Guide to Pujas, Festivals and Homas

Thila Homam is a powerful Vedic ritual performed for the peace of souls of the ancestors and family members who died unnaturally. It is also a remedy for someone who is suffering from Pitru Dosha in his/her horoscope. Rameshwaram is the main place for performing Thila Homam.

These unusual deaths may be because of:

• accidents
• drowning
• burning
• poisonous bite of deadly creatures
• suicide
• premature death
• killed by strangling the neck or weapons
• died at the time of delivery or/and
• left home due to madness

In all the above cases, the dead soul waits desperately to become free from the evil powers of hell.

Devotees also believe that these souls are haunting or roaming in space and thus the Shastras advice the Thila Homam as a remedy to give the soul peace and to relieve it from negative forces. The Homam helps the soul find its way to rebirth or sends such a soul back to the lotus feet of God.

Who should perform Thila Homam?

Here’s the list of people who should perform Thila Homam:

1. Someone whose ancestors died unnaturally.
2. People with intense problems due to powerful enemies.
3. Someone whose forefathers have not achieved peace because of the evil deeds they did during their lifespan.
4. People with Pitra Dosha (Ancestor Dosha).
5. Someone who has not performed Shradhh ceremony for ancestors.
6. A person whose forefathers are causing unhappiness in their lives like delaying in settling down in a job, late marriage, delayed child birth, disobedient children or children giving troubles or suffer ailments, disharmony with family members and between couples, more unwanted expenditure than income, have legal proceedings and often occurrence of accidents.

Thila Homam Benefits

Here is the list of benefits of Thila Homam:

1. It helps in providing relief to the dead souls and protects them from the clutches of hell.
2. Also, it helps in driving away from the sufferings of the dead souls.
3. It provides immediate relief from the unexplained sufferings and worries.
4. The homam also brings good wishes and blessings for a happy, healthy and unhindered successful life from these alleviated souls.

When should I perform Thila Homam?

The Homam can take place any day if you are performing in Rameshwaram.

The most auspicious time is in Mahalaya Amavasya which is an annual ritual that is celebrated 15 days before Navaratri. It is known as the Pitru Paksha in most of India.

Thila Homam can be performed as per tithi (time of death) and if that is not known then it can be performed on any Amavasya.

What is the procedure for Thila Homam?

Here’s how to perform Thila Homam:

1. The priests at Rameshwaram perform the Thila Homam by following the Vedic customs to dispose-off the challenges emerging because of Pitra Dosha.
2. The relatives of the departed soul perform the Homam.
3. The major ritual involves offering the Bali Tharpanam to the ancestors in a Vedic ceremony while chanting the mantras.
4. Next, the priest offers the homam samagri to the Agni while chanting mantras and it mainly involves the offering of ‘Til’ or ‘Elu’.
5. Only learned Tamil Brahmans of the Ramanatha Swamy Temple in Rameshwaram, Sri Parasurama Temple in Thiruvananthpuram, Janardhana Swami Temple in Varkala or the Thinaavaya Temple in Malappuram should perform these rituals.

How long does it take to perform Thila Homam?

It takes around 2 hours to perform Thila Homam.

What dress should I wear while performing Thila Homam?

Men should wear dhoti. Women should wear a saree or salwar. The dress that you wear while performing Thila Homam should be let off in the river after the Homam.

What are the materials required for performing Thila Homam?

The major ingredients of the Thila Homam are sesame seeds or ‘Til’ or ‘Ellu’, Homam or Havan samagri and all the holy materials that one needs to offer to the Agni Dev or the Holy fire while chanting mantras.

Where to perform Thila Homam?

Thila Homam needs to be performed at Rameshwaram which is the most powerful place for the Homam. If you are planning on performing the ritual in Rameshwaram then you should let us know at least a week in advance so that we can make the arrangements.

After the Homam, the ashes of the dead are mixed in holy seawater as it is believed that the dead soul will rest in peace and get salvation only at this spot.

The ritual takes place once in a lifetime, unlike other death ceremonies that take place annually or monthly. The new moon rituals can be performed regularly like any other auspicious Homa or Pooja but not the Thila Homam.

Rameshwaram is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas in India out of which 5 jyotirlingas are in Maharashtra.

What is the cost of Thila Homam?

Major costs of the Thila Homam are that of the ingredients and Dakshana for the priests.

If the homam takes place at the Rameshwaram temple, then below are the detailed costs.

Cost primarily depends on the count of chants performed during the homam. The cost of Brahmins is more due to the additional procedures required.

Thila Homam	Price Range
1008 Count	₹12000 – 15000
3000 Count	₹15000 – 17000
6000 Count	₹18000 – 22000
10000 Count	₹24000 – 27000

In addition to Thila Homam, below are the optional rituals that are performed and their costs.

Ritual	Price Range
Sudarshana Homam 1008 Count	₹12000 – 15000
Sarpa Shanthi, Rahu Ketu Shanthi	₹12000 – 15000
Naga Prathista (including idol)	₹17000 – 22000
Swayamvara Kalaa Parvathi (For delay in marriage) / Kalathra Dosham	₹12000 – 15000
Thithi/Sraddam/Divasam (Yearly ceremony)	₹5000 – 15000
Hiranya Sradham	₹5000 – 7000
Theertha Sradham	₹15000 – 17000
Kasi Yatra Sankalpam / Saikata Pooja in Dhanushkoti	₹6000 – 8000
Ganga Pooja with Rudra Paarayanam	₹5000 – 7000

Sudarshana Homam is a Hindu ritual involving fire. Participating in Sudarshana Homam helps a person destroy negativity, gives him victory over the enemies, and protects against the evil eye.

