Gayatri and Yagya-III = Pujya Gurudev

Glory Of MAA Gayatri

Gayatri and Yagya-III

                                                         =Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

Broadly speaking, the main result of performance of Yagya is showering of parjanya. The gross meaning of parjanya is clouds but its subtle meaning is Pran or energy. In ancient times whenever there were famines, people used to perform of specific agnihotras, which resulted in rainfall. In fact, parjanya is the subtle element of Pran which is created by Yagya and people derive benefit through the air and the clouds. All creation (animate as well as inanimate) gets a special upsurge of energy and vibrancy through the showering of parjanya, which leads to all-round growth and progress. The greatest advantage of Yagya is purification of the atmosphere and environment. It also influences all aspects of the personality of man. His thinking is regulated by getting proper direction and inspiration and thus a sound basis for refinement of human tendencies is created. Performance of Gayatri Yagya at a mass scale plays an important role in creating beneficent environment.

An individual, society or a nation can prosper only on the basis of knowledge and science. Knowledge means learning, wisdom, discretion, far-sightedness, goodwill, generosity and judiciousness. Science means strength, efficiency, power and resources, prosperity and capacity to create abundance. In ancient times, India was rich both in

knowledge as well as in science.

Knowledge, these days, is based on what is actually seen or experienced and science is based on machinery. This is not only less fruitful and more laborious but also temporary. All the knowledge which is being amassed by professors, research scholars and so-called learned persons does, no doubt, add to our physical knowledge, but it does not help at all in inculcating spiritual upliftment, benevolent outlook and a spontaneous feeling of self-sacrifice for the sake of public good.

 Modern knowledge makes people more and more selfish, self-centred and self-indulgent. Although there have been marvellous achievements in the field of physical scientific development and research, it has, at the same time, proved extremely harmful. Production of food grains and other crops has remarkably increased with the massive use of chemical fertilizers but the foods so produced contain elements which are injurious to health. Machinery has, no doubt, increased manifold our production of goods but can one imagine how much long range damage is being caused by poisoning the atmosphere due to pollution as a result of ever-increasing industrialisation? Scientists are very much worried over the fact that much before the end of the next century expires, all stocks of coal, fuel, oil, will be exhausted and huge factories, machinery etc. which are working at present will become idle. Production of energy by atomic devices is most expensive and it is also bound to adversely affect the environment even more seriously.

The basis of knowledge and science was quite different in the ancient days. It was, unlike today, spiritual and not materialistic. It is now scientifically accepted that everything which we see by our naked eyes is available in far more quantity in the subtle or astral world. Rishis in the past realized this scientific aspect that atoms of all the matter existing in the universe are available within the mind and body of a man. On this basis they conducted scientific research through different Sadhanas, and awakened various powers which lie hidden in human body and mind.

This research in the ancient times used to be conducted on the basis of Gayatri and Yagya which were regarded as mother and father of spiritual knowledge. Methodical and systematic worship of Gayatri awakens divine powers hidden in the body and the mind, helps in spiritual growth, refines the intellect and develops deep insight to handle the life’s problems calmly, confidently and wisely. When dissolved Ved-Mantras are chanted and Yagya is performed by offering samidhas, havi, charu etc. in the sacrificial fire, radioactive vibrations are created. These powerful waves can be transmitted to any part of the world or to any particular person or to achieve some specific object. They can be used for causing rainfall in the form of parjanya, promoting growth of food-grains and vegetation and also for enlivening or infusing life and energy in the atmosphere. The power released through Yagya can also bring about positive charges in ideas, feelings, circumstances and environment.

Rishis had attached special significance to Yagya because it was helpful not only in material progress but also in emancipation of the soul and building peaceful atmosphere by purifying mind and body. Balivaishya Yagya used to be performed in every house for promoting devoutness, spirituality and diety in the family life. Bajpeya yagyas were performed for awakening the dormant spiritual, intellectual and moral consciousness of the masses. For solving national and international problems, Rajsooya and Ashwamedh yagyas were performed. Gayatri Yagya is regarded as the quintessence of all kinds of yagyas.

