Svaha is a word repeatedly used in Hindu rituals and pujas
especially during Yajnas. It is mainly repeated again and again when offerings
are made into Agni or fire. As per Satapatha Brahmana, Svaha is acclaimed to be the
glory of Prajapati. If Om is the primordial sound, Svaha is the sound associated with all yajnas and offerings to Gods.
Svaha is also a personified as a female deity in some scriptures. Her role is to transmit the offerings made by humans to the gods.
Svaha is also a personified as a female deity in some scriptures. Her role is to transmit the offerings made by humans to the gods.
She helps in pleasing the gods and thereby devotees get good fortune and also their desires are fulfilled.
She is the vital element of truth, reclining on Brahman’s
inherent nature. She flashes with radiance of three colors – white, red and
yellow.
Svaha is mentioned in the Brahma Vaivarta Purana as the daughter
of Prajapati and his wife Prasuti. She officiated the coronation ceremony of
Kartik, when he became the commander of Gods or Devas.
Devi Bhagavata extols the importance and spiritual symbolism
of Svaha.
Symbolically, what we are offering to fire is our soul. We
are purifying it. Just as gold is purified through fire, a person purifies
his/her soul. All ignorance are removed. We purify ourselves to make it fit to
travel on path of self realization.