Hindu rituals like Ayush Homam, Griha Pravesh Puja, Satyanarayan Puja, Yajnas, etc roots date back to Vedic times. Thus, making Vedic rituals and practices an integral part of Hindu traditions. Various Vedic ceremonies and rituals are mostly done to attain longevity, prosperity, healthy life, positivity, and liberation. Likewise, Ayush Homam or Ayusha Homa is one of the major Vedic rituals or Homam performed since Vedic times over 5000 years ago.
In Sanskrit, Ayush refers to age, lifetime, or lifespan. Thus, making Ayush Homam, a fire ritual done for human longevity and good health. It is mainly performed for newborn babies for their health and longer life. Apart from that, people suffering from illness and even healthy ones perform this Homa to live a healthy and trouble-free life.
Ayush Homam or Havan includes invoking Ayur Dev (the god of life) and praying for a trouble-free long life. Only highly qualified Vedic priests/pandits perform this Homam once a year. And, can be conducted at own houses, or temples. Most people accomplish this Ayushya havan at the naming ceremony of newborn babies. So, the child can grow healthy and live a happy, prosperous life. Also, people on their 60th, 80th, and 100th birth anniversaries perform this havan.
Ayush Homam Benefits
Following are the benefits of Ayush Homam:
- Performing this Homa keeps your life free from illness and mental issues.
- It helps to provide longevity and healthy life to babies.
- This Homam prevents any sorts of accidents and injuries.
- Most ill people recover fast.
- Attain great success in life.
- It protects from life-threatening events and people.
- Ayushya Homa neutralizes the unfortunate effects of prenatal birth or karma.
Significance of Ayush Homam
The primary importance of Ayush Homam is that it avoids any kinds of accidents, illness, injuries, and even untimely death. Also, it protects family members from the adverse effects of negative energies. Performing Ayusha Homam on the birth anniversary offers a healthy and joyful longer life. Thus, people organize this havan once a year to have physical and mental stability in their life.
Ayush Homam Procedure
The Homam starts with family members sitting around the Agni Kunda. And praying their Kul Devi Devata (family deity) for blessings. Overall, there are three phases which are;
- Kamaadi
- Kammahdya
- Kamaanthya
In Kamaadi, Lord Ganesha (god of intellectuals, wealth, scribe, and author) is invoked through prayers and mantras, in order to, the overall ceremony of Ayushya Homam runs smoothly and effectively. Then, Sankalpa and Aarti’s ritual, where one performing the puja takes an oath to conduct the entire Homam or Havan precisely with good intention. In Hindusim, every Homam or Havan accomplishes after taking an oath to deities.
After Kamaadi, Kammahdya starts where the child’s parents are advised to pray for their babies for better health and longer life. In the meantime, Vedic priests will chant the Ayush mantras, which invoke various gods, immortal beings, and celestial sages of the Hindu religion.
Kamaanthya is the ending segment of the Ayush Havan. They conclude the ceremony by offering oblations and thambulam into the fire (Agni Kund). Then, the older members of the family came nearby the baby to give blessings and gifts.
Ayush Homam Mantra
The main strotam for Ayush Homam is;
“Om Haam Ayur Devaaya Swaha“
Throughout the havan ceremony, Vedic purohits invokes various deities and divine beings, which are;
- Markandeya: a sage who conquers even death through his determination and devotion. He is one of the greatest devotees of Lord Shiva.
- Chiranjivis: the seven immortals beings blessed to remain alive until the end of Kali Yug.
- Ashwatthama: a mighty warrior and one of the incarnated forms of Lord Rudra. He is the son of a great warrior Guru Dronacharya.
- Mahabali: a gracious, wise, and generous Asura king. He rules over people with no arrogance and discrimination in his kingdom, located in India’s Karela state.
- Lord Hanuman: He represents selflessness, loyalty, celibacy, vigor, and righteousness.
- Vyasa: a Vedic sage who is the author of the great Mahabharata and Puranas.
- Kripacharya: Is one of the incarnations of Lord Brahma and one of the greatest sages of Kali Yuga.
- Vibhishana: The brother of Ravana, who has a pure mind and soul. And he was always known for his righteousness.
- Parashurama: Is the sixth avatar of Lord Vishnu. And the master of all celestial weapons and astras. He represents belligerence, bravery, calmness, patience, and judiciousness.
Materials Needed for Ayush Homam
The main things required to accomplish Ayushya Homam are as follows:
- Navadhanyam: It is a mixture of nine grains offered to nine planetary gods. It includes wheat, rice, pigeon peas, chickpeas, moong beans, white beans, black sesame, Indian black lentils, and horse gram.
- Dry Nuts and fruits.
- Cooked white rice
- Flower garlands and mango plant leaves.
- Pancha Deepam oil.
- Kesari Payasam for prasadham.
- Turmeric, Kumkum, and sandalwood powder
- It also requires Betel nuts, incense sticks, camphor, dry coconut, coins, and ghee.
Navagraha Vastram: It is nine colored clothes for nine planetary gods.
- Red color for Sun
- White for Moon
- Crimson Red for Mars
- Green for Mercury
- Yellow for Jupiter
- White for Venus
- Black for Saturn
- Blue for Rahu
- Multicolor for Ketu.
Ayush Homam Costs
Depending upon the location and types of havan, the cost for Ayush Homam varies. The average cost ranges from USD $75 to $400.
Finally, performing Ayusha Homam is the best way to ensure good health, longevity, and safety. If you have a newborn baby or someone suffering from illness.