Gayatri and Yagya= Pujya Gurudev

Gayatri and Yagya-I

=Pt.ShriRam Sharma Acharya

Gayatri and Yagya form an inseparable pair. One is said to be the mother and the other, the father of Bhartiya Dharma. They are inter-dependent. Gayatri anushthan cannot be considered fully accomplished unless it is accompanied by Yagya. In old affluent times agnihotra used to be performed of one-tenth of the quantum of Jap, but now in view of the prevailing circumstances ahutis are given in one to hundred ratio. Those lacking in requisite resources fulfil the requirement of Yagya by performing one-tenth additional Jap.

There is reference in the scriptures to a famous dialogue between Janak and Yagyavalkya. Janak went on pointing out difficulties in performing yogya and yagyavalkya, while emphasizing the essentiality of performing Yagya, suggested alternatives, one after another. Yagyavalkya said if charu and other articles of Yagya are not available, food grains of daily consumption can be offered in havan. If food grains are not available one can make do with herbs and vegetation. If they are also not available, mental Yagya can be performed by offering meditation and prayers in the symbolic fire of reverence and devotion. It has thus been emphasized that not only in anushthan, but even in daily Sadhana, Yagya is essential along with Gayatri Jap.

In emergency, house-wives used to utter Gayatri Mantra and offer five morsels of first chapati in the hearth. The daily routine of bali-Vaishya is nothing but a short form of havan. The purpose of symbolic worship of agnihotra can also be fulfilled by uttering Gayatri Mantra and offering ghee and sugar in the fire or lighting a ghrit lamp and burning incense-sticks. The celebration of Holi is nothing but a form of collective Yagya performed once in every year. Yagya is an essential part of every auspicious religious celebration, whether it be in the form of offering ahutis in sacrificial fire ( Yagya-kunda) or burning candle-sticks, incense sticks or ghrit-lamp.

Our ancient scriptures describe one of the names of God as Yagya-Purush. In shatpath, Yagya has been described as Vishnu, “Yagyovai Vishnu”. In the beginning of Rig-Ved, Yagya has been described as purohit (priest or religious guide). The importance of the fire of the Yagya has been stressed in all Vedic literature. In “ Agne naya supatha raye.........” an ardent prayer is made to Almighty God to lead us on righteous path as contained in the words “ dhiyo yonaha prachodayat” of Gayatri Mantra.

Yagya is essentially linked with all traditional religious functions. None of the essential sixteen purificatory rites (Shodash - Sanskar) right from child birth till death can be celebrated without performance of Yagya. The ceremony of Yagyopaveet is intrinsically linked with Yagya. It combines the ideology and philosophy of Gayatri with the performance of Yagya. In marriage ceremony it is essential for the bride and the groom to perform Yagya and take seven rounds of the fire of Yagya. Circumambulation of the sacrificial fire alone is the visible proof of solemnization of a Hindu marriage. The last rite in the series of sixteen rites is the funeral rite, in which the dead body is put on funeral pyre, set fire to and kapal-kriya piercing of the skull is performed with ghee by way of purnahuti.
This ancient tradition of Yagya incorporates the principles of theoretical knowledge and applied  science and contains in it all the elements of material elements in seed form. It is a sacred process conducive to the welfare and happiness of the individual as well as the society.

The meaning or purport of the word Yagya is an act or celebration of self-giving which aims at the highest universal good, an act which is generous, magnificent, noble and magnanimous. Yagya is a Sanskrit word which has three meanings, (1) divinity (2) organization and (3) charity. These three virtues can be said to be triple divine currents of individual and social transformation. Divinity means refined personality, divine virtues. Organization implies unity, cooperation team-spirit. Charity implies generous sharing, devotion to society, and considering the entire universe as one’s own family. All these three tendencies are thus combined in Yagya and it can be said to be the flaming torch of knowledge. It inspires man to translate higher sentiments and motives into righteous deeds. Coordination of knowledge and action creates the ground for making progress. Righteous deeds, which is known as tap, and true knowledge, which is known as yog, are the basis of spiritual progress.

The philosophy underlying Jeevan (life)- Yagya is to make a man great by adopting the philosophy of self-sacrifice. It has been stated in the Geeta that a man who eats without giving to others is a thief, he commits sin. A man should eat the leftover of Yagya -

Yagyashishta Shinah Santo Muchyante Sarva Kilvishaih
Bhunjate Te Twagham Papa Ye Panchntyatmakaranat - Gita 3/31

Devtas (divine beings) attain divinity only by Yagya. This is nothing but propounding the fact that in individual life man should not be selfish or self-centred and in his actions and behaviour, he should demonstrate sincere devotion for the welfare and upliftment of the society. This is a highway leading to all-round happiness, progress, peace and tranquillity of the individual as well as society.

There is no other religious medium as powerful as Yagya to educate the public mind by explaining the subtle implications of sacrifice, generosity and benevolence for purifying the individual and making the society capable and competent. According to Rig-ved, the fire of Yagya, although speechless, acts as purohit (spiritual priest) and inspires people in achieving all-round progress, happiness and peace. If the philosophy of Yagya is fully understood and assimilated in practical life circumstances can be created for the emergence of divinity in man and descent of heaven on the earth. These ideals have to be lived for changing the present era and building a bright future.

Thanks GOD,Thanks Sadguru,

Shiv Sharma