TRYAMBAKAM HOMA

Yagya is the science of purification of the atmosphere through the agency of Holy Fire. The science and principles of Yagya have been laid down by Vedas, the divine knowledge revealed to the mankind.

Agnihotra is a simple and universally practicable form of elaborate types of yagyas. It involves following of specific simple disciplines such as preparation of cow-dung cake fire, burning of specific organic substances like raw-rice, Ghruta (cow’s ghee), twigs of medicinal herbs, chanting of Vedic mantra vibrations and use of pyramid-shaped copper vessel for making fire etc.

Agnihotra is tuned to specific circadian rhythm of nature. It is performed daily at exactly sunrise and sunset. It is to be performed daily thus it is termed as Nitya (daily) Yagya. Performance of Agnihotra is stated to purify the atmosphere and set in motion a healing cycle in the environs of your house. It spreads the vibrations of peace and love. According to Vedas it is the duty of each family, each person irrespective of any differentiation or denomination, to perform daily Agnihotra.

By rule Agnihotra is to be performed only at sunrise and sunset timings but if any individual wishes to spend more and more time in practicing Yagya what can he do? By regular practice of Agnihotra an urge is automatically born in the mind of the practitioner to spend more and more time in the peaceful and holy atmosphere generated by Yagya. This easily cultivates the feeling of surrender in mind. Nurturing of this feeling is conducive to spiritual progress.  Vedas, for this purpose, ordain other Yagyas which may be performed at any times or occasions except Agnihotra timings.  These are termed as Naimittika (occasional) Yagyas. The offerings are also called as Homa. 

Vyahruti Homa and Tryambakam Homa are such Yagyas. To perform these Homas fire should be prepared in the Pyramid-shaped copper pot with dried cow-dung pieces in the same way as done for Agnihotra. In Tryambakam Homa drops of cow’s Ghee are offered in the fire with the complete chanting of the mantra. At the end of the mantra, uttering the word Swaha, drops of cows Ghee are offered in blazing fire. After completion of the chanting of the mantra and offering cow’s ghee with swaha the whole mantra may be repeated again and the offering may be made for the second time.

This process can be performed for any desirable duration of time. It can be performed from 5 minutes to hours. Some people perform Tryambkam Homa few hours per day. Some perform it collectively on each newmoon and fullmoon days for a period of 12 or 24 hours. With the repetition of the mantra uttering swaha at the end the offering of the ghee continues. During the time of Tryambakam homa, if exact time of agnihotra comes in between then one should interrupt the homa and perform Agnihotra. Agnihotra Yagya is not an interruption but is the fulfillment. After this the homa may be continued.

Tryambakam mantra is a special Mantra given by the Vedas. It is recognized as Mahamrutyunjaya Mantra – the one that frees the self from bonds, of the unending wheel of life and death.

MANTRA:

OM TRYAMBAKAM YAJAMAHE
SUGANDHIM PUSHTI VSRDHANAM
URVA RUKMIVA BANDHANAN
MRUTYOR MUKSHIYA MAMMRUTAT
SWAHA

The purport of this mantra is as follows “I surrender myself to the Divine Almighty Father in the form of Holy Fire. The three layers of the universe BHU, BHUVAH & SWA i.e. this world, the space and beyond are its abodes. It fills this world with aromatic, life sustaining, nutritive energies. Let Agni connect me with the Almighty power by whose divine grace I may be set free from the self created bonds of my past actions (Karma). It may lead me from death to eternity like a well ripened fruit is freed automatically from its creeper. “This is TRYAMBAKAM HOMA. While performing this homa, one should meditate on the purport given above with a feeling of surrender.

VYAHRUTI HOMA

Vyahruti homa is another occasional Yagya. It may be performed to mark any auspicious occasion e.g. birthday, inauguration, commencement of any activities, anniversaries, meditation sessions, talks, meetings etc.

Vyahruti Homa is performed in the beginning. There are four small mantras which are repeated once only, one after another. At the utterance of Swaha in each mantra few drops of cow’s ghee are offered in the fire. The fire is to be prepared in the same way as is prepared for Anihotra. The Vyhruti Homa mantrs are as follows:

BHOOH SWAHA, AGNAYE IDAM NA MAMA

BHUWAH SWAHA, WAYAWE IDAM NA MAMA

SWA SWAHA, SOORYAYA IDAM NA MAMA

BHOOR BHUWAH SWA SWAHA, PRAJAPATAYE IDAM NA MAMA

BHU, BHUWAH & SWA are termed as Vyahrutis. These are mystic mantra symbols uttered by the almighty in the beginning of the creation of the universe. These denote this world, space & beyond or according to others AGNI (Fire), VAYU (Cosmic breath) & ADITYA (The energy that sets the world in motion).

These two Homas may be performed as and when an Agnihotri (one who performs Agnihotra) desires to spend more and more time in the purified Yagya atmosphere. According to Vedas all actions (karma) beget their bonds excepting the karma involved in the performance of Yagyas. This is the reason why one must make an effort of spending more time performing Yagyas. The residual ash of these Homas may be stored and used as medicine or fertilizer in your garden or farm.

Source: Institute for Vedic Studies