane matter in the mind. Suppose person Y is listening to it with focus and thinking of the mantra and its deity. Then the mantra may do nothing for person X and yet person Y may benefit from the mantra. The word mantra means "one that protects the mind".. One can say a mantra or listen to a mantra, to be protected. The key is control over the mind and keeping the mind focused on the mantra.However, there is a difference between meditation and homam. Mantra is submitted in the internal fire in meditation and it is submitted in the external fire as well in a homam. So making some external sound (even if feeble) is a good idea as opposed to silent chanting or just listening. Try to repeat slowly.> 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that> should be followed apart from having vegeterain food?Yes. Anybody whose upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony) has been performed can do it. Bachelor or married is irrelevant.One should follow the yamas and niyamas set by one's guru. Whatever rules one's guru sets, one should follow them strictly. At the minimum, one should eat only vegetarian food on the day of homam and take a bath before homam. Another rule I will recommend is to avoid eating any solid food 2 hours before homam.By the way, if one without a sacred thread wants to do homam for spiritual progress, I am willing to take responsibility and allow them to do it. Such a person can think of me or my guru as guru and perform homam. I am willing to take on any karma incurred in the process until the person crosses some minimum threshhold of purity through homam and other spiritual practices. Sacred thread or no sacred thread, mantropadesa or no mantropadesa, it does not matter after a while, when the person crosses a threshhold of purity. The goal of upanayanam and other mantropadesa by guru is to speed this up and make the person cross the threshhold of purity.As long as one desires no specific material benefits (and ready to receive whatever god gives) and does homam for spiritual progress, I am willing to help, even if it means some suffering for me.> 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine?For Mahaganapathi homam, the best is a Chaturthi morning. But any day is fine really.* * *Mentioning rain and rooftop homam reminded me of my India trip.When I went to India in May 2008, I and my guru Manish traveled together to several places (on a specific project). We ended up doing homam in the morning in several places (wherever we were). Before the trip, my guru told me to carry an umbrella with me. As monsoons come only in June/July in India, I did not take it seriously. We were in New Delhi in mid-May.. We proceeded to the rooftop of the apartment complex we were in, to do a homam. Manish told me, "Narasimha, it is going to rain heavily in this city after our homam finishes". I just smiled.To my surprise, it did rain as soon as our homas finished. After we offered poornaahuti, it suddenly started raining with really big drops. Luckily, there was a small towel/blanket on the rooftop close to us. Together, we held it on top of the two small homa kundas, closed our eyes and meditated. We held the cloth cover on the homa kundas until fire in the two homa kundas went off and then packed everything and went down. We left for Kurukshetra later that day, but we were told that a heavy rain continued for a few days in New Delhi. In fact, rain followed us on that trip as we covered the north, east and west of India. It rained in every place we went to, as we finished our task in that place and prepared to move on.Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home..comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath..org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- Phanikumar Velaga <itsverysimple@ gmail.com> wrote: > Namasthe,> > I am interested in doing Maha Ganapati Homam daily, and have few questions> regarding it.> > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors) ? Can a homam> kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a> copper one?> 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the> mantras mentally along with the audio?> 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that> should be followed apart from having vegeterain food?> 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine?> > Thanks!> > Phani Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 4, 2008 Report Share Posted December 4, 2008 Dear Narasimaji and Narayanji Thanks to both of you once again. I shall follow your advice sincerely.. Interestingly, after many days again suddenly I could get in touch with the person who had given me the mantra almost 3 years back. I was of course overjoyed. We had a very brief conversation. I told him about my homas and he gave me a lot of encouragement. Felt good. Thanks once again. -Regards Rajarshi The upsurge (of consciousness) is Bhairava - Shiva Sutra--- On Fri, 5/12/08, Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr wrote: Narasimha P.V.R. Rao <pvr Re: Regarding Maha Ganapati Homam Date: Friday, 5 December, 2008, 9:03 AM  Namaste, Narayan has already answered aptly. It is ideal if the fire does not go off in the middle. But, if it does, don't worry. Re-ignite it as Narayan said, pray to Agni in the mind and continue. Suppose a servant is asked by his master to carry a vessel of milk to a place