Aarti and Homa: Ashta Dravya Ganapati Homa

What are homas and aartis?

A homa is a Fire Lab. This is also known as a Yagna or Fire Ritual. Enlightened Masters consider this ritual to be the most evolved spiritual technology on the planet. Fire is chosen as the medium for this ritual, as it is considered a purifying and transforming agent, a form of energy that helps us connect with the divine. Fire acts as the bridge between the gross material world and the subtle spiritual dimensions. The Fire Lab is a sophisticated use of fire, and acting as a multi-dimensional communication technology, it is used to invoke different aspects of divine consciousness known as Archetypes or Gods, Goddesses and Angels.

Archetypes exist internally as dormant potential within our psychophysical system, as well as externally as supernatural beings with whom our prophets, seers and mystics from every religion were in contact. Every one of them has unique abilities that can transform our reality in profound ways. A homa, or Fire Lab, is the most effective way to access them.

An aarti is an important religious ritual in which a traditional light or flame is shown (that is, offered to a deity). An aarti can be lit in a wick soaked in oil or ghee, or by lighting camphor. Any ceremonious or organized worship normally ends with a holy aarti, where the lighted flame is shown to the altar as a final offering for invoking the deity’s blessings. It is then presented to the devotees for their acceptance of the divine grace.

The Ashta Dravya Homa is a special ceremony done for Lord Ganapati.

Who is Lord Ganapati and what is the importance of the Ashta Dravya Homa?

Ganapati, or Ganesha, remains the chief archetype of the Ashta Dravya Ganapati Homa. Ganapati is regarded the son of Lord Shiva. He is hailed as a remover of obstacles and a harbinger of success, and is both loved and venerated. He has an elephant face, but also has a primordial form with a human face. He is celebrated as a hero of strength, as a happy dancer, as a sweet child and many more. It is considered a good custom to seek his blessings while starting any endeavor, and a homa, or Fire Lab, is a powerful way to do that.

“Ashta” means “the number 8,” and “dravya” generally means “wealth.” Here, “Ashta Dravya” can mean both “eight types of wealth” and also “eight natural products” with which the homa is conducted. Sesame oil, molasses, sugarcane, honey, coconut, rice flake, lemon and rice are the eight items that are normally offered in the sacrificial fire of this homa for propitiating the Lord. And this is followed by a concluding aarti. The chief purpose of this homa is financial prosperity.

What are the benefits of performing this Ganapati Homa?

The Ashta Dravya Ganapati Homa invokes Lord Ganapati’s presence and his blessings directly into the lives of the devotees. The benefits of performing this ritual are many. Apart from strong improvement in income and financial condition, this can help to remove impediments and hindrances to marriages, to provide a good married life, to bring success in careers and business and also to bestow prosperity, wellbeing and happiness.