Yagnya
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Hinduism has believed in a strict process in which Gods can be propitiated and appeased to bless mankind. Almost all of these processes involve worship of fire which is revered in Hinduism as the purest of entities (fire burns anything that touches it, so remains purest eternally).
A square brick pit is made anywhere between 0.5ft by 0.5ft to 6ft by 6ft on a level ground, cleansed with cow dung, and water earlier. The brick pit is usually "above-the-ground" kind (as opposed to be dug into the ground) and is just about a foot high.
Fire is lit in this brick pit initially by burning specific medicinal herbs and saints/priests who have this specific knowledge chant mantras, sometimes for weeks at end, continuously and as they chant, clarified butter, more medicinal herbs, sometimes even coconuts, are poured into the fire, rejuvenating its flames.
It is staunchly believed that the rising flames take the power of the chanted mantras and the energy of all the good stuff being poured into them to the skies, beyond the divine realms to the Gods who in turn, pleased with the devotion, gift mankind with what the mankind desires.
The mantras could be about seeking blessings for:
- Rain
- Children
- End to famine
- Victory in war to the King
- Great annual worships in Temples
The sanskrit word for this kind of worship is Yagnya (Yag-Nya).