without spilling it on the way. Suppose a little milk is spilled on the way. What should he do? Should he abandon the project or atleast carry the remaining milk to the destination? * * * As Narayan said, fire going away can signal the bhutagni being weak. But, one is better off ignoring those things and not thinking too much about the significance. * * * I recommend doing homam without worrying about how well or badly it went and what results it brought. Let me give an analogy. Think of your favorite deity as the master and yourself as a servant. A servant simply serves the master. Similarly, all the sadhana you do and your other activities are your way to serve your master. A rich landlord may be very wealthy and have many big checks everyday to cash and also many big checks everyday to mail others. Yet, he may need a servant to physically carry papers to the bank and do the needful. Similarly, god is capable of doing anything in this world and yet god needs human beings who execute god's agenda in this world. That is why various gods (including Vishnu himself) and various rishis keep coming back to earth every now and then. The supreme god of this world operates through various physical persons present on earth. We do homam and other spiritual sadhana, purify ourselves and try to help others, because that is god's work. Just as a servant carries master's papers to the bank, we do such work for god. Doing what is applauded by others as good work tends to promote ego and we need to guard against it. A servant carrying a million dollar check to the bank and cashing it is NOT superior to a servant carrying a $100 check to the bank and cashing it. Both are merely doing their master's work and do not own anything. Both are just *instruments* used by the master to carry out his agenda. Similarly, one who does what are considered great deeds in this world and one who does what are considered meagre deeds in this world are both servants of god helping god execute god's agenda in this world. Neither really owns anything. One may consider oneself superior to the other because his/her deeds are considered superior by the world, but he/she is just as foolish as a servant who considers himself/herself superior to another servant carrying something less valuable. If this attitude of being a servant of god fully penetrates one's attitude, thinking and instincts, one is safe no matter what situations his previous karmas place one in. One can remain happy and blissful in pleasure and pain, in praise and criticism and in light and darkness. Have the same attitude towards your sadhana like homam. It is a job you are doing for god. You do the best you can. But you own nothing. You are doing it for god. Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home.comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath.org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- - rajarshi nandy Thursday, December 04, 2008 12:47 AM Re: Regarding Maha Ganapati Homam Dear Narasimhaji Reading your response another question came into my mind. You said: It is not good if fire is extinguished by rain in the middle of a homam. Is it not good that the fire gets extinguished by rain, or the fact that the fire is getting extinguished? I mean actyually i feel when someone starts doing homa regularly, there can be instances when the homa agni gets extinguished while the homa is still on..happened with me couple of times... i seriously dont knbow what to make of it but as one member in this list had suggested to me, i relight the fire and keep continuing with the homa. -Regards Rajarshi The upsurge (of consciousness) is Bhairava - Shiva Sutra--- On Thu, 4/12/08, Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr (AT) charter (DOT) net> wrote: Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr (AT) charter (DOT) net>Re: Regarding Maha Ganapati HomamCc: "Phanikumar Velaga" <itsverysimple@ gmail.com>Thursday, 4 December, 2008, 6:48 AM Namaste Phani,> 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors) ? Can a homam> kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a> copper one?Yes, you can do it on a rooftop. Doing it in the open is actually better than doing it in closed space. But realize that a rain can cause problems. Keep an umbrella around to protect the fire if it rains while you are doing homam. It is not good if fire is extinguished by rain in the middle of a homam.Yes, you can construct a homa kundam with bricks and sand at the bottom. Use a square shaped huma kunda.> 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the> mantras mentally along with the audio?One can repeat mentally while listening attentively (not casually). Actually, even listening to mantras with all the attention focused is as powerful as saying mantras.Suppose person X is chanting a mantra and thinking of some mundane matter in the mind. Suppose person Y is listening to it with focus and thinking of the mantra and its deity. Then the mantra may do nothing for person X and yet person Y may benefit from the mantra. The word mantra means "one that protects the mind"... One can say a mantra or listen to a mantra, to be protected. The key is control over the mind and keeping the mind focused on the mantra.However, there is a difference between meditation and homam. Mantra is submitted in the internal fire in meditation and it is submitted in the external fire as well in a homam. So making some external sound (even if feeble) is a good idea as opposed to silent chanting or just listening. Try to repeat slowly.