Yo māmaka

Yo māmaka

Grammar: the opening words of a group of mantras.

Meaning: the seven Yajur mantras that begin “yo māmaka”, recited at the homa of śrāddha.

In the scriptures: in the Brahma Purāṇa, Vyāsa tells the munis how Bhagavān Vishṇu, as Varāha-mūrti, lifted the pitṛs out of the waters of the Kokā river and performed the first śrāddha for them. Having invited the Viśvedevas and the pitṛs, he worshipped them with gandha, dhūpa and dīpa, and placed the food with ghee, sesame and darbha in a vessel. Looking at the munis he said, “Agnau karishye” (“I will offer in the fire”), and they answered, “Kurushva” (“do it”). He gave three āhutis, to Soma, to Agni and to Yama, and did japa of the seven Yajur mantras beginning “yo māmaka”. The remainder of the homa, with names and gotras, he offered in the place of the pitṛs, three āhutis at a time (Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 219).

Related terms: Śrāddha · Homa · Yajurveda · Varāha

Sources

• Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 219