anna homa

 In Sanskrit, anna‑homa means a “food‑oblation ritual”, a specific fire‑sacrifice involving offerings of food substances, especially as part of major Vedic rites such as the Aśvamedha.

What the term literally means

• Anna (अन्न) — “food, nourishment”

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• Homa (होम) — “fire‑oblation; offering into the sacred fire”

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  4 Sources

Together, anna + homa forms a tatpuruṣa compound meaning “food‑offering (into fire)”.

Core Sanskrit definition

Wisdom Library describes Annahoma (अन्नहोम) as:

• A sacrifice connected with the Aśvamedha

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• An oblation performed in the fire of the Uttaravedi, continuing through the night with different food substances in each watch:
  • clarified butter (ājya/ghṛta)
  • fried rice (saktu)
  • fried barley (dhānāḥ)
  • fried corn (lājāḥ)

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  1 Source

This is the most detailed classical definition and is rooted in the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa.

Ritual description from Hindupedia

Hindupedia adds that anna‑homa is a subsidiary rite in major Vedic sacrifices such as Aśvamedha and Vājapeya, consisting of offerings of:

• ghee
• grains
• barley powder
• pounded rice

These are offered just before sunrise into the sacrificial fire

Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

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Broader context of homa

The term homa itself refers to the act of offering substances into fire as a sacred ritual, derived from the root hu — “to offer, sacrifice”

hindutone.com

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Summary

Anna‑homa / Annahoma in Sanskrit refers to:

• A Vedic fire‑ritual involving food offerings,
• Most prominently a component of the Aśvamedha,
• Performed with specific food items in a structured sequence,
• Literally “food‑oblation”.