> 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that> should be followed apart from having vegeterain food?Yes. Anybody whose upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony) has been performed can do it. Bachelor or married is irrelevant.One should follow the yamas and niyamas set by one's guru. Whatever rules one's guru sets, one should follow them strictly. At the minimum, one should eat only vegetarian food on the day of homam and take a bath before homam. Another rule I will recommend is to avoid eating any solid food 2 hours before homam.By the way, if one without a sacred thread wants to do homam for spiritual progress, I am willing to take responsibility and allow them to do it. Such a person can think of me or my guru as guru and perform homam. I am willing to take on any karma incurred in the process until the person crosses some minimum threshhold of purity through homam and other spiritual practices. Sacred thread or no sacred thread, mantropadesa or no mantropadesa, it does not matter after a while, when the person crosses a threshhold of purity. The goal of upanayanam and other mantropadesa by guru is to speed this up and make the person cross the threshhold of purity.As long as one desires no specific material benefits (and ready to receive whatever god gives) and does homam for spiritual progress, I am willing to help, even if it means some suffering for me.> 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine?For Mahaganapathi homam, the best is a Chaturthi morning. But any day is fine really.* * *Mentioning rain and rooftop homam reminded me of my India trip.When I went to India in May 2008, I and my guru Manish traveled together to several places (on a specific project). We ended up doing homam in the morning in several places (wherever we were). Before the trip, my guru told me to carry an umbrella with me. As monsoons come only in June/July in India, I did not take it seriously. We were in New Delhi in mid-May... We proceeded to the rooftop of the apartment complex we were in, to do a homam. Manish told me, "Narasimha, it is going to rain heavily in this city after our homam finishes". I just smiled.To my surprise, it did rain as soon as our homas finished. After we offered poornaahuti, it suddenly started raining with really big drops. Luckily, there was a small towel/blanket on the rooftop close to us. Together, we held it on top of the two small homa kundas, closed our eyes and meditated. We held the cloth cover on the homa kundas until fire in the two homa kundas went off and then packed everything and went down. We left for Kurukshetra later that day, but we were told that a heavy rain continued for a few days in New Delhi. In fact, rain followed us on that trip as we covered the north, east and west of India. It rained in every place we went to, as we finished our task in that place and prepared to move on.Best regards,Narasimha------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAst rologer.org/ tarpanaSpirituality: http://groups. / group/vedic- wisdomFree Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro. home...comcast. netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAst rologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagan nath..org------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ----- Phanikumar Velaga <itsverysimple@ gmail.com> wrote: > Namasthe,> > I am interested in doing Maha Ganapati Homam daily, and have few questions> regarding it.> > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors) ? Can a homam> kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a> copper one?> 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the> mantras mentally along with the audio?> 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that> should be followed apart from having vegeterain food?> 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine?> > Thanks!> > Phani Did you know? You can CHAT without downloading messenger. Click here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Namasthe, Firstly Thanks to Narayan Sir and Narasimha Sir for answering the questions and sorry for the delayed response (been consulting and taking permission of elders). My primary motivation in doing Homam is the good feeling that some of my time is well spent, and I dont have any goals as such. Is that a good attitude while doing Homam?. Also I dont have sacred thread, Narsimha Sir, can I think of you as my Guru and perform Homam? Thanks Phani2008/12/4 Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr Namaste Phani, > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors)? Can a homam > kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a > copper one? Yes, you can do it on a rooftop. Doing it in the open is actually better than doing it in closed space. But realize that a rain can cause problems. Keep an umbrella around to protect the fire if it rains while you are doing homam. It is not good if fire is extinguished by rain in the middle of a homam. Yes, you can construct a homa kundam with bricks and sand at the bottom. Use a square shaped huma kunda. > 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the > mantras mentally along with the audio? One