Vasordhārā (Stream of Ghee)

Vasordhārā · vasoḥ-dhārā, “the stream of wealth”

Grammar: feminine noun; a compound of vasu (wealth) and dhārā (stream): “the stream of wealth”. It is also spelled vasudhārā.

Meaning: the stream of ghee poured into the fire at the close of a homa, and the stream of water or ghee of a rite.

In the scriptures: the Bhavishya Purāṇa gives it in these rites:

• At a pratishṭhā. At the close of the homa a stream of pure ghee is given (Bhavishya Purāṇa, Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 3, Chapters 18–19).
• In the Lakshahoma. Then the Vasordhārā is let fall over the fire from a kumbha of ghee. A sruvā is made of gūlara wood, an arm long, not hollow, straight and green; it rests on two pillars, and through it a proper stream of ghee is poured over the fire. The Agni, Vishṇu, Rudra and Indu sūktas are recited, and the Mahāvaiśvānara and Jyeshṭha Sāmas are sung (Uttara Parva, Chapter 141).
• In the Bhīma Dvādaśī. In front of Nārāyaṇa two posts are set up, a crossbeam is laid on them, and a strong sling is tied to it. On that night the yajamāna, with a one-pointed mind, receives on his head the stream of water falling from the kalaśa, bowing to Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa and reciting the mantra. The vasordhārā falling upon Bhagavān Nārāyaṇa gives every siddhi (Uttara Parva, Chapters 73–74).
• In the Vijayā Saptamī. A vasordhārā of cow’s ghee is given (Uttara Parva, Chapter 43).
• In the Janmāshṭamī. At midnight the āhuti of vasordhārā is given with jaggery and ghee, and Shashṭhī Devī is worshipped; at that same moment the saṃskāras such as nāmakaraṇa are performed (Uttara Parva, Chapter 55).

Related terms: Homa · Sruvā · Ghṛta · Lakshahoma

Sources

• Bhavishya Purāṇa, Madhyama Parva, Bhāga 3, Chapters 18–19; Uttara Parva, Chapters 43, 55, 73–74, 141