Purifying Through Fire: Creating a Fire Ceremony
The ancient Vedic culture, from which yoga is derived, has a long-standing tradition of rituals designed to pay homage to and communicate with the divine. In a Puja ceremony, one makes simple offerings in gratitude for the blessings they have received and to return a piece of these gifts back to spirit. In a Yajna, the ritual is more extensive. Here Brahman or Vedic priests communicate with specific aspects of the divine through the messenger Agni, the fire God. Yajnas, as prescribed in the Vedas, follow a specific template which include intention, offerings, and specific mantras to be recited. The following article describes the basic tenants of Yajna and Puja to provide a template for practitioners to create their own fire ceremony of purification and transformation.
1. Begin in Fullness
A central tenant in yoga is the notion of “purnam” or wholeness. All that exists arises from wholeness and is in itself whole. It is essential in our communion with spirit to understand that we are not separate from and seeking union; instead we are unified and remembering.
Purnam exists throughout the entire life cycle; from the blessing of a newborn baby to the cremation grounds of Varanassi, the wholeness of life is acknowledged through its entirety. As an individual soul, or atman, we go through a journey of transformation as our life unravels to reveal new layers of understanding. Regardless of one’s disposition, place in life, failures or successes, each individual is of “purnam” and as such, divinely whole. The practice of purification serves to dissolve the illusion of separation and bring the aspirant back into their knowing of wholeness.
Application
As you prepare your body and mind for fire ceremony, do so from the intrinsic understanding that you are whole exactly as you are. Bring your whole self forward. Allow all parts of you, from the beautiful to unseemly, to open to the direction and guidance of spirit.
2. Clarity of Purpose
The potency of Yajna and Puja rituals is derived from their depth of intent and purpose. Refined over thousands of years, these practices imbue artful intention into every action. The ultimate purpose of Yajna is, as Sri Shri Ravi Shankar says is, “to bring only good to you and others… to purify our mind, our life, and our actions.” We practice to honor the divine and communicate our willingness to be guided by spirit.
Application
Through meditation or journaling, get really clear on your intention for this ceremony. What does it mean to truly bring good to yourself and others? Feel the vibration of your intention in your cells and allow the experience to imprint in your psyche. This intention will now permeate into all your preparations.
3. Offerings
Offerings in Puja and Yajna ceremonies are made to honor the divine. Seemingly simple gifts, such as rice, fruit, or flowers, communicate deep gratitude for the blessings one has received and the wish to share these back with the divine. Each offering is empowered by the understanding that every gift is offered to the wholeness from which we arise.
Application
Gather items that represent the gifts you have received. Bits of food, money, and flowers may represent your nourishment, comfortable life, and the beauty of your world. You could also make a different type of offering by writing a letter of gratitude or creating a piece of art. The more significant an offering is to you the more meaning it will carry in ceremony.
4. Invocation and Chanting
Recitation of mantra and invocation of the divine is standard in Vedic ceremony. The invocation connects to a specific deity, or universal consciousness, through sanskritmantras. Sanskrit is an ancient energetic language which contains 50 syllables, each connecting to an aspect of the energetic body. Recitation of specific mantra acts as a key to unlock or unveil the divine within. Just as a kind word can impact an individual, mantras have the power to create an energetic shift. What makes a mantra truly impactful is the presence and devotion of the aspirant.
Application
There are many ways to choose a mantra or prayer for ceremony. You can connect with a specific deity, universal consciousness, even an English prayer or affirmation. Feel into your purpose for this ceremony. Which method resonates with you?
Connecting with an aspect of the Divine
Choose a mantra based on a deity with whom you resonate. For example; Durga is a warrior goddess who contains all the virtues of masculine and feminine. She slays demons with strength and ferocity while remaining infinitely compassionate and releasing their karmic debt. A mantra for Durgais “Om Dum Durgayei Namaha.” Other deities and mantras include; Ganesh, the remover of obstacles “Om Gam Ganapataye Namaha”; Shiva, the destroyer of evil “Om Namah Shivaya”; and Saraswati, the goddess of music and wisdom, “Om aim Sarasawatyai Namaha.”
Use a Universal Mantra
- “Aum” an auspicious sound which contains the energy of the universe
- Gayatri mantra: this mantra is considered the “Mother of the Vedas”
- Mahamrityunjaya mantra: this mantra is often used for healing
- Purnamadah mantra: a mantra to connect us to the wholeness of all
Create your own Mantra
Think of a short prayer or affirmation that has real meaning to you and connects with your intention. This can be recited in song or speech during the ceremony.
