Special homams mark end of Sagnikam Athirathram

KODAKARA(THRISSUR): Avabhrutha Snanam (holy dip), special homams for propitiating God Agni and the setting fire to the four Yagasalas marked the end of the 12-day Sagnikam Athirathram near the Kaimukku Mana at Mattathurkunnu near here on Tuesday midnight amid the chanting of Veda Mantras.The Sagnikam Athirathram was conducted for the welfare of the entire humanity and for maintaining the ecological equilibrium of the Earth. The Athirathram was unique as it was conducted after a period of around 112 years in the Aaswalayana (Pakazhiyam)-Boudhayana tradition.Yajamanan Kaimukku Vaidikan Raman Akkithiri, Yajamana Patni Aryadevi Pathanadi, over 45 Rithwiks and Acharyas and hundreds of people took holy dip (Avabhrutha Snanam) in the Kurumali River (Nandinippuzha) nearby the Yagasala on Tuesday afternoon after the conclusion of the homams of the morning session.The holy dip was followed by some special homams by the Yajamanan who was assisted by the Rithwiks. Later, the Yajamanan, the Yajamana Patni and all the Rithwiks and the Acharyas walked out of the Yagasala and moved to the Kaimukku Mana with the Threthagni.The Yajamanan had already infused the Athirathram Threthagni into the Arani wood pieces during the final homams performed just before moving out of the Yagasala. The Rithwiks later set the four Yagasalas on fire. The Yajamanan and the Rithwiks made fire by churning the Arani pieces and performed a small homam after reaching the Kaimukku Mana for continuing the regular homams everyday at the Mana. Thousands of people from different walks of life had visited the Athirathram Yagasala to witness the Yagam which had begun on April 23. Athiratham Yajamanan Kaimukku Raman Somayajippad was proclaimed as Raman ‘Akkithiri’ after his Abhishekam by the Adhwaryu late in the night on Sunday after Madhyandina Savanam and the offering of the Ekadasa Purodasams in the fire on the 10th night of the Yagam.‘Akkithiri’ is the title being conferred on a Somayaji who performs an Athirathram. The Threthagni from the homakundams at the Mana had been brought to the Yagasala by the Yajamanan and the Yajmana Patni to light the homakundams on April 23 to begin the Athirathram. The Yaga was conducted under the auspices of the Threthagni Foundation, a Kodakara-based Charitable Trust.