Vedic Protection Rite – Baudhyavihara

Vedic Protection Rite – Baudhyavihara

Prior to this ritual, take the time to build a hearth fire, either in a fireplace or fire pit.  This fire will need to stay burning throughout the ritual.

Purification

Purify using incense: By the sacred fires, light of the brilliant sun, let this flame purify you. May you enter this space with a good heart.

Initiate the Rite  

Ring bell 3 times

Earth Mother

Prithvi, sacred mother of the earth, you are the giver of life.  Blossoming mother, broad and bountiful, you who support the mountains and encompass all life, from beginning to end.  Prithvi, be with us now. 

Statement of Purpose

We stand, feet firmly upon the earth, to protect this place.  We call upon the ancient rite of salagava to create a boundary of peace. Let us pray with good fire.

Recreating the Cosmos

We call now to the sacred fires that create the cosmos.  Sacred fire burning deep inside the earth, mysterious and ever changing.  Sacred sun high above, bright and life bringing.  Sacred hearth, fire that warms our hearts and our homes. Let our fires be connected, and this space made sacred.

Opening the Gates

I call now to Agni, guardian god of the flame, mouth of the Shining Ones, you who live on the earth as fire, in the sky as the sun, and in the atmosphere as lighting, we make these offerings to you and ask that you be with us now.  Join your magic with mine.  Let us step beyond the fire, and let the gates be open.

Three Kindreds

Vanaspati, lords of the forest, spirits of nature, vrksha, oshadhi, and virudha, you who share this realm with us, be with us now.  Welcome, Nature Spirits.

Make offering

Puurvaka, you who walked this land before us, spirits who live in our heart, you who share our blood and our story, be with us now.  Welcome, Ancestors. 

Make offering

Devas, heavenly divine, benevolent beings who are worthy of worship, you who share many lessons with us, be with us now.  Welcome, Shining Ones. 

Make offering

Key Offering

Rudra, god of the hunt, mightiest of the mighty.  Most frightening one with the most severe howl, you who are fierce like a formidable beast, be with us now.  Welcome, Rudra!

Make offering

Prayer of Sacrifice

Through our praise and devotion, we honor the Shining Ones.  Through our honor and respect we offer hospitality to the Nature Spirits.  Through our remembrance and love we praise the Ancestors.  Through our words and work we honor Rudra.  It is our hope that our offerings have conveyed our hospitality to you.  Kindreds all, we honor you.

Maker offering

Omen

Do a 3 stone draw to determine if my offerings have been accepted and to determine if I should continue with this working.

Blessing:

Let the blessings of the Vanaspati, growing and green flow into these waters.  Let the blessings of the Puurvaka, wise and devoted flow into these waters.  Let the blessings of the Devas, powerful and benevolent flow into these waters.  Let the blessings of Rudra, mighty and formidable flow into these waters.  Behold, the waters of life. 

Drink from the cup

Working

Tonight, we borrow from the Vedic rite of salagva to protect our home and ward against the malevolent and malcontent.  The fire is built to bring light and warmth to this space.  In salagva, a spotted cow was sacrificed to ask Rudra to avert evil from their land.  Tonight, we instead offer this meat to him, asking that he aid us in protecting our home.  Mighty Rudra, you with the fiercest roar, protect our boundaries and keep away those beings of mischief. 

Offer meat to the fire and let it burn completely through until the fire is extinguished and turned to ash.  Gather the ash and wrap it in cloth or other containers along with rice to distribute amongst the boundaries of your property.  These act as a ward, as well as continued offerings to Rudra for continued protection

As the sun rises upon this space, let it be bright and warm. I call upon the ancestors to show us how to be brave in the face of adversity. I call upon the nature spirits to show us how to be peaceful in times of hostility. I call upon the deities to show us how to be wise and speak truth about our paths.

Mighty Rudra, let this place be protected. 

Thanking the Beings

Fierce Rudra, mighty howler and protector, you bring peace to this space and comfort to our family.  May our relationship continue to grow together.  Thank you, Rudra. 

Devas, bright shining gods and goddesses, you bring blessings to this space and lessons to our family.  May our relationship continue to grow, together.  Thank you, Shining Ones.

Puurvaka, heroes, guides, guardians, you bring wisdom to this space and love to our family.  May our relationship continue to grow together.  Thank you, Ancestors.

Vanaspati, growing creatures of this earth, you bring growth this this space and sustenance to our family.  May our relationship continue to grow together.  Thank you, Nature Spirits. 

Closing the Gates

I call once more to Agni, god of lightning and the sun, thank you for joining us tonight.  You allowed our words to carry between the realms.  Thank you, Agni.  Now, I ask that you once more join your magic with mine.  Let us step back through the fire to return home, and let the gates be closed.

Thanking the Earth Mother

Prithvi, boundless earth, giver of life, you bring the ever changing cycles to this space, and life to our family.  May our relationship with you continue to grow together.  Thank you, Prithvi. 

Closing the Rite

Let this space and our family be protected.  Let our work please the Kindreds.  Let us pray with good fire.  And let this rite be closed. 

Ring bell 3 times