No Yajna without the Cow

Abhishekam is part of devotional worship. Agamas and puranas are the authority for the same. More than all that, the basic authority for our religion are the Vedhas. Without the support of the Vedhas, agamas and puranas cannot have a status of being the authority.

If it is thought that Vedhas are meant only for our country, there cannot be a greater mistake. Vedhas are recited only in our country and only if Vedha karmas are performed here in Bharath (which is karmabhumi), they are fruitful. But the fruit is not only for this country. We do Vaidhika karmas here keeping in mind the good of the entire world.

Just as the blood flows from the heart to all parts of the body, the Vaidhika anushtanas we observe here bestow welfare on the whole world. In other words, the world will be there only if the Vedhas are there. The welfare of the world depends on the yajnas and other Vaidhika karmas done here. There need be no doubt about it. Yajnas give life to the whole world. Two things are very necessary for the same. One is the person who performs the yajnam (yajamanan) and the other is the cow that gives the important materials to be used in the yajna.

The important ‘ahuthi’ offered in yajna is the cow’s ghee. All the things that are offered in yajnam have the common name ‘havis’. But ‘havis’ particularly means the cow’s ghee. Even the other things are offered only after cleaning them with ghee.

In agnihothram and other yajnas, cow’s milk is offered in the homam. Curd is also used in the homa. If ghee, milk and curd become homa themselves in the fire, it is the cow dung cake that keeps the fire glowing. Therefore, if there is no cow, there will be no yajna.