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[Full title: Religious observances (9) The Grand Homas]

There are three big Homas described in the Parisistas. They are a) Laghulaksa-homa b) Brhallaksa-homa and c) Koti-homa. These Homas are said to be of divine origin; especially the 208. Atharvaveda-Parisistas 30, 30 b and 31.

50% Kotihoma was taught by god Brahma to other gods who were oppressed by the powerful demons. The Kotihoma was also performed by the sage Atharvan for god Siva, whereby the latter overcame all evils and obtained Skanda for a son. essential part of these Homas consists of offering a number of oblations with the Gayatri-mantra. The a) The Laghulaksahoma The Laghulaksahoma (Atharvaveda-Parisistas 30) is a simpler rite. The performer should prepare a square Kunda by using a string for uniformly correct measurement. The length of the Kunda should be equal to a bahu (arm) or a jangha (shank) or two ratnis (cubits). The Brahmanas should murmur first the Gayatri-mantra ten thousand times having fasted for a day and 209 then having set up the fire with the mantras: agne prehi.. 210 and agnina ravimi... they should make the offerings. Barley should be offered for the attainment of pleasures; other corns, for life; oil, for long life and fame; the fire-sticks of Arka, for obtaining the aditya-loka; those of Palasa, for obtaining the candra-loka; of Asvattha, for obtaining the Visu-loka; and of Udumbara, for obtaining the brahma-loka. b) The Brhallaksahoma The Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension -Parisista (30 b) relating to the Brhallaksahoma 209. Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension IV.14.5 210. Rgveda I.1.3; Taittiriya Samhita III.1.11.1; IV.3.13.5.

505 211 gives some details about the Kunda to be prepared and then prescribed the invocation of the planets and the constellations to the east and north of the Kunda respectively. The deities of the quarters and sub-quarters are to be established in their respective places. Santyudaka should be prepared by reciting the mantras from the vastospatya and other three 212 ganas which follow and the performer should be sprinkled with that water and he should be made to sip that water. Then offerings of fire-sticks or of sesame should be made together with the leaves of Bilva (sriparna) for wealth, with the shoots of bamboo (karira) and barley-flour for rain and with the fruits like badara for the obtainment of cattle. After the required number of oblations are offered, a mahabhiseka should be performed at night. The Srue to be used for making the offerings should be made of the wood of Udumbara and should reach up to the head in the case of a Brahmana, up to the fore-head in the case of a Ksatriya, and up to the shoulder in the case of a Vaisya. For other people (Janapada) there is no fixed length prescribed. While pouring 213 out oblations, the prescribed mantras should be recited, the Brahmanas should then be requested to utter blessings and 211. See under the title 'The Kunda' above (pp. 424-7). 212. Atharvaveda-Parisistas 32.5 (vastospatya), 32.6 (papmaha), 32.7 (takmanasana) and 32.8 (duhsvapna-nasana). 213. These are Atharvaveda, Saunakiya recension III.21.1; Vedic Index 13.1; XI.2.1, 4.1. The mantra: ojas ca me ksatram ca me... is not found in any samhita.

506 gifts of cows, land, sesame, gold and garments should be made to the officiating priests. The performer should sleep that night with a controlled mind and, after seeing the dream, should get to know its 214 implications from the priests. c) The Kotihoma Parisista 31 gives a detailed description of the Kotihoma, it being the biggest Homa. At the very outset (31.1-4) a long legend is narrated indicating how gods, especially Sankara, could overcome all the difficulties through the performance of this efficacious ceremony. A list of the constellations under which the Kotihoma is to be performed is given: They are the Rohini, the Sravana, the Citra, the Revati, the Anuradha, the Uttara Phalguni, the Uttara Asadha, the Uttara Prosthapada, the Abhijit, the Pusya, the Mrga and other auspicious Naksatras. The Homa is to be performed on an auspicious day in the bright half of a month, under the vijaya muhurta. The Kunda intended for the Kotihoma should be eight hastas in length and eight hastas in breadth. The Brahman priest, having fasted for three days, should churn out the sacred fire and perform all the rites as 214. See under the title 'Dreams' in the section on Omens and Portents below.

507 described in the Santi-Kalpa up to the nairrta-Karma (Santi-Kalpa 1-2.14). 215 216 Then the Brahmanas, twenty or ten in number, should offer on the fire a hundred or thousand or crore of fire-sticks anointed with clarified butter. Barley should be offered for the attainment of peace; sesame, for getting rid of sins; holy sticks, for obtaining all desired objects; and Bilva, for attaining gold. By offering lotuses, one gets the best of wealth, by offering clarified butter, one becomes bright; by offering curds, one gets sons; and by offering milk, one 217 obtains the great lustre of Brahman. after the offerings are made, the performer should give away to the officiating priests a niska, a horse, a cow, a garment and gold. He should give away all his wealth to the Brahman priest. After the Kotihoma is over, he should perform the worship of the planets, the Ghrtakambala and one of the santis like the Amrta. The Kotihoma is performed also for sorcery; but, in that case, certain changes are introduced in it. The Kotihoma for sorcery is to be started on an inauspicious day in the dark half of a month, under a fearful constellation 215. This includes the worship of the Vinayakas, of the planets and of the constellations. 216. Bilva is associated with the goddess of wealth in the Sri-sukta (RVKh 11.6): adityavarne tapasa'pi jata vanaspatistava vrtha'tha vivyah | tasya phalani tapasa nudantu ya antara yasca bahya 217. Cf. Atharvaveda-Parisistas 70.4.5-10. mi ||

508 like the Magha, the Aslega, Mula, the Revati or the Ardra. Sesame and mustard should be offered with the Gayatri mantra pronounced in the reverse (pratiloma) order. Reeds should be used in place of the sacred grass and oil in place of clarified butter. Fire-sticks of inauspicious trees should be anointed with oil and offered into the fire which has been brought from the house of a candala or from the cemetery or into the fire used by a woman who has recently delivered. The wood of Khadira is to be used as fuel in this ceremony. In place of the word svaha, the word phat is to be used. The person, wearing black or red garments, should sit facing towards the south and should make the offering with his left hand. An image of the enemy should be heated on the fire while the Gayatri-mantra is murmured in the reverse way. Piercing the image with a spear, it should be heated day after day until the enemy is completely subdued. It is stated at the end of the Parisista that he who performs the Kotihoma has all his desires fulfilled. He who reads this Parisista and causes others to listen to it, secures the fruit of Kotihoma and attains Brahma-loka. This famous Kotihoma is said to be taught by the sage Gopatha to Panineya.