Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Maha Ganapathi Homam / Havan / Ganesha Havan

*** MAHA GANAPATHI HOMAM/HAVAN ***
WHAT IS HAVAN/HOMAM?
Homam/Havan is a fire ritual - an ancient Vedic practice for worshipping Gods. In homam, God/Devata or divine presence is invoked into fire using specific procedures. Then materials are offered into fire, along with sacred chants (mantras). The offerings are delivered to respective Gods by fire (Agni).
Science - When we burn plastic or any such materials, poisonous gas is produced, air is polluted and we/all living beings inhale that and invite serious health hazards. When we burn medicinal plants and bio-medical substances, air is purified and we inhale medicinal fumes and in turn remove health hazards. Lot to write on this.

WHY FIRE RITUAL?
Vedas teaches that Gods come into fire and receive the prayers of spiritual aspirants. For us to understand - we can say that fire is a postman, who delivers what is being offered to respective Gods. Out of five elements - Ether, Air, Fire, Water and Earth, two cannot be polluted are ether (space) and fire.  
It is next to impossible to do the Spiritual Practises through ether. Hence fire (agni) is the best element through which we can worship Gods. Fire is pure and purifies everything that it comes in touch with.
We know and can feel our gross body, which is made up of gross matter. But, we also have a subtle body made up of subtle matter and cannot be perceived by our senses in our gross body. This subtle body has thousands of naadis and a fire called bhootaagni (existential fire) which is vital for one’s existence. The strength of bhootaagni varies from person to person.
Here, a spiritual seeker tries to take advantage of an external fire and invoke divine presence (devata/God) in that fire and worship God through specific procedures; which done on a regular basis burns impurities in the naadis of the seeker and eventually strengthen the bhootaagni (existential fire). If the seeker’s bhootaagni can accommodate divine presence to a larger degree, his meditation becomes more effective. Hence, a spiritual seeker can cleanse his naadis (energy channels in the subtle body). This is one of the process for burning all karmas. When one burns all of one’s major karmas, one becomes karmically very light and he attain a blissful state.

WHY MAHA GANAPATHI HOMAM?

Vedas describe Ganapathi as the destroyer of all hindrances in life. Maha Ganapathi is one among 32 different forms of Ganapathi.
As per Sastras, Ganapathi is the first Devata to be prayed before worshipping any other devata. Ganapathi sits in the Mooladhara chakra. Mooladhara chakra represents the physical/material realm, while higher chakras represent higher realms of consciousness. Hence, Ganesha takes care of material prosperity and well being of a person. The self-consciousness of a common man is normally limited to the mooladhara chakra, i.e., the material realm. When the self-consciousness ascends through various chakras, one becomes aware of other realms of consciousness and the devatas/beings that dwell in them. Being the gatekeeper of the Mooladhara Chakra, the starting point of consciousness, Ganapathi bless the spiritual seeker for experiencing higher realms of consciousness/devatas.
Ganapathi Homam is very useful to any spiritual seeker as Ganapathi controls the material prosperity and the gate to higher consciousness. To summarise, Ganapathi Homam facilitates spiritual progress while protecting the material prosperity and well-being.

MATERIAL PROSPERITY / WELL-BEING THROUGH MAHA GANAPATHI HOMAM
Below mentioned benefits are aimed to attain by performing of Maha Ganapathi Homam with devotion and as per right fire ritual procedure: -
1. For removing/overcoming the obstacles faced in attaining one’s wishes/goals2. For gaining more knowledge, poetic/orator/writing skills, creativity
3. For attracting others to like our products & services/business improvements
4. For increasing family bondage
5. For achieving more happiness, health, wealth (material prosperity) and success
6. For spiritual, mental and physical well-being
7. For stability of mind, reducing mental depression and mind related troubles
8. For increasing the intellect, sense for taking right decisions/conscience etc.
9. For removing hindrances in learning (very helpful for students)
10. For removing malefic effects of Venus & Ketu in one’s horoscope and what not...!!!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON MAHA GANAPATHI HOMAM
1. There are different powerful mantras are being used while doing this homam for various purposes. Hence, it is good to define the purpose, which will help in doing Sankalpa (prayers for fulfilling one’s needs).
2. Maha Ganapathi Moola Mantra counts can vary from 32, 64, 108, 1008 etc.; hence the offerings also increase depending on how strong the aspirant is.
3. Bhagya Suktam (for more luck), Aikyamatya Suktam (for unity in family, reunion of people, oneness etc), Ashwaroodha Mantra (for attraction/liking) is also one of the vedic mantra chanted while doing the homam.
4. Different offering items are used for the Homam: -
o Cow Ghee (clarified butter)
o Ashtadravyam (mixture of eight different items like dry coconut, jaggerry, sesame, puffed rice, rice flakes, ghee, banana etc.)
o Grass - a specific holy medicinal grass
o Coconut shell
o Dry Coconut
o Paddy Grain
o Black Sesame
o Lotus
o Modak (a different kind of laddu - a sweet item)
5. There are other offerings as per Sastra for fulfilling one’s specific needs

WHO SHOULD DO MAHA GANAPATHI HOMAM?

1. Spiritual seekers
2. Businessmen before starting a new projects/new business
3. During House warming & other auspicious and important events in life
4. Person who wanted to eliminate all negativity and hindrances/obstacles
5. Person who are mentally challenged and has mental depression
6. Students
7. In general, one should do at least once a year on their star birthday (as per moon sign), is possible. If not, on any other auspicious day as per convenience.