Of all the Vedas, Rigved is the first to come into existence. In its first Mantra. “agni mide purohitam”, “Fire” has been described as the first name of God. Everything which is worth attaining in human life can be achieved through the power of Agni, which has been described as purohit (religious priest). God being omni-present has no form but He can be experienced in the form of divine attributes of Sat, Chit, Anand. There can be no better visible symbol of God than fire and it is for this reason that God has been described as divine fire in the first Mantra of Rig-Ved. He is also called as Brahma-Tejas, latent light, divine light, holy light etc. The  ancient Indian masters were, therefore, called fire-worshippers by several noted research scholars. Aryans who lived in Iran and call themselves as Parasis also worship fire. Fire temples are their places of worship. In India fire is worshipped in the volcanic miountains in the northern region. In Rishi-Ashrams, fire was kept alive through perpetual  fumigation, known as “dhooni”. Panchagni used to be installed in all Vedic Karma-kanda and daily Yagya used to be performed. Thus agnihotra is nothing but symbolic worship of God in the form of fire.

Why do we regard the sacrificial fire of Yagya as purohit (priest)? It inspires us to imbibe its five idealistic qualities in our life.

1. Fire has the characteristic of always being hot and bright. We are inspired to lead bright, radiant, active lives like fire, full of wisdom and brilliance.

2. The flame of fire always goes upwards. One may apply any amount of pressure but its flame never goes downwards. It teaches us that despite immense pressures of fear and temptations our flame of wisdom, and foresight should ever be kept-alight and up-turned.

3. Anything coming in contact with fire becomes fire itself. We should also have such a quality of excellence in our character, so that any one coming in our contact may become refined.

4. Fire accumulates nothing. Whatever is offered in the fire is vaporized. It is scattered throughout in the atmosphere and becomes universal. We should also not accumulate possessions  for our selfish ends but utilize all our resources and qualities for advancing the good of the people. We should be generous and lovingly kind.

5. The residue of fire are ashes. Ultimately physical forms of all human beings are going to be reduced to a handful of ashes. The idea behind applying (ashes of Yagya) on the forehead is that man should always remember the inevitability of death and utilize each and every moment of his life in the best possible manner.

These five teachings are known as panchagnividya which the priest (purohit) in the form of fire teaches to every human being. A man is truly blessed if he imbibes these teachings in his daily life by performing symbolic worship in the form of Yagya.

The real purpose of Yagya is to imbibe virtues like self-sacrifice, self-restraint (sanyam), charity, beneficence, generosity, compassion etc. in our daily life. It inspires us to surrender everything, body, mind, ego and soul to God. A Sadhak on surrendering himself to God, who has been described as Yagya-purush in the scriptures, becomes one with Yagya, just as samidhas on being consumed in the sacrificial fire of Yagya become fire itself. In fact the real Yagya is to follow the directions and inspirations of our indwelling divinity and imbibe righteous tendencies. Constant rememberancce  of the Divine, keeping an attitude of detachment and remaining engrossed in regular sacred studies and devotion amounts to leading a Yagyiya life. Such a person sees the presence of God in everyone, everywhere and becomes free of evil deeds and sins.

Geeta describes several categories of Yagya, just as Deva-Yagya, Atma-Yagya, Brahma-Yagya, Tapa-Yagya, Yoga-Yagya, Swadhyaya-Yagya, Gyan-Yagya etc. and enunciates that whatever is done for realization of God or for self-realization is known as Yagya. Agnihotra or performance of material part of Yagya is a first step which culminates in the ultimate goal of spiritual Yagya. In the beginning, a Sadhak starts with symbolic idol worship but after some practice he starts meditating on the formless Omnipresent Brahma. Yagya is a specific and an inseparable part of Gayatri Sadhana which purifies a person’s thoughts, emotions, sentiments and actions, to be able to surrender himself at the lotus feet of the Almighty and become Yagya -maya or one with God. In short, it promotes virtues like beneficence, mutual cooperation, righteousness, good will, self-restraint, sacrifice, generosity, etc.

Thanks GOD,Thanks Sadguru

Shiv Sharma