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is a fire ceremony. The tradition of
yajna is well known in India, as it is the most ancient of Vedic
rituals, which Indians have carried on till the present day. In fact
this ancient form of worship was prevalent throughout the world before
the advent of diverse cultural sects. It was the ritual of our
forefathers, whereby through the power of mantras and offerings specific
deities were invoked to shower their benevolence on mankind.
So you have a vedic yajna,
tantric yajna, pauranic yajna and even darshanic (philosophical) yajnas.
During the treta yuga, king Dasarath conducted the Putreshti yajna
whereby Agni was invoked, we all know he got not one, but four, each
more brilliant than the other. Other Vedic yajnas such as Somayana,
Jyotistoma, Ashwamedha, Rajasuya, Vajapeya, are well known. Yajnas such
as Gayatri Yajna, Vishnu Yajna and Chandi Yajna were also conducted
during the Pauranic era. Srimad Bhagawad Gita refers to Darshanic yajnas
which are more philosophical in nature where even an act of charity,
austerity, japa or swadhyaya can be performed in the spirit of a yajna.
The form and importance of yajna differed according to the times
depending on the aptitude and needs. In today's situation we may even
talk about a blood donation yajna or an eye camp yajna or even a refugee
crisis yajna!
Despite the fact that there
are several kinds of yajnas the underlying factor common to all yajnas
is that through this ritual the invisible forces (devatas) that are
interspersed in the atmosphere consolidate and collect in the area where
it is conducted. Just as the vapour in the air becomes water through a
process of condensation in the same way these divine forces that are
pervading the akasha condense and crystallise at one place. It is for
this reason that a yajna is considered a very powerful and potent means
for positively influencing the atmosphere which surrounds us. Yajna's
are known to ward off malefic events. The world situation being what it
is today, it would therefore be appropriate to conduct yajnas in these
troubled times.
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Tantric yoginis conduct a
yajna |
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Yajnas have an element of
mystery in them. This is because the effects of a yajna are felt on not
just the physical, mental, psychic or spiritual levels but on the
supramental levels as well. A Yajna is an esoteric act and thus
penetrates deep into the area of mysticism.
The yajnas conducted during
Sita Kalyanam are tantric. The rites and rituals, which will be observed
at these yajnas are drawn from the traditions preserved in the Agamas
(Tantras). These rituals will differ from yajna to yajna. There are
different types of fire-places (vedi) for each yajna, the herbs and
materials offered also differ. Different mantras are chanted in each
yajna. Every item offered for sacrifice in these yajnas is pure because
it is drawn from nature. Waters from seven seas and rivers will be
offered as oblation in these yajnas.
In the nine days preceding
Sita Vivah the following yajnas will be conducted: 1) Ganapati yajna, 2)
Navgraha yajna, 3) Saraswati yajna, 4) Sudarshan yajna, 5) Maha Vishnu /
Laxmi yajna, 6) Gita yajna, 7) Rudra / Durga yajna, 8) Saundarya Lahiri
yajna, and 9) Lalita yajna.
Swami Satyananda has said,
"Yajna is a very common thing in India. In fact we don't invite anyone
for yajnas, people come on their own. The moment they hear there is a
yajna in Calcutta, people go from here because the belief of the people
is that when you perform a yajna the celestial beings pervade that area.
Not only the material and physical environment but also the spiritual
environment of that place is purified. Just as you feel the coolness
when you enter an air-conditioned apartment, because the room is cool,
in the same way if a particular area is charged with a highly spiritual
environment then as you enter that area your mind becomes peaceful, pure
and is elevated."
For a yajna to become
efficacious it is most important that the acharyas (pundits) who conduct
it are carefully chosen. Adept Yoginis from the sannyasa tradition to
which Swami Satyananda belongs have been chosen by him to conduct the
yajnas as per the tantric tradition of Dakshina Path (South India).
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Rudrabhishek ritual
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Yajna in the life of a
householder is very important, Swami Satyananda has said, "In the Vedas,
Puranas and Smritis we are advised that householders should perform
yajna. Yajna, according to the Gita, does not mean just a ritual where
some items of the puja are consigned to flames and dedicated to God. The
word yajna is constituted of three syllables ya, ja, and na which refer
to three processes of every act we perform viz. utpadan, uparjan and
vitarana i.e. production (ya), earning (ja), distribution (na).
"In the
life of every householder sharing one's wealth with others is of topmost
value. It is the first duty of each householder. Whatever he gets from
his farms, from his trade and commerce, whatever he earns from his job,
must be shared with other members of society. He should not forget that
his wealth owes a share to the needy members of society. Remember and
don't forget that you do not have an exclusive right over the wealth you
call your own.
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