An interesting news report is given here
on a proposed homa
that is going to be put under scientific monitoring.
Earlier in 1975,
the Athiraathra homa was followed by scientists
who recorded it by Kirlian photography.
A detailed coverage was done by The Hindu at that time.
One of the amazing findings of the research then was
the appearance of a huge image of dancing Shiva
in the homa-smoke that covered the air
when the final ahuthi (oblations)
was being done to accompaniment of
the chorus chanting of Shiva’s name
The Kirlian photography captured this image.
It was as though the Lord appeared in person to accept the offerings!
The rationale of homas is that the lord who is worshiped by the homa
appears at the end (poorna ahuthi)
to accept the offerings.
The vedic seers did not worship the images of gods.
The vedic period did not recognise images
but only homas as means of doing meditation.
It was only in the last 2000 years,
vigraha vazhipaadu (image- worship) came into vogue,
probably with the diminution in adhering to homa worship.
On the day before his proposed coronation,
Rama worshiped his kula-daiva, Sriman Narayna,
with the help of sage Vasishta.
This worship is described in Valmiki Ramayana.
It was in the form of a homa
followed by meditation.
Image- worship came much later only.
The seers who probably had the dhrushti (vision)to see the gods associated with respective homas
had formulated codes for making the images and worship.
That is how we can explain the formation of Shiva’s imagery in
the Kirlian recordings.
I happened to see a photograph of
the Maha shankatahara chathurthi homa
in which the fire at the time of purna ahuthi
was in the shape of lord Vinayaka.
I have seen another photo of a homa
in which the image of Hanuman was seen.
This can be viewed at
With the advent of Kaliyuga,
the potency to do the homas deteriorated and
homa was replaced by consecrating images
by installing the energy of the deity in the images.
The view that the yAgashala of the Vedic period
gradually got metamorphosed into temples
owing to the cults of devotion is
widely accepted by researchers and scholars.
(request to readers -
please don't miss the related articles mentioned at the end of this post)
- jayasree
Scientists back ancient yaagam
http://www.deccan.com/chennaichronicle/home/homedetails.asp#Scientists%20back%20ancient%20yaagam
chennai Aug. 10: This is one yaagam that has got even the scientific community interested. Hundreds of scientists from many countries will be converging in Thirunavaya, a little village on the banks of the river Bharata Puzha in Kerala for the Vaajapeya Soma Yaagam that is being performed to mitigate the effects of global warming.
Thirunavaya, 100 kms north of
Dr K M Jathavedan Namboothiri, general convener, told Deccan Chronicle that the last Vaajapeya Yaagam was held more than 400 years ago.
“The Rishis have said that a Yaagam of this kind would bring timely rainfall and profound agricultural production. The 12-day Yaagam will see Vedic scholars simultaneously reciting mantras and slokas from Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vedas round-the-clock,” said Dr Namboothiri, a clinical psychiatrist and organiser of the school to teach Vedas to Dalits and women.
He said that the Yaagam was meant for the welfare, peace and prosperity of the world. Matha Amritanandamay-idevi, the hugging saint from Kerala, told this reporter that Yaagas had the scientific power to make visible changes in the universe. “The synchronised chanting of mantras produce vibrations in the environment resulting in positive energy. In fact there is more science than religion to the Vedas,” observed the Matha.
Dr Radhakrishnan, a leading neurologist, said that Vaajapeya Yaaga was being held as per the teachings of the rishis, whom he described as the world’s pioneer scientific researchers. The Vedic culture of Kerala shot into prominence with the Athiraathra Yajna in 1975. Dr Frits Staal of the
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yajna
Related articles:-
Details of Athirathra homa mentioned in the above article
can be read in the following link.
http://sankaranna.com/index_files/yagam.htm
Scientific effects of Agnihotra homa can be read in the following link
http://www.agnihotra.org/science.htm
Scientific study on different aspects of homa can be read here:-
http://blessed7.blogspot.com/2008/06/eternity-of-sound-science-of-mantras.html
