A Dire Need For Gayatri Yajnas - 1

[Guest guest]

Dear ALL,

 

Namaste.

 

Super Mantra Gayatri and Yajnas are like an inseparable couple. One is the

mother of Indian culture and the other is the father of Indian spirituality.

Both are mutually dependent on one another. Without executing a Yajna at the

end of a Gayatri Mantra chanting program (Anushthaan) the latter remains

incomplete. One portion of Japa or Mantra chanting is in the form of Havan

or fire sacrifice. In ancient times when people were materially well off a

tenth portion of Mantra chanting program was devoted to Yajna. But looking

at today’s circumstances a 100th portion of the number of Mantras chanted is

offered as Ahutis (sacred materials to the Yajna fire saying ‘Swaahaa’) to a

Yajna. Without this an Anushthaan remain incomplete. A question may arise

that what happens to those who are not materially very well off? The answer

is that such individuals should chant extra Mantras amounting to a 10th

portion of the number chanted during an Anushthaan. For them this extra

Mantra Japa is considered equivalent to performing a Yajna. By giving this

option it is not as though Yana is being ignored but that its importance

albeit indirectly has been highlighted. Again it should be noted that this

arrangement is only for the poor strata of society.

 

 

A dialogue between Janak and Yajnavalkya regarding the non availability of

Yajna materials took place. Janak insisted the problems of Yajna performance

are many and Yajnavalkya kept giving solutions to those problems thus

insisting that Yajnas were a very important aspect of Vedic culture. Janak

asked: Suppose Yajna materials like Charu are not available what is to be

done? The answer was: Conduct Yajnas using materials eaten by a person daily

(rice, wheat, millet etc grains). Janak asked: Suppose there is no food what

happens then? The answer is make-do with plants. Janak asked: Suppose there

are no plants? The answer was that use only Samidha (wood based fuel) for

the Yajna. Janak asked: Suppose fire itself is not available? The answer is

that mentally execute a Yajna using the fire of faith in a meditative

manner. This is the gist of the long conversation that had taken place.

 

From the above it becomes clear that along with Gayatri Mantra Japa

conducting a Yajna is a must. Further in an Anushthaan both these are

mutually conjoined. Gayatri Japa and 5-fold Yajna are imperative. We all

know that conjoined to meditative methods are the Balivaishwa rites and it

is nothing but a mini Yajna. During dire times this Balivaishwa rite became

so miniscule that women after taking fire from their cooking pyre offered 5

small parts of a Roti (Indian wheat bread) to it while chanting the Gayatri

Mantra. Thus it was taken to be a Yajna. Further those who worshipped

Gayatri regularly too performed this miniscule Yajna. Before partaking food

they would remove 5 small portions of food from their plates and offer it to

a small bowl of fire. Even today here and there this tradition can be seen

in India. Today Yuga Nirman Mission is trying to rejuvenate this tradion of

miniscule Yajnas.

 

In ancient India great Rishi-Seers kept in mind at every step, wisdom,

subtle viewpoint, utility and state of facts before embarking on any world

welfare program. Despite giving due importance to Yajnas in religious

activities they have kept many other precepts in mind too. They could never

make any endeavor which had no great utility value. They have always gave

due emphasis to the results and attainments while giving more importance to

any sacred endeavor. Thus they gave Yajnas more importance amongst all

spiritual endeavors keeping in mind their capacity to bestow world denizens

both material and spiritual prosperity.

Author: Pt shriram Sharma Acharyaji

--

Thank you and Have a Fulfilling Day

 

Venkat Koppaka