BhaktiLoopPurusha Sukta Homam
The Purusha Sukta is a highly revered Vedic hymn found primarily in the Rig Veda (10.90), with variations in other Vedas like the Yajur Veda and Sama Veda. It describes the 'Cosmic Man' or 'Purusha' – the Supreme Being from whom the entire universe, including all beings, deities, and the four varnas (social orders), emanated through a cosmic sacrifice. The hymn is a profound philosophical treatise on creation and the nature of the Supreme Reality. The Purusha Sukta Homam involves invoking Lord Vishnu, identified as the Supreme Purusha, through the chanting of this powerful hymn while offering oblations into the sacred fire. It is performed to purify the environment, remove negative energies, and invite the blessings of the cosmic consciousness for material and spiritual advancement.
Purpose
To invoke the cosmic consciousness of Purusha, attain spiritual upliftment, prosperity, peace, liberation (moksha), fulfillment of desires, removal of obstacles, and overall well-being. It is believed to bring grace for all aspects of life, purify the environment, and invite the blessings of the cosmic consciousness for material and spiritual advancement.
Key Rituals
Achamanam & Pranayama (Self-purification and breath control)
Deepa Prajwalanam (Lighting the sacred lamp)
Sankalpam (Solemn vow and declaration of purpose, date, and names of performers)
Guru Vandanam & Ganesha Puja (Seeking blessings of the spiritual teacher and Lord Ganesha for obstacle removal)
Kalasha Sthapanam (Invoking deities into a pot of water, symbolizing the universe)
Agni Pratishta (Invoking the fire deity Agni into the Homa Kunda)
Dhyanam (Meditation on Lord Vishnu as the Cosmic Purusha)
Purusha Sukta Parayanam & Havan (Chanting the 16 (or more) verses of the Purusha Sukta, offering oblations of ghee, samit (sacred twigs), and grains into the sacred fire with each verse)
Moola Mantra Japam (Chanting the primary mantra of Lord Vishnu)
Ashtottara Shatanamavali / Sahasranamavali (Chanting 108 or 1000 names of Lord Vishnu - optional, depending on duration)
Purnahuti (Final, complete offering to the fire, signifying completion and surrender)
Maha Mangala Aarti (Waving the sacred lamp before the deities)
Pranama & Pradakshina (Prostrations and circumambulation around the Homa Kunda)
Teertha Prasada Viniyogam (Distribution of holy water and consecrated offerings)
Ashirvadam (Receiving blessings from the officiating priest)
Common Offerings
Ghee (clarified butter)
Samit (holy sticks from sacred trees like Peepal, Banyan, Palasha)
Navadhanyam (nine types of grains: rice, wheat, barley, black gram, green gram, Bengal gram, sesame seeds, corn, horse gram)
Dry fruits and Nuts (e.g., cashews, almonds, raisins)
Sweets (e.g., Modakam, Laddoos, Paysam)
Flowers (especially Lotus, Tulasi leaves, yellow flowers)
Fresh Fruits (e.g., bananas, apples, coconuts)
Vastram (new cloth for the deity)
Tamboolam (betel leaves and nuts)
Panchamritam (mixture of milk, curd, ghee, honey, and sugar)
Kumkum, Turmeric, Chandan (sacred powders)
Associated Mantras
Mantra 1
Mantra Text
Om Sahasra Shirsha Purusha | Sahasraksha Sahasra Pat | Sa Bhumim Vishvato Vrutva | Atyatishthad Dasha Angulam || (Purusha Sukta - 1st Verse)
Meaning
The Purusha has a thousand heads, a thousand eyes, a thousand feet. He encompasses the Earth from all sides and transcends it by ten fingers (i.e., beyond all perception and comprehension).
Benefits
Invokes the omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient nature of the Supreme Being, leading to cosmic awareness, spiritual expansion, and the understanding of universal unity.
Mantra 2
Mantra Text
Om Namo Narayanaya
Meaning
Salutations to Lord Narayana (Vishnu).
Benefits
This is the powerful Moola Mantra (root mantra) for Lord Vishnu. Chanting it brings peace, prosperity, protection, and liberation (moksha). It aligns the devotee with the cosmic energy of Vishnu, promoting spiritual growth and fulfillment of righteous desires.
Mantra 3
Mantra Text
Om Narayana Vidmahe Vasudevaya Dhimahi | Tanno Vishnu Prachodayat ||
Meaning
We know Narayana; we meditate upon Vasudeva (son of Vasudeva, or Krishna). May Vishnu enlighten us.
Benefits
This is the Vishnu Gayatri Mantra. It invokes the wisdom, knowledge, and blessings of Lord Vishnu for spiritual enlightenment, discernment, and intellectual clarity. It is believed to guide the devotee towards righteous actions and divine understanding.
Auspicious Days
Ekadashi (The 11th day of each lunar fortnight, highly sacred to Lord Vishnu)
Thursdays (Guruvar, considered auspicious for Vishnu worship)
Purnima (Full Moon days, especially Kartika Purnima and Vaishakha Purnima)
Vishnu-related Festivals (e.g., Vaikuntha Ekadashi, Rama Navami, Krishna Janmashtami, Narasimha Jayanti, Akshaya Tritiya)
Auspicious Nakshatras (e.g., Shravana, Rohini, Punarvasu, Uttarabhadrapada)
Amrita Yoga & Siddha Yoga (auspicious time combinations in Vedic astrology)
Regional Variations
While the core recitation of the Purusha Sukta and the general structure of a Homam remain consistent across regions, minor variations may exist in: specific types of Samit used (depending on local availability of sacred trees), local culinary traditions for sweets/Prasadam, the number of verses chanted (some traditions may include additional Puranic or Upanishadic verses related to Purusha), subtle differences in the sequence of some minor ritual steps or specific intonations according to priestly lineage traditions, and the overall scale of the Homam (larger Homams might involve more priests, more extensive preparatory rituals, and longer periods of chanting).
Related Pujas
Vishnu Sahasranama Homam (Homam involving chanting of the 1000 names of Vishnu)
Sudarshana Homam (Homam performed for protection, removal of negative energies, and victory, invoking Vishnu's discus)
Lakshmi Narayana Homam (Homam performed for wealth, prosperity, harmony, and well-being, invoking Lakshmi and Narayana)
Narayana Bali / Moksha Narayan Bali (Rituals performed for ancestral peace and liberation, often incorporating aspects of Purusha Sukta)
Satyanarayana Puja (A simpler, popular ritual for prosperity, truth, and fulfillment of desires)