DEIVATHIN KURAL # 136 (of Vol 2) Dated 26 July 2008

DEIVATHIN KURAL # 136 (of Vol 2) Dated 26 July 2008



(These e-mails are translations of talks given by Periyaval of Kanchi Kamakoti peetam, over a period of some sixty years while he was the pontiff in the earlier part of last century. These have been published in Tamil by Vanadi Padippagam, Chennai, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each, as Deivathin Kural. To day we are proceeding from the last para of page number 943, of volume 2, of the Tamil original, as a continuation of Deivathin Kural # 135 of 25 July 2008.)



(Please note that, due to my misunderstanding, I have been wrongly quoting ‘Paaka Yagna-s as Bhagha Yagna-s’. This mistake is due to my not having access to the Sanskrit word in original. In Tamil “Bha and Pa’ are written the same way. Please make amends in the previous five e-mails, ‘for Bhagha Yagna-s read Paaka Yagna-s’.)



60. Garhapatya Agni is taken to the Dakshinagni Kundam for the Srouta Karma of Pinda Pithru Karya-s and for other Yagna-s to the Aahavaneeya Kundam. Then once the particular Karya is done, these two Agni-s lose their exalted name of ‘Srouta Agni’ and become normal ‘Loukika Agni’. They should be given ‘Visarjanam’ that is, extinguished. ‘Garhapatyam’ should go on without ‘Visarjanam’, like the ‘Oupaasana Agni’. On every first day of the fort-night, known as ‘Pratamai’, there is one Paaka Yagna and one Havir Yagna, to be done by the house-holder.

61. This Paaka Yagna is known as, ‘Sthalee Paakam’. Sthaalee is the name of the pot in which rice is cooked. The Pot is kept on the Oupaasana Kundam and rice is cooked. The cooked food so made is ‘Charu’ and the process is known as ‘Sthalee Paakam’. This charu is offered in oblation in to the fire.

62. What is the basis for other variations is called the ‘Prakruti’. The variations are called as ‘Vikruti’. For other Bhaga Yagna-s such as ‘Sravani’ and ‘Agrahyani’, ‘Sthalee Paakam’ is the Prakruti. The step by step description of the entire procedure, from the start to finish is given in the Prakruti. Using this as the basis, to show the deviations mainly is ‘Vikruti’.

63. The Havir Yagna to be done every pratama, in the Srouta Agni, is known as ‘Darsa Poorna Ishti’. ‘Darsa’ is new-moon. ‘Poorna’ is full-moon and so, the Yaga done one-day after Darsa and Poorna, is Darsa-Poorna-Ishti. In short it is also known as ‘Ishti’. This Yagna is the basic Prakruti; all others are it’s Vikruti-s.

64. Similarly amongst Soma Yagna-s, Prakruti is the ‘Agnishtomam’. ‘Stomam’ is another name for ‘Homam / Yaga’. Agni + Sthomam becomes ‘agni…ishto…mam’ at the point of their meeting known as ‘sandhi’. Similar to the word ‘stapita’, in English becomes ‘establish’ and in colloquial ‘star and stamp’ becoming ‘ishtar and ishtamp’. These are some phonetical changes accepted in the chanting of Veda-s! I had said earlier that there are seven each of Paaka-Havir-Soma Yagna-s. Let me tell you a few more details about them.

65. Paaka Yagna-s are small. Without erecting a special ‘Yaga Salai’, these are done at home itself as Gruhya Karma-s. Amongst Srouta Karma-s too the first four of, ‘Aadanam, Agni Hotram, Darsa-poorna –masam and Aagrayanam; are all done at home only. The last three Havir-Yagna-s, namely Chatur-Masyam, Nitooda-Pasu-Bandam and Soutraamani; + the seven Soma Yagna-s and all other Yagna-s (not mentioned herein), are to be done in specially erected Yaga Saala-s.

66. Yaaga Saala is known as ‘Deva Yajanam’. The procedure for construction of Deva Yajanam is all given in minute details in Kalpa Sutra-s. ‘Sayanam’ is a Yagna Kundam constructed with bricks. (For Paaka and Havir Yagna-s, there is no Sayanam.) The methods of such constructions are give in very intricate details. I had mentioned earlier that, these involve much mathematics and engineering. The special type of Spoons known as, Dharvi, Sruk, Sravam, with different shapes and sizes, made of different materials, such as wood or metal; are all described in detail, leaving no chance for deviation or mis-interpretation.

67. The exhaustive coverage goes to the extent that, it describes the ‘Mudra’ or posture that the hand that is holding that particular spoon, is to adopt! Not a small point is left to chance and deviation. Nuclear science and space research laboratories, is what that comes to my mind; when I marvel as to how ‘in depth’ these Kalpa Sutra-s have gone into in describing the building-up of the Yaaga Saala and methods, procedures, equipments and sequence of events; involved in conduct of these Yagna-s! Evidently the effort here is to tap the divine super-natural sources, for the benefit of humanity at large. So, those who have written the Kalpa Sutra-s have seen to it that there is no possibility for any error whatsoever.

68. The seven Paaka Yagna-s are small. Paaka conveys a meaning of small / child-like. Paakam also has a connotation of well cooked. The very culinary art is known as Paaka Saastram. The place where food is cooked is known as Paaka Saalai. Mostly in Paaka Yagna-s only cooked rice / pulses are offered as ‘Aahuti’. The Kanji part of the thick porridge is not to be removed. This offering is known as ‘Charu’ Homam. But in Oupaasanam only dry rice- Akshadai is put on fire. In Ashtaka, that is one of the Paaka Yagna-s, the cooked but dry cake of a mix of cereals and pulses, is what is offered in oblation.

69. This Ashtaka amongst the seven Paaka Yagna-s is a Pitru Karma addressed to the departed manes. Amongst the two fortnights of the moon, Sukhla Paktcham that is the one towards the full-moon, is special for the Devas / Deities. The Krishna Paktcham of the waning moon is special for the manes. These Pithru Karyam is known as ‘Apara Karyam’. So, the Krishna Paktcham itself is known as Apara Paktcham. The center of this fortnight is the Ashtami or the eighth day, which is very special for the manes / departed souls! This Ashtaka Srardham is best done in Hemanta Ritu / Sisir Ritu of Indian Winter periods, between Sept and March months. Feb is the most suited. The Krishna Patcha Ashtami in this period is the best time to conduct Ashtaka Srardham. The next day is a continuation known as ‘Anvashtaka’.

70. Another Paaka Yagna by name Paarvanee is the Prakruti amongst all Sraardham-s. Sraavanee is one of the Paaka Yagna, also known as ‘Sarpa Bali’. This is done on the night of the full moon, in the month of Sraavan. Homam is done with ‘charu and aajyam that is pure ghee’. Near a sand hill which is the home of snakes, some decorations of designs are done on the ground with rice-powder and the offering is left for the Snakes to consume. Having done Agrahyani, on the full moon night (between Dec 15 to Jan15), that is, Pournami of the month of Margazhi / Mrugaseersham, the Sarpa Bali that was started in Aavani that is Sraavan, is completed. More about Aagrahyani in the next e-mails.

(To be continued.)

Sambhomahadeva.