Punyaham

Punyaham (पुण्याहम्, Puṇyāham) or Punyaha (Puṇyāha) is a cleansing ritual observed by Hindus.

After a site is selected as suitable for construction, the priest offers a sacrifice, and pronounces the name of the ceremony, puṇyāham, “this is an auspicious day”, to the sounding of musical instruments.

He repeatedly whispers a mantra, the object of which is to request malicious spirits, asuras, and devas who may inhabit the site to leave, and find their abode elsewhere.

He then takes a pot, fills it with earth mixed with cowdung white reciting mantras, and sows seeds within it.

The Punyaha mantras are integrated form of selected mantras from the Taittiriya Samhita and the Taittiriya Brahmana.