Pranahuti (Pre-meal ritual)

Pranahuti (Sanskrit: प्राणाहुति, romanizedPrāṇāhuti) is a ritual of reciting a mantra (hymn), offering food that is about to be consumed, to the five pranas. It is mostly practiced by orthodox Brahmins before consuming their meal.[1] It is also performed at the time of Śrāddha, a ritual of homage to one's ancestors.[2]

Description

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The prescribed manner of recitation of the Pranahuti is explained in the Mahanarayana Upanishad. The first step of this recitation includes this mantra:[3][4]

śraddhāyāṁ prāṇe niviṣṭo'mṛtaṁ juhomi
śraddhāyāmapāne niviṣṭo'mṛtaṁ juhomi
śraddhāyāṁ vyāne niviṣṭo'mṛtaṁ juhomi
śraddhāyāmudāne niviṣṭo'mṛtaṁ juhomi
śraddhāyāɱ samāne niviṣṭo'mṛtaṁ juhomi
brahmaṇi ma ātmāmṛtatvāya

— Mahanarayana Upanishad, Section 69, 1

Firm in my religious faith, I have offered this oblation of ambrosia into Prana with reverence: O Prana, increase the power of my in-breath by this food! Firm in my religious faith, I have offered this oblation of ambrosia into Apana with reverence: O Apana, increase the power of my out-breath with this food! Firm in my religious faith, I have offered this oblation of ambrosia into Vyana with reverence: O Vyana, increase the power of my diffused breath with this food! Firm in my religious faith, I have offered this oblation of ambrosia into Udana with reverence: O Udana, increase the power of my up-breath with this food! Firm in my religious faith, I have offered this oblation of ambrosia into Samana with reverence: O Samana, increase the power of my middle breath with this food!

According to the author's commentary, this mantra is repeated and a small quantity of water is sipped before an adherent starts eating. Anything that the devotee considers precious or valuable is placed in a container and covered. A small quantity of water taken in is supposed to be an upastarana (seat), on which subsequent morsels are placed. After sipping the water, oblations are offered.

References

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  1. ^ Mahanarayana Upanisad. Sri Ramakrishna Math. 1968. p. 292. ISBN 978-0-87481-492-7.
  2. ^ "Brahman Bhojan, Agnoukaran & Pindapujan Ritual". Hindu Janajagruti Samiti. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  3. ^ La Mahā Nārāyaṇa Upaniṣad. p. 120.
  4. ^ https://vedantastudents.com (2017). Vedanta Students. p. 133. {{cite book}}: External link in |last= (help)