can repeat mentally while listening attentively (not casually). Actually, even listening to mantras with all the attention focused is as powerful as saying mantras. Suppose person X is chanting a mantra and thinking of some mundane matter in the mind. Suppose person Y is listening to it with focus and thinking of the mantra and its deity. Then the mantra may do nothing for person X and yet person Y may benefit from the mantra. The word mantra means " one that protects the mind " . One can say a mantra or listen to a mantra, to be protected. The key is control over the mind and keeping the mind focused on the mantra. However, there is a difference between meditation and homam. Mantra is submitted in the internal fire in meditation and it is submitted in the external fire as well in a homam. So making some external sound (even if feeble) is a good idea as opposed to silent chanting or just listening. Try to repeat slowly. > 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that > should be followed apart from having vegeterain food? Yes. Anybody whose upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony) has been performed can do it. Bachelor or married is irrelevant. One should follow the yamas and niyamas set by one's guru. Whatever rules one's guru sets, one should follow them strictly. At the minimum, one should eat only vegetarian food on the day of homam and take a bath before homam. Another rule I will recommend is to avoid eating any solid food 2 hours before homam. By the way, if one without a sacred thread wants to do homam for spiritual progress, I am willing to take responsibility and allow them to do it. Such a person can think of me or my guru as guru and perform homam. I am willing to take on any karma incurred in the process until the person crosses some minimum threshhold of purity through homam and other spiritual practices. Sacred thread or no sacred thread, mantropadesa or no mantropadesa, it does not matter after a while, when the person crosses a threshhold of purity. The goal of upanayanam and other mantropadesa by guru is to speed this up and make the person cross the threshhold of purity. As long as one desires no specific material benefits (and ready to receive whatever god gives) and does homam for spiritual progress, I am willing to help, even if it means some suffering for me. > 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine? For Mahaganapathi homam, the best is a Chaturthi morning. But any day is fine really. * * * Mentioning rain and rooftop homam reminded me of my India trip. When I went to India in May 2008, I and my guru Manish traveled together to several places (on a specific project). We ended up doing homam in the morning in several places (wherever we were). Before the trip, my guru told me to carry an umbrella with me. As monsoons come only in June/July in India, I did not take it seriously. We were in New Delhi in mid-May. We proceeded to the rooftop of the apartment complex we were in, to do a homam. Manish told me, " Narasimha, it is going to rain heavily in this city after our homam finishes " . I just smiled. To my surprise, it did rain as soon as our homas finished. After we offered poornaahuti, it suddenly started raining with really big drops. Luckily, there was a small towel/blanket on the rooftop close to us. Together, we held it on top of the two small homa kundas, closed our eyes and meditated. We held the cloth cover on the homa kundas until fire in the two homa kundas went off and then packed everything and went down. We left for Kurukshetra later that day, but we were told that a heavy rain continued for a few days in New Delhi. In fact, rain followed us on that trip as we covered the north, east and west of India. It rained in every place we went to, as we finished our task in that place and prepared to move on. Best regards, Narasimha Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana Spirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org ---- Phanikumar Velaga <itsverysimple wrote: > Namasthe, > > I am interested in doing Maha Ganapati Homam daily, and have few questions > regarding it. > > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors)? Can a homam > kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a > copper one? > 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the > mantras mentally along with the audio? > 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that > should be followed apart from having vegeterain food? > 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine? > > Thanks! > > Phani Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Namaste, Yes to both questions. Best regards,NarasimhaDo a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpanaSpirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org - Phanikumar Velaga Cc: Narasimha PVR Rao Tuesday, December 09, 2008 6:00 AM Re: Regarding Maha Ganapati Homam Namasthe, Firstly Thanks to Narayan Sir and Narasimha Sir for answering the questions and sorry for the delayed response (been consulting and taking permission of elders). My primary motivation in doing Homam is the good feeling that some of my time is well spent, and I dont have any goals as such. Is that a good attitude while doing Homam?. Also I dont have sacred thread, Narsimha Sir, can I think of you as my Guru and perform Homam? Thanks Phani 2008/12/4 Narasimha