Sadhaka: Confer progress on the adorer! What does that mean?

Sai: As a consequence of the praise conveyed through words bearing the impress of the Vedas, the person is blessed with various progressive qualities and opportunities to achieve excellence.

Sadhaka: I would like to know some examples where the manthra 'svaaha' is used in the Vedas to convey its traditional meaning.

Sai: Kesavaaya svaaha; Praanaaya svaaha; Indraaya svaaha. These are some examples. Here, the meaning of the manthra is: Svaahutham Asthu, Suhurtham Asthu. May it be svaahutham. May it be suhurtham.

Sadhaka: What do those two words mean? Svaahutham and suhurtham.

Sai: They mean, "May the offering made be well burnt", that is to say, well digested.

Sadhaka: Swami! That raises a doubt in me. Whatever thing is dropped into fire gets burnt totally, even when not a manthra is uttered by us. This is the general experience. So, what is the special process that takes place when svaaha is uttered?

Sai: 'Svaahutha' does not indicate the mere burning out or the total consumption of the offering placed in the fire. From the worldly point of view, only this much is observed. But, the Vedas (Sruthi) concede that Fire has a divine form and function besides the commonly known material form and function. The Divine Forms (Gods) are beyond the reach of the senses. So, the Vedas recommend that the Gods be worshipped through rites and rituals. And, Agni or the Deity Fire, has in It the source and sustenance of the Gods. ("Agnirava deva yonih"). Agni is the Divine Principle. He who offers oblations to the Gods through Agni becomes blessed with Divine qualities. Only those who are able to understand this fact can achieve that principle.

The person who enjoys (Bhoktha) and the object that provides joy (Bhogya) - these two compose the Jagath (World). When these two become one, they mix and are then known as Aththa, that is to say, Bhoktha. This is the vyavahara, the natural conclusion. It does not stand to reason that the One, be known as Bhogya. Well. Who is the Bhoktha? It is Agni, the Fire which accepts the oblation.

The very first Divine Entity is Aadithya (The Sun). Its spiritual counterpart is the vital warmth in living beings, the Praanaagni. Agni has in it Aajya (ghee) and soma (the juice of the soma plant). The oblations placed in fire are named Aahithayah. The word means 'deposited; placed'. The Gods prefer to be beyond the range of sight. Therefore, the oblations are also referred to as Aahuthis.