Frisco, TX: Global Hindu Heritage Foundation has invited Shri P.V.R Narasimha Rao to talk about the importance of Homa rituals, their historical significance, and practical demonstrations of conducting Homa. He is a world-famous Vedic astrologer, a Fire Yogi, and a Sanskrit Scholar. He has a B.Tech. Degree from IIT, Madras, and a master’s degree from Rice University, Houston, USA, and works near Boston as a senior engineering manager at a top semiconductor firm. Making rituals, especially fire rituals, easily accessible to everyone interested in spiritual progress is his mission. Dharma Jagruthi is proud to be a platinum sponsor for the event.

It was well attended. More than 350 people attended, listened attentively and submitted several questions. A few of them were answered by him.

For decades, it has been his mission to propagate the importance of Conducting Homas. He simplified the ritual so that almost any interested person could perform it by himself not only for his spiritual, physical, and health benefits but also for Loka Kalyanam (human welfare).

Following a lengthy lecture on the importance of homa, he performed homa himself on the stage to demonstrate how to perform homa. As he was doing homa, he mentioned to whom we needed to do homa. Is it one God, or can we do it for multiple gods?

We got a chance to felicitate Dr.Prakash Rao garu President of GHHF.

What can Homa do for us?

Homa activates the internal fire by resonance and burns one’s conditioning. Depending on the density of conditioning, it can empower one’s free will, give calmness and clarity, speed up spiritual progress, or even give experience of God.

He suggested that one should not eat anything in the one or two hours before homa and should stick to vegetarian food. Eating meat or eating just before a homa will make the digestive fire burn strongly, limiting the amount of energy left for the internal fire needed for burning conditioning.

During homa, one should visualize to the best of one’s ability that God is in fire and receiving one’s offerings and removing one’s conditioning.

After the homa is done, a local maximum in one’s purity level is created. One can sit still with a straight back and closed eyes and meditate for a while.

There are no caste restrictions. Anyone can perform Homa and reap the benefits. Brahmarshi Vishwaamitra was born a Kshatriya but became a Brahmana. Maharshi Valmiki was a Shudra who became a Brahmana. There are many such examples.

If one does homa regularly for spiritual progress and for dharmic material results that enable one’s spiritual progress, one will eventually become a brahmana.

Is Guru Needed: If one receives a mantra or a procedure from the mouth of a master, it is analogous to a millionaire opening a bank account in his son’s name with a high starting balance. If one does not receive a mantra or a procedure from the mouth of a master, it is analogous to starting with a zero-bank balance. While it is helpful to start with a positive balance.

Can women do Homa? 

There is no restriction. Men and women can perform Homas. The need to purify one’s body is identical. There is a reference in Ramayana where Kausalya was doing homa for the welfare of her son Rama after she came to know of her son’s coronation.  

One can start a fire, imagining that it is sacred and that god is in it, and meditate in front of it. One should begin with Maha Ganapathi, who helps us avoid and overcome life obstacles. You can also make offerings to multiple Gods. Depending on one’s time, they can offer to either one God or various gods.

He also suggested going to his website and downloading all the manuals free of cost and starting doing homa.