The homam grants purification and helps in restoring energies and health. It also promotes success and provides deep levels of purification.

Sudarshana Homam owes it’s origin to the Sudharshana Chakra which is among the major psychic weapons of Lord Vishnu who is the preserver as well as the sustainer of the Universe. Lord Vishnu has always been portrayed as holding the mighty Sudharshana Chakra which is a kind of a wheel, in one of his hands. This is his weapon and he always triumphantly flings it at the negative forces to forcefully slice them with a spinning motion.

According to Hindu scriptures, the Sudharshana Chakra originated from the extra shavings from the Sun God, Surya. Saint Vishwakarma created a few powerful golden objects from the Surya Deva including the Sudharshana Chakra. Devotees also believe that the weapon had 108 serrated edges. The Sudharshana Chakra is a mighty weapon that had the power of a million suns.

Who should perform Sudarshana Homam?

A person should perform Sudarshana Homam if he/she:

• needs relief from the evil eye
• needs relief from the intense problems due to powerful enemies
• requires protection from any strong and negative interference which could be in the waking state, sleep state or dream state
• wants a lot of wealth
• wants a strong victory or highly successful results
• wishes to get rid of health issues
• wants to pursue deeper experiences of purification
• wants to work for the people and community

Sudarshana Homam Benefits

Here’re the benefits of participating in Sudarshana Homam:

• Sudarshana Homam helps gain prosperity
• It helps in healing the body and provides rejuvenation of health
• Moreover, it helps in the purification from the harmful and toxic energies
• Sudarshana Homam helps to achieve sincere desires
• It provides also huge victory and immense success with manifestations
• Further, it provides immediate relief from the unexplained sufferings or worries
• The Homam also helps in providing protection from the powerful enemies and evil eye

When should I perform Sudarshana Homam?

One can also perform the homam on Ekadashi, Dwadashi, and Poornima. Also on the dates that fall on a Wednesday and Saturday or during Buddha Horas are also favorable for performing the Sudarshana Homa.

What is the procedure for performing Sudarshana Homam?

The Sudarshana Homam is the best protection from all the evils, dosha nivaran and to get relief from the troubles from enemies, evil eye, black magic, and fear. It also helps in persecution by evil spirits and health problems.

Here’s how to perform Sudarshana Homam:

1. The Homam starts with the recitation of the Sudarsana Manthra Japam.
2. Recitation of the Sudarshana Ashtottharam which starts with the Sudarsanaya Nama and concludes with the Naarayaanakrupavyuha Tejaschakraya Nama, takes place.
3.  After that, the priest makes you take the Sri Sudarsana Homa Maha Sankalpa where you invoke the deities to bless you.
4.  After that the priest invokes all the deities including Lord Kumbam, Lord Varuna, Goddess Lakshmi, Lord Narayana and Lord Sudarsana and performs the Shodasopachara Aaradhanam.
5. Agni Prathishtai follows this.
6. Then the homam starts with the Sri Sudarsana Shadakshari performed 108 times with aahuthi
7. After all the Aahutis, the Poornahuthi takes place which is the conclusion of the Homam
8. After the Poornahuthi, all the spectators go around the Agni Kuntam and recite Sri Sudarsan Ashtakam.
9. The Bhasmam from the homam is then worn on the forehead protection this the homam concludes here.

What are the materials required for Sudarshana Homam?

The major requirements for the Homam are the Sudarshana Yantra, which is worshiped with Sudarshana Mantra Japa. The Homam requires the Homa samagri including molten butter, herbs, and sticks of certain trees that one needs to offer into the sacrificial fire along with the powerful chanting of mantras.

Apart from this the offerings to Lord Sudarshan also include fruits, flowers, incense sticks, and the Naivedhyam Prasad. Pooja of the owner of Sudarshan, Lord Vishnu has to be performed with Tulsi leaves.

Where to Perform Sudarshana Homam?

This Homam should take place at a Mahavishnu temple by a professional priest. If you want it to take place at your home, then you need to consult a learned Brahman.

Can I perform Sudarshana Homam at home?

Yes, you certainly can perform the Homam at home. However, please take the help of a learned pandit and perform at home.

What is the cost of Sudarshana Homam?

Major costs of the Homam are that of the ingredients and dakshina for priests. The ingredients cost somewhere between Rs. 2000/- to Rs. 3500/-. Thus the total cost of the Homam is less than Rs. 10,000/-. If the homam takes place at the temple, then there could be additional fees.

What is Sudarshana Homam Mantra?

To get blessings of Lord Sudarshana, it is advised to chant this mantra daily. Here are the Sudarshana Homam Mantra Lyrics.

Om Namo Bhagavathe Mahasudarshanaya Deepthre,

Jwalapareethaya Sarvadigshobhanakaraya Brahmane Para Jyothishe,

Hum Paht Swaha

Sudarshana Homam in Tamil

This Homam takes place in all major Indian languages and Tamil is one of them. Please consult a Tamil Pandit.