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The Zodiac & Hawan (Yajna)

Dr Roshan Singh – Jyotishacharya Sastri Pundit

The following article proposes a Vedic rationale for the nature and sequence of the twelve signs of the zodiac. It shows how the zodiac could have been invented as a form of Vedic sacrifice (Yajna) following the Vedic view of the Gods, the worlds and the elements. While the complete logic may not be worked out, enough has been revealed to show the main aspects of the system. Using this model many secrets of the zodiac are uncovered. Note this is a complex article that requires some knowledge of astrology.


The Zodiac as a Fire Ritual (Yajna)

The Vedas are based upon the concept of Agni or the sacred Fire. They set forth an elaborate Fire ritual (Yajna) that is identified with time (kala), causation (karma), and space. This ritual defines the entire cosmic order (ritam or Dharma). The ritual has several levels of application as elemental (adhibhutic), psychological (adhyatmic) and spiritual (adhidaivic). The elemental level reflects the Earth, the gross elements, and the outer form of the sacrifice. The psychological level relates to the Atmosphere or middle realm and to our inner faculties of mind, prana, speech, sight and hearing. The spiritual level reflects Heaven, the Gods or cosmic light forces symbolized by the Sun, Moon and stars.

In the Vedas Yajna is identified with the Creator (Prajapati or Brahma), who through various Yajnas creates the world. Yet Yajna is also the activity of the soul (the individual human being or Jiva), who through the Yajna gains the fruits of karma as well as union with the Creator. These two, the Creator and the soul, are one as the Purusha, or higher Self. The Purusha is the universe personified as a human being, the cosmic man or person. The Purusha is identified with the Sun, who is time and the Kala Purusha or being of time.

There are many forms of Vedic Yajnas. All involve various offerings of prayers, mantras, ghee, and food to the sacred Fire as it is enkindled at special times. They are defined as daily, monthly, seasonal, or yearly. Daily Yajnas relate to Fire and to the Earth, which is enkindled at sunrise, noon and sunset. Monthly Yajnas relate to the Moon and to the Atmosphere, particularly to the new, full and half Moon. Yearly Yajnas reflect the Sun, Heaven, the seasons and the equinoxes.

The goal of the Yajna is to conquer these respective divisions of time in order to reach the eternal. This is also to conquer the different worlds or go beyond space. Performance of daily Yajnas takes one beyond the duality of day and night and the world of the Earth. The monthly Yajnas take one beyond the fluctuations of the month and the world of the Moon or the Atmosphere. The yearly Yajna takes one beyond time and all of its fluctuations symbolized by the year and the world of the Sun or Heaven. On an inner level these Yajnas take us beyond mental and emotional fluctuations to the equanimity of pure consciousness or pure internal light.

Twelve day (dwadashaha) and twelve month (yearly) Yajnas were very important. Indeed the twelve day Yajna is said to be the most important of Yajnas, through which Prajapati creates the world. The zodiac may evolve out of the idea of a twelvefold Yajna, a yearly Yajna or the Yajna of the sky.

However the most common set of Vedic Yajnas is the six day (sadaha) rite. Each month of thirty days was divided into five six day rites. The six day rites had both a day and a night. The zodiac could also be a six day rite, with two signs making for a day and a night.

Out of all the types of yagnas that exist, the havan fire ceremonies have been subject to colossal misinterpretation. Some even believe this ancient practice should be stopped due to a perceived “waste” of items being offered into the fire. 

This article will help provide a solid, scientific basis of why homa ceremonies are so powerful and beneficial not just on the spiritual level but also on the physical level. 

First, let us cover the basics of yagna.

Introduction
Fire is, of course, one of the greatest discoveries of mankind. Our control over the fire dramatically changed the entire human habits; earlier it was used to cook food, protect from animals, and stay warm. Among the many applications of fire, one is Yajna (यज्ञ, yajña); also called as Havana (हवन) or Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्र).

Yajna is elaborately described in Yajurveda. In Yajurveda, Yajna is the greatest among all works (Karman). One can purify his /her soul by performing Yajna. In Vedic culture, it is thought that the holy fire is the mediator between Gods and us; when the offerings are made to Yajna with chanting mantras, it directly reaches the Gods, who bless the people with rains, food, health, and good luck.

According to Apastamba Sutra, the definition of Yajna is Vedic sacrifice; an act by which we surrender something for gods e.g. grains (Anna), pulse, milk and milk product (ghee, butter, curd) fruits, plant juice (soma), etc.

