Ājya
Ājya, “ghee for the offering”
Grammar: neuter noun, from ā with the root añj (to anoint): “that which anoints”, melted butter.
Meaning: ghee, melted butter, offered into the sacred fire in a homa or yajña.
In the scriptures: in the Brahma Purāṇa, Brahmā tells the munis of the wedding of Bhagavān Śiva and Devī Pārvatī. Having adorned the daughter of the mountain and led her into the city, Brahmā stood in the place of the Brahmā priest with Īśvara and asked: “For your wedding I will perform the homa, offering ājya and other havis into Agni. Give me your command.” Śiva answered that he would do all just as Brahmā said. Brahmā took kuśa and joined the hands of the Deva and the Devī; the great mantras of the śruti took bodily form and were present, and Agni himself received his shares of havis with folded palms (Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 36).
Related terms: Havis · Homa · Ghṛta · Agni
Sources
- Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 36