5. The Messenger of Fire
Agni, the fire God, is considered a direct messenger to the spiritual realm. In the presence of Agni, our actions of arriving in wholeness, honoring the divine, and offering gifts of gratitude, are directly translated to spirit. Through this practice we purify the individual and collective consciousness.
Application
Prepare a place for the fire to burn. A clay pot, fireplace, outdoor firepit, or even a candle could be used. If you plan on placing your offerings into the fire be sure that your space is well ventilated and that all safety precautions have been taken. Prepare your space for ceremony. You will need your offerings, mantra preparations, a comfortable seat, a clean space, and something to start the fire with.
6. Executing your Fire Ceremony
With preparations complete, you are ready to begin your ceremony. Read the following list before you begin to keep the execution smooth.
- Light the fire and sit before it with eyes closed.
- Bring your whole self forward. In recognition of wholeness, bring all the pieces of yourself and your world forward as an offering to the divine. Become fully present in the moment.
- State your intention either aloud or internally.
- Make your offerings. As you place each offering into the fire connect to your gratitude.
- Recite your mantra aloud or in silence and open yourself to the wisdom of spirit. It is considered auspicious to repeat mantras in increments of 108. You can use a mala to help you keep count.
- Take time in silence. Gaze softly into the flames and allow the magic of Agni to penetrate your heart and spirit. This is a time to listen and purify. Allow thoughts and emotions to pass through you like clouds drifting across the sky as you remain present to the fire.
- Give yourself time; this practice can lend to a myriad of emotions from cathartic releases to feelings of distraction. Give yourself time to go through it all and offer all of it up to the flame
- End in gratitude. Thank the fire and universal consciousness for receiving you. Close by bowing before the flame in gratitude.
Rituals of the Vedic tradition offer methods for an aspirant to connect with the divine. Through Agni we may share our deepest intentions to the spirit realm and know ourselves and each other in wholeness. We honour this tradition by seeking deeper understanding of it’s tenants and practicing our own ceremonies with clear intent and a sincere wish to support the good of all.
Mantra Music for Ceremony
About the Author
Vernal Equinox: Rhythm And Ritual Through Yoga
Over the course of each year, our playful planet performs an elliptic dance around the sun while simultaneously spinning about its own imperfect axis, which tilts roughly 23 degrees from vertical. Born of the primordial fire, the terms of this intricate cosmic relationship are responsible for all of the natural rhythms that inform our daily lives — from changing weather patterns to reliable zeitgebers that regulate our internal clocks.
“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”
-John Muir
THE STORY OF A BLUE SPHERE AND A FIERY MASS
As Earth diligently revolves around the sun each year, there are four distinct sandhis, or junctures, where a clear seasonal shift occurs from our terrestrial perspective. The vernal equinox is one such juncture, marking the transition from winter to spring.
As we welcome the appearance of new life in nature, many of us remain blissfully unaware. We may neglect or even override the innate curiosity that seeks to understand how our cozy blue sphere and its fiery solar star orchestrate this magnificent show year after year. The truth is, when it comes to their relationship status, “it’s complicated.”
A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO VISUALIZATION
Imagine yourself sitting in a camping chair with your feet warmed by the heat of a well-burning fire. Fortunately, you’re equipped with a warm scarf and hat to dull the chill you might otherwise experience as you recline back (at exactly 23.4°) to enjoy the stars. Now, without adjusting the direction your chair is facing, imagine yourself orbiting around the focal fire to the opposite side, giving the back of your head a chance to enjoy the warmth of the flame.
If your feet were the southern hemisphere and your head were the northern hemisphere, these two positions would represent the winter solstice (with more heat reaching the bottom half of your body) and the summer solstice (with more heat reaching the top half of your body) respectively.
To visualize the vernal equinox, imagine your chair were to revolve just a quarter of the way around this campfire circle. In this position, your body would be leaning neither toward nor away from the fire and the projected plane of your navel (the equator of your body) might pass directly through the center of the glow. Also, the light reaching one side of your body would match the darkness on the opposite side, much like the day and night which are of approximately equal length on the equinox.
Still confused? Don’t sweat it, simply allow yourself to enjoy the fruits of spring with a deep knowing that there are some wildly wonderful forces at play.
