“Thila” means sesame or “yellu” in tamil. “Homa” means yaga. Sesame is the grain used to invite the ancestors in the act of performing last rits. So, while performing thilahoma, chanting mantras and offering sesame to agni, we pray to Lord Mahavishnu that the souls of our ancestors attain “Mukthi” or “SathGathi” (Remains at the lotus feet of Lord Mahavishnu).So, by doing thila homa, we get blessings from our ancestors and also our prayers will be fulfilled.

WHY SHOULD ONE DO THILA HOMAM IN RAMESWARAM?

According to Karma Theory, It is our action of Virtue causes Punya and our action of Sin causes Papa. Jeevatma, An individual is the mixture of both Punya and papa karmas, who takes Birth-Death cycle, having Father-Son Relationship, and also experiencing Pleasure and Pain in his/her real life.

The horoscope shows these karmic benefits as a tool. The position of planets reflects his action of virtue as punya karma by favouring their wishes and his action of Sins as Papa karma through Dosha. So if one having pitru dosha in his/her Horoscope, It can be caused by certain karma of their family or their ancestors. Pitru Dosha is predicted by the position of Shani, Surya and the kulika in the horoscope.

Some factors are listed,
1. It can happen if someone in our family or in the past died by accident, suicide or untimely death.

2. Sthree shapa(Curse of a woman)– If any kanya(virgin woman), GarbaSthree(pregnant woman) or Sumangali woman died with disappointments.

3. Leaving prescribed duties for ancestors last rites like funeral karmas, thithi, tarpana, Shraaddham etc.

Benefits of doing Thila homam in Rameswaram

1. Getting Marriage.

2. For Childbirth (Vamsha Vriddhi)

3. Economical growth in Business & Employment, by removing all forms of related barriers.

4. Overcome family issues and sustain happiness in the family.

5. There will be a favorable solution to the problem of land and property issues.

6. Doing this on a pilgrimage to Rameswaram yatra includes Moorthi Dharshan, Theertha Snanam and Sthala pooja will multiplies our punyas and family well-being.

AUSPICIOUS DAYS TO DO THILA HOMAM IN RAMESWARAM
In Rameshwaram, this puja is performed every day. Some people prefers to do this pooja in following days.

1. Amavasya

2. Krishna Paksha Ashtami

3. Barani Nakshatra (star of Lord YamaDharmaRaja)

4. Ekadashi

Thilahomam – Complete pooja procedure:

1. GANESHA PUJA
In thilahoma, We do begin with the Ganesh Puja, in order to overcome all the obstacles and to attain Kaarya Siddhi as well as its benefit.

2. SANKALPAM
The person performing this puja should recite the Names, Nakshatra and Rashi of his whole family and pray to fulfill their benefits through which the puja is performed.

3. PUNYAHAVACHANA
In this pooja, we worship Lord Varuna and sprinkle kalasha theertha for the sake of the purity of our mind, body and the puja surroundings.

4. PITRU PUJA
First, we do pooja for Lord YamaDharma Raja in a Silver Bimba. Then, in his shrine, the worshiper recites the names of the deceased ancestors in his family and invokes their souls in male and female forms.

5.KALASHA POOJA:
Inviting and performing pooja for Lord Vishnu&Lakshmi, Lord shiva & Parvati, Lord Adisheshar, Lord Shani Bhagvan, Lord Atharvana Bathirakali & Lord Kamadenu.]

6. JAPA PARAYANAM
Vedic Pandits chant veda mantra for getting divine grace to the devotees.

7. HOMA
This Homa part is the crucial part of the whole process. To conduct Homa part, we need more pandits depending upon its “Aavarthi”. Aavarthi means counting system of all Homa mantras upto a specific number of times like 1000, 3000, etc. Generally, the most common method is, to do with 6 to 8 pandits for doing 1000 Aavarthi of Thilahoma.

If there have been more deaths like accident or suicide happened in the family, we will have to do more Aavarthi. And also if Astrologers already prescribed any specific count for certain benefits, we need required number of pandits as follows.

1. For 1000 Aavarthi, 5 pandits
2. For 3000 Aavarthi, 8 pandits
3. For 6000 Aavarthi, 10 pandits
4. For 12,000 Aavarthi 12  pandits.
5. For 24,000 Aavarthi 12 to15 pandits

Note: Aavarthi means Mantra Counting not Pooja Cost

8. PINDA KARMA
We are supossed to do this pinda karma at the final part of Thila homa. Offering Pinda karma makes our ancestors to get satisfied by this pooja process and also through which, we show our gratitude to whole 21 generation of our ancestors.

9. PRASADAM:
Pandit ji do kalasha-abisheka and give pooja prasadham to the Devotees. At this time, the pooja dakshina is given to Pandit and complete the whole ritual process.

KINDLY NOTE:
There are Some traditions followed along with thilahomam but not mandatory:

1. Danushkodi visarjan:
Some astrologers advise you to perform Pinda Puja in Dhanuskodi which is 15km from Rameswaram . if so, devotees have to take their pitru pooja plate to dhanushkodi and this pinda pooja will be done in Dhanushkodi. To do this, devotees have to inform pandits at the time of confirmation of this pooja.

2. Offerings(Dhaanas)
If Devotees want to provide Annadhana, Vasthra Dhaana or any other Dhaanam to pandits, by informing prior to us, we arrange for that with seperate cost.