The Ashvayuji Ritual, also known as Asvayuji or Ashwayuji, is a significant ceremony performed on the full moon day of the Ashvayuja or Ashvina month, which falls typically in September or October. This ritual holds prominence within the grihya rite tradition, which encompasses various household rituals as outlined in the grihyasutras, one of the seven pakayajnas.
Preparation for the Ashvayuji Ritual involves the adornment
of the household, followed by personal purification through bathing and donning
clean or white garments. The householder then proceeds to offer cooked food to
Pashupati, an epithet of Lord Shiva, and perform oblations of clarified butter
to the Ashwins, the twin deities associated with dawn and healing in Hindu
mythology.
The primary intention behind the Ashvayuji Ritual is to
invoke prosperity and well-being for the household and its members. Alongside
the offerings to deities, the rite may also involve the tying of amulets
crafted from herbs onto the arms, a practice recommended to enhance the
ritual's efficacy and provide protection and blessings to the participants.
Overall, the Ashvayuji Ritual serves as a spiritual endeavor
aimed at fostering prosperity, harmony, and divine blessings within the
household, underscoring the rich tapestry of religious traditions woven into
Hindu culture.