Graha Yajña Vidhi

Graha Yajña Vidhi, “the rite of offerings to the grahas”

The Graha Yajña Vidhi is the rite of the navagraha yajña, the fire offering (homa) to the nine grahas (planetary devas). It has three forms, the Ayuta (10,000), the Laksha (100,000) and the Koṭi (10,000,000) homa. It is not tied to one month or tithi. The Matsya Purāṇa gives it in Chapter 92, where Vaiśaṃpāyana teaches it to Śaunaka.

Thirty-two devatās are invited (āvāhana) and worshipped: the nine grahas, their nine adhidaivatas, their nine pratyabhidaivatas, and five more devatās (Vināyaka, Durgā, Vāyu, Ākāśa and the Aśvins). After the homa the yajamāna (the person who has the rite done) is bathed from a full kalaśa (abhisheka), and special dāna is given to the ṛtviks (the priests) for each graha.

The Agni Purāṇa teaches the same threefold graha-yajña for prosperity, śānti and victory. Agni Deva teaches it in Chapter 167: the grahas set in a maṇḍala north-east of the kuṇḍa, their adhidevatās and pratyadhidevatās, the samidhs, the abhisheka of the yajamāna with the water of four kalaśas, the dāna mantras that each end “give me śānti”, and the measures and phala of each homa. Parameśvara tells Devī Pārvatī of the laksha-homa and koṭi-homa as a rite of victory and of śānti at every utpāta (portent) in Chapter 149, and Pushkara gives the laksha and koṭi homa for kings in Chapter 267. The samidhs of the graha-śānti at the installation of a liṅga are given in Chapter 95, and the Gāyatrī homa for graha-śānti in Chapter 215.

How the teaching began

Śaunaka asked Vaiśaṃpāyana how to perform śāntika and pushṭika karmas, the rites that give peace and nourishment and fulfil all desires, including śrī (prosperity), śānti (peace), vṛshṭi (rain), āyus (long life) and pushṭi (growth). Vaiśaṃpāyana answered that the graha yajña does all this. He said it is drawn together from all the śāstras, the Purāṇas and the Śrutis.

The three forms

The graha yajña is of three kinds, by the number of āhutis (offerings into the fire).

All three use the same invitation of 32 devatās, the same homa mantras and the same plan of dāna. They differ in the size of the kunda (fire pit), the size of the maṇḍapa (the pavilion) and the scale of the offerings.

The maṇḍapa and the kunda

• Maṇḍapa: It is built in the northeast (Īśānya) of one’s home, or at the site of a Śiva temple. The plan is square, and the ground slopes towards the north. It measures 10×10 or 8×8 hastas (cubits).
• Homa kunda: It is dug in the northeast of the maṇḍapa. The Ayuta kunda is 2 hastas square. The Laksha kunda is 1 hasta by 2 hastas (a rectangle). The Koṭi kunda is 4×4 hastas, with two cakras and three mekhalās (raised rims) that rise in height.
• Yoni (the mouth of the kunda): It is triangular and shaped like a turtle’s back, one vitasti (span) high at the centre. It is joined to the south side of the kunda.
• Vedi (the platform for the devatās): It is built in the northeast of the kunda and is square. It has three prākāras (walls) that get lower towards the outside. The vedi faces north or east.

The thirty-two devatās

The nine grahas, the nine adhidaivatas, the nine pratyabhidaivatas and the five extra devatās are invited and placed on the vedi, facing Āditya (the sun). All 32 face Sūrya. None is turned away.

The nine grahas: place, colour, naivedya and samidha

Flowers, cloth (vāstra) and the other upacāras (offerings) should match the colour of each graha. The dhūpa (incense) may be of any pure, sweet-smelling substance. Fruits are offered together with the flowers.

The adhidaivatas (the superior devatās)

The pratyabhidaivatas (the helping devatās)

The five extra devatās

They are Vināyaka, Durgā, Vāyu, Ākāśa and the Aśvins. The Aśvins are counted as one pair.

The pūrṇa kalaśa

In the northeast of the vedi a sealed kalaśa (water pot) is set up. It is filled with curds, akshatas (unbroken rice), pañcaratnas (five gems) and pañca-pūgas (areca nuts). It is covered with mango shoots, fruits and a fresh double cloth. Varuṇa is invited into it.

Rivers and oceans are called into the water by mantra. Earth is added from places where elephants, horses and chariots stand, from where cows graze, from anthills, from the meeting of rivers and from holy ponds. This water is used for the abhisheka of the yajamāna.