PVR Rao <pvr Namaste Phani, > 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors)? Can a homam> kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a> copper one?Yes, you can do it on a rooftop. Doing it in the open is actually better than doing it in closed space. But realize that a rain can cause problems. Keep an umbrella around to protect the fire if it rains while you are doing homam. It is not good if fire is extinguished by rain in the middle of a homam.Yes, you can construct a homa kundam with bricks and sand at the bottom. Use a square shaped huma kunda. > 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the> mantras mentally along with the audio?One can repeat mentally while listening attentively (not casually). Actually, even listening to mantras with all the attention focused is as powerful as saying mantras.Suppose person X is chanting a mantra and thinking of some mundane matter in the mind. Suppose person Y is listening to it with focus and thinking of the mantra and its deity. Then the mantra may do nothing for person X and yet person Y may benefit from the mantra. The word mantra means "one that protects the mind". One can say a mantra or listen to a mantra, to be protected. The key is control over the mind and keeping the mind focused on the mantra.However, there is a difference between meditation and homam. Mantra is submitted in the internal fire in meditation and it is submitted in the external fire as well in a homam. So making some external sound (even if feeble) is a good idea as opposed to silent chanting or just listening. Try to repeat slowly. > 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that> should be followed apart from having vegeterain food?Yes. Anybody whose upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony) has been performed can do it. Bachelor or married is irrelevant.One should follow the yamas and niyamas set by one's guru. Whatever rules one's guru sets, one should follow them strictly. At the minimum, one should eat only vegetarian food on the day of homam and take a bath before homam. Another rule I will recommend is to avoid eating any solid food 2 hours before homam.By the way, if one without a sacred thread wants to do homam for spiritual progress, I am willing to take responsibility and allow them to do it. Such a person can think of me or my guru as guru and perform homam. I am willing to take on any karma incurred in the process until the person crosses some minimum threshhold of purity through homam and other spiritual practices. Sacred thread or no sacred thread, mantropadesa or no mantropadesa, it does not matter after a while, when the person crosses a threshhold of purity. The goal of upanayanam and other mantropadesa by guru is to speed this up and make the person cross the threshhold of purity.As long as one desires no specific material benefits (and ready to receive whatever god gives) and does homam for spiritual progress, I am willing to help, even if it means some suffering for me. > 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine?For Mahaganapathi homam, the best is a Chaturthi morning. But any day is fine really.* * *Mentioning rain and rooftop homam reminded me of my India trip.When I went to India in May 2008, I and my guru Manish traveled together to several places (on a specific project). We ended up doing homam in the morning in several places (wherever we were). Before the trip, my guru told me to carry an umbrella with me. As monsoons come only in June/July in India, I did not take it seriously. We were in New Delhi in mid-May. We proceeded to the rooftop of the apartment complex we were in, to do a homam. Manish told me, "Narasimha, it is going to rain heavily in this city after our homam finishes". I just smiled.To my surprise, it did rain as soon as our homas finished. After we offered poornaahuti, it suddenly started raining with really big drops. Luckily, there was a small towel/blanket on the rooftop close to us. Together, we held it on top of the two small homa kundas, closed our eyes and meditated. We held the cloth cover on the homa kundas until fire in the two homa kundas went off and then packed everything and went down. We left for Kurukshetra later that day, but we were told that a heavy rain continued for a few days in New Delhi. In fact, rain followed us on that trip as we covered the north, east and west of India. It rained in every place we went to, as we finished our task in that place and prepared to move on.Best regards,NarasimhaDo a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpanaSpirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org ---- Phanikumar Velaga <itsverysimple wrote:> Namasthe,>> I am interested in doing Maha Ganapati Homam daily, and have few questions> regarding it.>> 1)Can Homam be performed on the roof top of a house(3-floors)? Can a homam> kundam made by arranging red bricks, with sand base be used instead of a> copper one?> 2)While performing the Homam using the mp3 audio file, should one repeat the> mantras mentally along with the audio?> 3)Can bachelors do Maha Ganapati Homam? Any Other conditions/niyamas that> should be followed apart from having vegeterain food?> 4)Any good date to start the Homam? or any day would be fine?>> Thanks!>> Phani Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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