Avahanti Homa — Day 15 (3 Aug)

Significance

The Avahanti Homa is an invocation homa — Avahana meaning to summon and seat the divine presence — performed here as the second invocation offering of the brahmotsavam, distinct from the Aavahanti Homa of Day 4, with specific resonance to the Tanjavur tradition's own Agamic invocation practices.

The Avahanti Homa performed on the day of the Tanjavur Aadheenam invokes the presiding deities of the great Chola tradition — Paramashiva as Brihadeeswara — into the sacred fire. It is the formal Agamic invitation to Paramashiva to be present as the sovereign head of this brahmotsavam, continuing the unbroken tradition of Chola kings who began every sacred undertaking by invoking Paramashiva's direct presence. Through this homa, THE SPH's lineage connection to Tanjavur and the Chola Surya Vamsha is invoked into every devotee's awareness.

The Ritual

The priests perform the Avahana invocation within the consecrated Agni Kunda, formally summoning Paramashiva as Brihadeeswara — the presiding deity of the great Chola tradition — into the sacred fire. Oblations are offered to seat and honour the invoked presence as the sovereign head of the brahmotsavam, continuing the unbroken Chola practice of beginning every sacred undertaking with Paramashiva's direct presence.

Benefits

• Invokes Paramashiva as Brihadeeswara, the presiding deity of the Chola tradition, into the festival.
• Establishes Paramashiva as the sovereign presiding head of the brahmotsavam.
• Continues the unbroken Chola tradition of beginning every undertaking by invoking Paramashiva.
• Awakens in the devotee THE SPH's lineage connection to Tanjavur and the Chola Surya Vamsha.
• Charges the festival space with the Agamic heritage of the Brihadeeswara tradition.