The homa

The homa begins with ghee, yava (barley) and tila (sesame). The samidhas of each graha are cut straight, one pradeśa (span) long, with no forks, knots or leaves. For each devatā who has been invited, 108 or 128 āhutis are offered one by one. The samidhas are dipped in honey, ghee and dadhi (curd). The ṛtviks sit facing east or north.

Charu (a ritual porridge) is first made for each devatā. It is consecrated with that devatā’s mantra and offered in the homa before the main samidha āhutis begin.

The homa mantras (opening words)

For the nine grahas

• Sūrya: ākṛshṇena rajasā
• Candra: āpyāyasva
• Aṅgāraka: agnirmūrdhā
• Budha: udbudhyasva
• Guru: bṛhaspate atiyad aryā
• Śukra: śukraṃ te anyat
• Śani: śaṃno devī
• Rāhu: kayā naś citra ābhuvat
• Ketu: ketuṃ kṛṇvan

For the adhidaivatas

• Rudra: āvo rājā
• Umā: āpo hishṭhā
• Skanda: o sona pṛthivī
• Vishṇu: idaṃ vishṇuḥ
• Brahmā: tvām icchā
• Indra: indram id garī
• Yama: ayaṃ gauḥ
• Kāla: brahma jajñānaṃ
• Citragupta: rājānam

For the pratyabhidaivatas

• Agni: agni dūtaṃ vṛṇīmahe
• Jala: uda u tya gavaruṇa
• Pṛthivī: pṛthivyantariksham
• Vishṇu: sahasraśīrshā
• Indra: indra marutva
• Śacī: uttānaparṇe subhage
• Prajāpati: prajāpate
• Sarpa: namo astu sarvebhyaḥ
• Brahmā: esha brahmāya ṛtvijaḥ

For Vināyaka and the other four

• Vināyaka: anūnam
• Durgā: jātavedase sunavāma
• Vāyu: prāṇānāṃ granthir asi
• Ākāśa: ādit pratna sya retasaḥ
• Aśvins: eshi ushā apūrvyā

The pūrṇāhuti mantra (for the last offering): mūrdhānaṃ divaḥ.

The abhisheka of the yajamāna

When the homa is finished, four brāhmaṇas stand facing east or north. They wear gold ornaments and flower garlands. They say the abhisheka mantras and pour water from the pūrṇa kalaśa over the yajamāna, while maṅgala vādyas (auspicious instruments) sound.

The abhisheka mantra calls on all the devas: Brahmā, Vishṇu, Maheśvara, Vāsudeva, Saṅkarshaṇa, Pradyumna, Aniruddha and the eight dikpālakas (guardians of the directions). It calls on the Śaktis: Kīrti, Lakshmī, Dhṛti, Medhā, Pushṭi, Śraddhā, Kriyā, Mati, Buddhi, Lajjā, Vapu, Śānti, Tushṭi and Kānti. It calls on the Saptamātṛkās (the seven Mothers) and the nine grahas. It also calls on all the groups of devas, dānavas, gandharvas, yakshas, rākshasas, pannagas, ṛshis, munis, cows and the mothers of the devas. It asks them all to give the yajamāna jaya (victory) and sarvakāmārtha-siddhi (the fulfilment of every desire).

The dāna for each graha

After the abhisheka the yajamāna wears white clothes and white garlands, having bathed in water mixed with all fragrances and all herbs (sarvagandha-sarvaushadhi). He then gives a gift to the ṛtviks for each graha.

There are further gifts. Śayyā-dāna (the gift of a bed) is given with a mantra that calls on the eternal aśūnya-śayana of Śiva and Keśava. Ratna-dāna (the gift of gems) is given. Bhū-dāna (the gift of land) equals sixteen times all the other dānas put together.

All dānas are given with their own mantras. The yajamāna honours all the ṛtviks with clothes (vastra), ornaments (alaṃkāra), gems (ratna), perfumes (gandha) and garlands (mālya). He does this without jealousy and without meanness.

The kāmya homas that follow

The navagraha Ayuta homa must be done first before kāmya homas, which are rites done for a chosen wish. These include:

• Vaśya karma: bringing people under one’s influence.
• Ābhicāra karma: causing harm to enemies.
• Uccāṭana karma: driving away piśācas and harmful spirits.

These use a triangular kunda with one face and two mekhalās. The samidhas are bilva fruit and padma (lotus). These ābhicāra rites give worldly results only. They do not give pāralaukika śubha (good in the next world). A person who wants true good in this world and the next should follow only the śāntika yajña.