As we said; Yajna is the contact medium for gods and to seek their blessings. There are many types of Yajna performed by Hindus for e.g.,

Rajsuya Yajna
Ashwamedha Yajna
Chaaturmasya Yajna
Vaajpey Yajna
Purushmedha Yajna
Sarvamedha Yajna

A common misconception is that Yajna is a fire-related ritual. However, that’s not true, there are many Yajnas that do not require fire, just the chanting of Mantras is sufficient.

Havan is a type of Yajna on a small scale in which fire is kindled, oblation offered and Vedic hymns recited.

अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते ।
यष्टव्यमेवेति मन: समाधाय स सात्विक:॥

Transliteration:
aphalākāṅkṣhibhir yajño vidhi-driṣhṭo ya ijyate
yaṣhṭavyam eveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ

English Translation:
Of sacrifices, that sacrifice performed according to duty and to scriptural rules, and with no expectation of reward, is of the nature of goodness.

(Bhagavad Gita 17.11)

Scientific overview of Yajna
We all know that energy can neither be produced nor be destroyed but it can be transformed from one form to another form. Here in the process of Yagya are involved two biggest energies i.e. sound (as Vedic hymns) and heat (as kindled in Yajna Kund) which transform the energy from one form to another beneficial energy which is for the physical, psychological and spiritual well being of human.

Some benefits are as below-

The aroma of Yajna– can be sensed from a significant distance because the heat in Yajna helps in the diffusion of vaporized particles into our surroundings. Yajna Kund architecture-pyramid- is structurally the strongest shape in the world, and studies show that the center of the pyramid is the source of energy. The Yajna Kund is also formed in that particular way as the center of it is lightened as the energy source.

Clarified butter (ghee)– ghee is natural combustion fuel to anything made of hydrocarbons, it helps to keep the fire lightened.

Environmental purification- scientists proved that the place where Yajna is performed regularly, physical ailments, sickness, and diseases occur less commonly in that place. More info on this can be found in ‘The Integral Science of Yajna’, a book published in 1998 by Yug Nirman Yojna, Mathura, and can be downloaded below. 

Sanskrit- all the words from Sanskrit contain some sort of vibrations and set a harmonious pattern to the sound wave constitute a great amount of energy. For example, chanting Gayatri Mantra can produce more than 10000 sound waves per second.

Fumigation– complex hydrocarbon combustion leads to formaldehyde and formalin production in the environment which is lethal to bacterial cells and it is a natural disinfectant.
Apart from that it also removes insects and foul smells from the environment.

Materials and methods
Yajnavedi

Typical Yajna consists of 3 main things –

Yajna Vedi or Havan Kund (the place where the fire is lit)
Samidha (small dried wood sticks, to keep fire ignited)
Aahuti (offerings) – being a vast topic, we will cover it as a separate point in future
Yajnavedi
Yajnavedi is the place where the holy fire is lightened, Yajna doesn’t complete without Yajnavedi. Vedi is the term for “sacrificial altar” in the Vedic religion.
These are 8 types as per there significance.

Yajnavedi Purpose
1 Yoni kund For child birth
2 Semilunar kund For clearance of family issues
3 Triangular kund For victory
4 Octagon kund For health
5 Round kund For public well-being
6 Hexagon kund For victory over enemy
7 Square kund For overall good
8 Padma kund For protection from magical powers

Samidha (समिधा)
Samidha in Yajna
Sameedhas’ are mostly plants that have some ritualistic significance; according to Indian mythology, Mango (Aam), Peepal (Peepal), Banyan (Bargad), Blackberry (Jamun), Sandal (Chandan) are considered holy.

These wooden sticks ignite the holy fire to receive the offering which is also called as Homa (होम) or Hotra (होत्र​). Homa is prepared with grains scented herbs, ghee (clarified butter) sugar, fragranced roots, rice, etc. The mixture of all above is collectively called Homa Or Hotra.

Spiritual overview of Yajna

The warmth or the heat we get from Yajna is a great energy source, as it vaporizes all gross substances from the human body i.e. lethargy, ill tendency, dullness & despair, and energizes oneself with eagerness, smartness, curiousness, and hope.

Hindus think that fire is the purest energy, and with its mere presence, anyone can become pure. And after the completion of Yajna, the remaining ash produced by fire reminds the transient nature of life.

Conclusion
Yajna teaches us 3 important things which are very practical in daily life

  1. To contact with super soul – Yajna is the medium to seek God’s mercy and their blessings.
  2. The habit of donation – “इदं न मम” (idam na mama) simply means is “it is not mine”. At the end of all offerings, the words are chanted as idam na mama. This teaches a man is that nothing in this world belongs to himself or herself.
  3. The notorious nature of life – the end for everyone is the same; no matter who you are or what you have, at the end of your life, you will not be more than a handful of ashes. Yajna reminds us that no matter how high or how hot the Yajna fire is, at the and it will become a pile of ashes.

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