January 2004 Yagya Program

The focus of the first day is the development of strength through the removal of obstacles and bad karmas.

The day begins with a series of pujas; first to Ganesha to remove all obstacles, and then to Varuna (to purify the water in the kalasha pot), Shiva, Mrytunjaya (for health), and the nine planets (navagraha).

Then an abishekam yagya is performed for Shiva while Rudram and Chamakam (from Yajur Veda) are chanted. This is both purifying and cooling.

After a short break, the priests will light the homa fire and perform yagyas for Ganesha, Shiva, Mrytunjaya, and Navagraha.

The second day is oriented towards the goddesses to add abundance, enjoyment, and strength based on the purity that results from the first day of the yagya.

As always, the day begins with pujas first to Ganesha, and then Varuna. Then extensive and elaborate pujas are performed for the various forms of the goddesses; Lakshmi (abundance), Saraswati (knowledge and wisdom), Parvati (liberation) and Durga (strength and purity).

After a short break the homa fire is lit and the sequence is repeated, but this time with many repetitons of the various mantras for each form of the goddesses.