According to Indian scripture, the human life runs on the philosophy of Yagya from birth to the end. In Indian culture conceiving (garbhdhan) is also a kind of Yagya and so the funeral (anteyeshti). There are three root meanings of word Yagya i.e. to worship (dev poojan), to harmonize (sangatikaran) and to bestow (daan karma).
As per the Panini Grammar the root (dhatu) of the word Kund implies for meanings (1) protective place rakshanarthkudi (2) object of the measurement (manarthkkun) and (3) the opening place, nurturer, place of fire, pot for water (koshkaar Kund) etc. for the perspective of Yagya, it is taken as the place for fire of Hawan (Yagya).
Thus, Vedic literature describes Kund as a medium to offer havi (offerings) to divine and the whole process as Yagya. This Vedic ritual Yagya includes very strict mathematical measurement for every part of the ritual. The size of Mandap is dependent on the size of the Kund and the size of the Kund is dependent on the number of offerings. The number of offerings is dependent on the spiritual penance (Dharm-anushthan) it was meant for.
In Bhavishya Purana; Kund Mandap Siddhi described total 10 types of shapes (1) Circular /Vrittakaar Kund for peace,
(2) Semi-circular / Ardhchandrakar for welfare, (3) Vulvar shape / Yoni Kund to get progeny (child) and to treat women diseases (4) Trigonal shape / Trayasra to win over enemies, (5) Lotus shaped / AbajKund (Padma) to induce health, peace, wealth, positive outcome, rain, (6) Square shaped /Chatursra Kund for everything good, (7) Pentagonal shaped / Panchasra Kund for peace from enemey energies, (8) Hexagonal / Shadasra / vishamshadastra for defying enemies (Uchhedan and maran karma) (9) Heptagonal / Saptakar Kund to treat psychological disorder (bhoot dosha shanti) and (10) starshaped Octagonal /Ashtasra Kund (vishamashtashtra) to attain good health.
Different shapes of Kund provide the Yagyakarta (person, who is doing the Yagya) different results. The person (Yagyakarta) chooses the shape of Kund on the basis of results he or she wants from the Yagya. The shape of the Yagya Kund is decided based on the purpose of the Yagya, while the size is decided based on the total offerings given to the fire.
Shape of Yagya Kund as per the person class (cast); In Vedic times, the cast system was based on the deeds and not based on birth. There are plenty of examples person born to one class choose the action of the other class. Regardless, each type of class required different spiritual and materialistic energy and hence, different Kund shapes were recommended for different class. Besides it also indicated that Yagya was compulsory part of their life regardless of their class system.
In 'Sharda Tilak’ describes the utilization of different Yagya Kund shape by different category of people as follows (3) - It means Brahmin should do Yagya in square shape Kund (chaturstra Kund), Kshatriya should do in circle Kund (vrattakar Kund), Vaishya should do in semi circle Kund (ardhchandrakar Kund), shudra should do in triangle Kund (trikona Kund) and females should do in Yoni Kund.
The importance of Havana is stated in approximately 114 Mantras in the Saam Veda. According to the Yajur Veda, Havana is the most effective, appropriate, and beneficial deed. According to the Vedas, the only ways to achieve Moksha (salvation) or Self-realization are by Yajna or Yagnya and the Gayatri Mantra. There are several mantras linked to Yajna in each of the four Vedas. The root “Yaj” is the source of the word “Yajna.” According to the Yajur Veda mantra “Yajudevapujasangatikaranadaaneyshu,” the word “Yaj” has three meanings.
During the study analysis, it was observed that Vedic texts used mathematical knowledge from various streams such as astrology, trigonometry, geometry, etc in the construction of Yagya Kund. The size of Yagya Kund is directly propositional to the number of offerings to be done. Yagya Kund must have capacity to hold that volume of offerings and at the end of the Yagya, Yagya Kund should be filled 2/3 of the total size and height.
In the construction of Yagya Kund in Vedic times the mathematical formulas had particular units such as Liksha, Yuka, Yava, Angul, Hast. These units helped in doing construction of fine and complex shaped Yagya Kund (1 Hast is 24 Angul and 1 Angul as 2.0 cm)
Bhavishya Purana (2) and Sharda Tilak (chapter 3 shloka 82-83) (3) described - if you have to offer 50 to 99 offerings then make rattipraman Kund (21 Angul), for 100 to 999 offering make aratnipraman Kund (22 Angul), for 1000 to 9999 offering make 24 Angul (1 Hast) Kund, for 10,000 to 99,999 offering make two ‘Hast’ Kund, for 100,000 to 999,999 offerings make 4 ‘Hast’ Kund, for 10,00,000 to 99,99,999 offerings make 6 ‘Hast’ Kund, and if the offerings are over 99,99,999 then make 8 ‘Hast’ Kund. (Kund Mandap Siddhi 4; 8).
According to the Yajurveda, there are four types of items that are commonly used to prepare offerings for a Havan (1) Sweets such as honey, jaggery, and raw sugar (2) Antibiotic herbs such as gyol and others (3) Nutrients such as pure ghee, dried fruits, and so on (4) Fragrant products such as cardamom, dried petals, and herbs, to name a few.
There are approximately 70 different types of ingredients in Hawan Samagri (things); Wood of Agar, Anwala, Bach, Baheda, Bawarchi, Bay Leaves, Cardamom Green, Chharil, Cloves, Daru, Haldi, Deodar, Dhawai Phool, Dry Coconut or Nariyal, Dry Eucalyptus leaves, Guggul, Guruch, Harr or Hara, Howber, Indra Jau, Jara Kush, Jata Masi or Balchhad, Kamal Gatta, Kapoor Kachari, Nag Keshar, Nagarmotha, Nutmeg, Sandalwood, Sugandh Bala, Sugandh Kokila, Sugandh Mantri, Tagar Wood, Talish Patra, Tej Bal Wood, Tomad Bee
(Dry the leaves and roots).
‘In the Age of Kali, intelligent persons perform Sankirtana Yajna (congregational chanting) to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Kṛishna. He is accompanied by His associates, servants and confidential companions. (Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.32)
Authored by Dr Anadi Sahoo