The phala

Even to read, hear or write this threefold vidhi of the graha yajña keeps away graha-pīḍā (the pain brought by the grahas) and arishṭa (misfortune) from the person and the family.

Per Agni Purāṇa

Agni Deva says: “For the attainment of prosperity, śānti, victory and the like, I shall tell again of the graha-yajña.” It is of three kinds: the ayuta-homa of ten thousand offerings, the laksha-homa of a lakh, and the koṭi-homa of a crore.

The grahas and their devatās

The grahas are invoked in a maṇḍala in the north-east of the vedi of the fire-kuṇḍa:

The adhidevatās (presiding devatās) are Śiva, Pārvatī, Kārttikeya, Vishṇu, Brahmā, Indra, Yama, Kāla and Citragupta. The pratyadhidevatās are Agni, Varuṇa, Bhūmi, Vishṇu, Indra, Śacī, Prajāpati, the Sarpas and Brahmā. The devatās who make the rite complete (karma-sādguṇya devatās) are Gaṇeśa, Durgā, Vāyu, Ākāśa and the Aśvinī-kumāras. All of them are worshipped with the seed syllables of the Veda.

The samidhs and the homa

The samidhs for Ravi and the other grahas, in order, are arka, palāśa, khadira, apāmārga, pippala, udumbara, śamī, dūrvā and kuśa. They are offered with honey, ghee and curd. Four pūrṇa-kumbhas (full pots) are set, and then come the pūrṇāhuti (the full final offering), the vasudhārā (the stream of ghee) and the dakshiṇā to the brāhmaṇas.

At the installation of a liṅga, the graha-śānti of Sūrya and the other grahas is done with samidhs of arka, palāśa, khadira, apāmārga, aśvattha, udumbara and śamī, with dūrvā and kuśa, a hundred and eight of each. If these cannot be had, the homa is done with barley and sesame (Chapter 95). In the yajñas for graha-śānti, ten thousand homas with the Gāyatrī mantra bring the success desired, and khadira samidhs calm the affliction of the grahas (Chapter 215).

Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 95, 167, 215

The abhisheka mantra

With the water of the four kalaśas the yajamāna is bathed, with these words: “May the devatās Brahmā, Vishṇu, Maheśvara and the others give you abhisheka. May Vāsudeva, Saṅkarshaṇa Jagannātha, Pradyumna and Aniruddha give you victory. May Indra the king of the devas, Agni, Yama, Nirṛti, Varuṇa, Vāyu, Kubera the lord of wealth, Śiva, Brahmā, Ādi-Śesha and all the dikpālas protect you always. May the dharma-patnīs, the mothers of the world, Kīrti, Lakshmī, Dhṛti, Medhā, Pushṭi, Śraddhā, Kriyā, Mati, Buddhi, Lajjā, Vapush, Śānti, Tushṭi and Kānti, give you abhisheka. May Āditya, Candra, Kuja, Budha, Guru, Śukra, Śani, Rāhu and Ketu, well pleased, give you abhisheka. May the devatās, dānavas, gandharvas, yakshas, rākshasas, sarpas, ṛshis, munis, cows, the wives of the devas, trees, nāgas, daityas, the hosts of apsarās, the astras and śastras, kings, vāhanas, healing plants, gems, the divisions of time, rivers and cities, oceans, mountains, tīrthas and clouds give you abhisheka for the fulfilment of all your desires.”

Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 167

The dāna mantras

Then the yajamāna, adorned, gives gold, cows, land and other gifts, saying with each a mantra that ends “give me śānti”:

• The cow: “O Kapilā dhenu! O Rohiṇī! You are worthy of pūjā by all the devatās. You are the form of all the tīrthas and devatās. Therefore give me śānti.”
• The bull: “O Dharma! In the form of the bull you bring joy to the world; you are the vāhana of Śiva. Therefore give me śānti.”
• Gold: “The golden seed of Sūrya, who is in the womb of Hiraṇyagarbha, gives endless puṇya. Therefore give me śānti.”
• A pair of yellow cloths: “A pair of yellow cloths is very dear to Vishṇu; by offering it Vishṇu is pleased. Therefore give me śānti.”
• A gift the text does not name: “You are the cause of amṛta; you are the vāhana of Candra and Sūrya. Therefore grant me śānti.”
• The earth: “You who are Pṛthivī, in the form of a dhenu, destroy all pāpas. Therefore give me śānti.”
• Iron: “All work is always under your control; the plough and the other implements and the weapons are in your power. Therefore grant me śānti.”
• A gift the text does not name: “You are the limb of all yajñas, the cause of Agni. Therefore give me śānti.”
• Cows: “In the limbs of cows dwell the fourteen bhuvanas (worlds). Therefore may there be good for me in this world and the next.”
• The bed: “The bed of Keśava and the bed of Śiva are never empty. May the bed I give also never be empty in all births.”
• Gems: “All the devatās are established in all gems. Therefore by this gift of gems may the devatās give me śānti.”
• Land: “No other gifts equal a sixteenth part of bhū-dāna (the gift of land). Therefore by this bhū-dāna may śānti come to me.”

Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 167

The ayuta, laksha and koṭi homas

The graha-yajña of ten thousand homas, done with dakshiṇā, gives victory in battle. It is done at marriages, festivals, yajñas and installations. For it a maṇḍapa is made in the house, with a kuṇḍa of one hasta with its girdles and yoni. There may be four ṛtviks, or one may do it alone.

In the laksha-homa everything is tenfold. The kuṇḍa is four or two hastas, and there are ten or eight ṛtviks. In it Tārkshya (Garuḍa) is also worshipped, with the mantra: “O Tārkshya! Your body is the form of the sound of the Sāma. You are the vāhana of the Paramātmā. You destroy poison. Therefore always give me śānti.” After the vasudhārā a bed, ornaments and the like are given. The laksha-homa gives sons, food, a kingdom, victory, and bhukti and mukti (enjoyment and moksha).

The koṭi-homa, done with dakshiṇā, gives all these fruits and also the destruction of enemies. Its kuṇḍa is four or eight hastas, with twelve ṛtviks; twenty-five or twelve kalaśas are set on the cloth and four at the door. One who performs the koṭi-homa attains all his desires and reaches Vishṇuloka. The laksha-homa and koṭi-homa are done for the attainment of all desires.

These homas are done with the graha-mantras, or with the Gāyatrī, or with Vaishṇava mantras, or with the mantras beginning “Jātavedas”, or with Śaiva mantras, or with well-known Vaidika mantras, offering sesame, barley, grain and ghee. One who does this gains the phala of the aśvamedha and the other yāgas.

When a homa is done out of hostility (abhicāra), the kuṇḍa is triangular.

Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 167

The laksha-homa and koṭi-homa taught to Devī Pārvatī

Parameśvara tells Devī Pārvatī that by homa victory comes in battle and obstacles are destroyed. The performer first keeps the kṛcchra-vrata to purify his body, purifies it further with a hundred prāṇāyāmas, and, standing in water, does japa of the Gāyatrī and sixteen prāṇāyāmas. He offers the āhutis in the forenoon. During the yajña he lives on barley food got by bhikshā (alms), fruits and roots, milk, the flour of parched grain and ghee. “Pārvatī! Until the laksha-homa is complete, one should eat only once a day.” After the pūrṇāhuti of the laksha-homa, cows, cloths and gold are given as dakshiṇā.

Whenever an utpāta is seen, this yajña should be performed through five or ten ṛtvijas. “There is no utpāta in this world that is not pacified by this. There is nothing more auspicious than this.” For a king who has it performed, no enemy can stand before him in battle; in his kingdom excess rain, drought, rats, locusts, parrots, bhūtas, rākshasas and all his enemies in battle are destroyed.

For the koṭi-homa twenty, a hundred or a thousand brāhmaṇas are chosen, and by it the yajamāna gains the wealth and glory he desires. A brāhmaṇa, kshatriya or vaiśya who performs the koṭi-homa obtains whatever he desires and goes to svarga in his body. The homa is done with the Gāyatrī, the graha-mantras, the Kūshmāṇḍa mantras, and the mantras of Agni, Indra, Varuṇa, Vāyu, Yama, Vishṇu, Śakti, Śiva and Sūrya. The ayuta-homa gives a small siddhi; the laksha-homa removes all sorrows; the koṭi-homa destroys all kleśas (afflictions) and gives all things.

The materials fit for homa are barley, grain, sesame, milk, ghee, kuśa, lotus, bilva and mango leaves, among others. For the koṭi-homa the fire-kuṇḍa is eight hastas deep, and for the laksha-homa four hastas deep. Ghee is used in the ayuta, laksha and koṭi homas.

Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 149

The homa for kings

Pushkara, giving the rites that bring victory to kings, says that in a square kuṇḍa of four hastas, eight or sixteen brāhmaṇas perform a laksha or koṭi homa of sesame, ghee and rice. By graha-pūjā and homa with the Gāyatrī, all kinds of śānti come in due order.

Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 267

Sources

• Matsya Purāṇa, Chapter 92
• Agni Purāṇa, Chapters 95, 149, 167, 215, 267