DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Homas - the various Homas and ways of conducting them

**effebrala** · 04-29-2011, 03:29 AM

Shri Iniyan,

Once it is agreed that the various homas resulting in Lokakshemam is just as frivolous a belief as fairness creams, aphrodisiacs (excepting viagra perhaps), etc., there is no further argument IMHO. Still, I would say that we must think of less polluting methods to bring in the supposed Lokakshema.

There is a Siva temple near Alappuzha town. Rigveda Laksharchana is being held (once in two or three years I think) in that temple. Only Namboodiris take part in the archana and the aim is to recite one particular Saakha of rigveda one lakh times. Lot of flowers are of course used, but they become manure for the earth eventually without any smoke pollution. Why cannot the mutts follow such examples? I think the basic weakness lies in the fact that the other brahman sects do not have competent people to recite, say yajurveda or samaveda (which is an endangered knowledge right now, though as an agnostic I am not directly concerned with it; still it is a heritage of humanity, is it not?) or atharva veda, even devi mahatmyam, bhagavatam or anything else; they want to make do with repeating the same mantra or a limited set of mantras and to make up for the monotony by the fire and ghee offerings etc., I believe.

Why not have Laksharchana, Koti archana, Satakoti archana and so on, instead of these gigantic homas?

Sangom,

I had stated very clearly in my first post.

I am starting this discussion to post about the various Homas and their mode of conduct.

Of course it goes without saying that the discussion would be only for those who believe in the efficacy of these Homas. I had replied to Nara's post to counter the allegation that expenditure on homas is a waste of money. Only in that context I had drawn a parallel to expenditure on cigarettes, alcohol, face creams etc. That is only that. Please do not twist my words or read into it meanings which are out of context.

This is in the religion category and assumes the efficacy of the Homas. You have a thread where you have posted about other aspects of Homas. But not here.

About your question regarding Archana and Homa, we believe that the offerings in the Homas directly reach the Deity through the medium of Agni. This is basic Hindu belief. So Homa is far superior to Archana.

About pollution, the pollution that I have caused by driving around in cars for decades is much more than what is caused by hundreds of Homas. We all do that and never even think about it.

04-29-2011, 03:29 AM	#13
effebrala Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 594 Senior Member	Shri Iniyan, Once it is agreed that the various homas resulting in Lokakshemam is just as frivolous a belief as fairness creams, aphrodisiacs (excepting viagra perhaps), etc., there is no further argument IMHO. Still, I would say that we must think of less polluting methods to bring in the supposed Lokakshema. There is a Siva temple near Alappuzha town. Rigveda Laksharchana is being held (once in two or three years I think) in that temple. Only Namboodiris take part in the archana and the aim is to recite one particular Saakha of rigveda one lakh times. Lot of flowers are of course used, but they become manure for the earth eventually without any smoke pollution. Why cannot the mutts follow such examples? I think the basic weakness lies in the fact that the other brahman sects do not have competent people to recite, say yajurveda or samaveda (which is an endangered knowledge right now, though as an agnostic I am not directly concerned with it; still it is a heritage of humanity, is it not?) or atharva veda, even devi mahatmyam, bhagavatam or anything else; they want to make do with repeating the same mantra or a limited set of mantras and to make up for the monotony by the fire and ghee offerings etc., I believe. Why not have Laksharchana, Koti archana, Satakoti archana and so on, instead of these gigantic homas? Sangom, I had stated very clearly in my first post. I am starting this discussion to post about the various Homas and their mode of conduct. Of course it goes without saying that the discussion would be only for those who believe in the efficacy of these Homas. I had replied to Nara's post to counter the allegation that expenditure on homas is a waste of money. Only in that context I had drawn a parallel to expenditure on cigarettes, alcohol, face creams etc. That is only that. Please do not twist my words or read into it meanings which are out of context. This is in the religion category and assumes the efficacy of the Homas. You have a thread where you have posted about other aspects of Homas. But not here. About your question regarding Archana and Homa, we believe that the offerings in the Homas directly reach the Deity through the medium of Agni. This is basic Hindu belief. So Homa is far superior to Archana. About pollution, the pollution that I have caused by driving around in cars for decades is much more than what is caused by hundreds of Homas. We all do that and never even think about it.
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