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Homa, or havan, is fire worship. In Tantra
Yoga, homa is used to enhance the effects of japa.
When the japa is done without any desire, it needs no fire
worship.
Fire is visible divine energy that can be seen
and felt. It is said to be the mediator between humans and
gods. Homa is performed in a receptacle (kund) in which a
fireplace (vedi) is made with bricks. The Homa fireplace should
be decorated with colorful flowers, leaves, grains, and beans.
Wood to be used as fuel for Homa should burn easily without
creating much smoke. In India the wood from a mango tree is
most often used for Homa. The Homa wood should be completely
dry and cut or broken to suit the size of the kund.
Samigri is a combination of thirty-six herbs
used to purify the atmosphere and smells very good, like incense.
Some ghee and raw sugar should be added to the herbs. When
the Homa is performed, the chemicals in the samigri are burnt
and get converted into gaseous form which mix in the atmosphere,
entering the breath and the body chemistry of the one doing
the Homa and those who are in the vicinity. These chemicals
go to the gods that are present as different energies or abilities
inside the human organism.
Tantra believes in one God with many forms.
Because God performs many kinds of functions, he has many
names. For performing each job, He has to shape himself into
a different form. That is why there appear so many gods. But
all the names are His name and all the forms are His form.
When he creates he is called Brahma.
When he preserves, he is called Vishnu.
When he destroys, he is called Shiva.
When he brings forth the energy of heat and light, he is called
Sun.
When he beholds the creation he is called Earth. He is neither
male nor female. His static aspect is male. His dynamic aspect
is female.
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