“The land
of Bharat is like a teacher to all the countries in the world. Where
else would Lord Shiva incarnate, except in such a sacred land as
Bharat?... This Yagna is being conducted for the welfare of the world.
There is a very important aspect of this Yagna. The Athi Rudra Maha
Yagna protects and fosters the divine nature in the human beings,
while rejecting and diminishing the demonic qualities. Thus, it works
for the welfare of humanity.”
This is what Swami emphatically declared
to the large concourse of devotees who had assembled for what was to be
an unprecedented and supremely exalting spiritual experience – the Athi
Rudra Maha Yagnam (the Supreme Sacrifice to Lord Shiva) on the 9th of
August 2006.
|
“It is the Highest Form of Worship” – Head Priest Sri B.S. Nanjunda
Dixit
Time and again in the
history of human evolution, there come watersheds that redirect
humanity towards the ultimate goal. Akin to the loving hands of the
mother that support and steady the faltering steps of her toddler,
God grants us a glimpse of His Grandeur and what He holds in store
for us…with just a small inkling being given in such instances as
this. In the words of the Head priest of the Yagnam, Veda Brahma Sri
B.S. Nanjunda Dixit,
“The Athi Rudra Maha Yagna is the highest form of
worship of Lord Shiva. At present the same Athi Rudra is being
performed in the presence of Rudra Himself…it is a unique
opportunity for everyone to enjoy the blessings of Bhagawan, as
this yagna is for the spiritual progress of humanity as a whole.
At the same time it is the duty of
each one of us to express our gratitude for our existence and also
to spread the message of love and peace, highlighted by Bhagawan
so that His dream of establishing a Nation of Humanity is
realized.”
“It Was Priceless,
Heavenly, Revitalising…” – A Youth from Canada
The yagnam stood for
“Universal Love and Peace”. Thousands who had filled literally every
inch of the richly decorated Sai Kulwant Hall felt themselves bathed
in these two emotions as they watched the seven-tongued flames, leap
and dance, accepting the oblations offered into the eleven homa
kundas [fire-altars], delivering the prayers from thousands of
yearning souls to the divine. |
|
|
|
|
The Most Potent Form of Lord Shiva
|
|
As the sanctified plumes from the
altars entered the being of everyone present…an overwhelming sense of
purity pervaded the mind, heart, frame of one and all. It is not
self-effort that brings one to such a momentous occasion, it is
something far beyond…as one youth, from Canada expressed blissfully,
“When I contemplate
back on the Athi Rudra Maha Yagna, words like priceless, heavenly,
revitalizing and auspicious come to mind. The hours spent in lines to
sit in the Sai Kulwant hall and the early mornings were all worth it.
As I sat amongst devotees from all nooks and corners of the world, I
was overcome by a unique sensation. I felt at peace during the
chanting of the Vedas. The Vedas seem to have an exceptional cleansing
and energizing property contained within them. Although, in
all honesty, I had little idea of what was being chanted, the hairs on
my arms seem to stand and chills ran down my spine at times. Perhaps
it was the ancient hymns (whose origin is that of mysticism); or
perhaps it was the fact that the Maha Yagna, in praise of Lord Rudra,
was being performed in the midst of Rudra himself? The series
of Bhagawan’s divine discourses only made the experience sweeter. It
was the cherry on the cake. Swami reminded us that we are verily God -
that we are sparks of divinity. All we have to do is realize it.”
|
|
|
An Awe-Inspiring Spectacle
|
“My Every Hair and
Folicle Was Charged” – Ms. Sharmila, UK
You would have found the similar
sentiments on the lips of everyone present for the glorious occasion.
Take for instance, Ms. Sharmila Parikh from UK,
“The atmosphere
was charged with spiritual vibrations that I felt through each hair
and follicle of my frame. (One was reminded of Hanuman – Hanuman’s
every hair resounded Rama’s name). The magnitude of the Yagna is a
memory to be cherished forever and more. Experiencing Bhagawan’s Love
and basking in the bliss and His glory for the duration was an
incredible treat; I felt like a child of God receiving sweet
prasadam twice daily.”
In the presence of God even the greatest,
oldest and wisest of all feels like a child. It is with awe and
admiration that we look upon His handiwork as the Master works on the
masterpiece.
|
“I Have Come To
Foster The Vedas and Devotees” – Bhagawan Baba
The Athi Rudra Maha
Yagnam is yet another milestone in the unfolding grand mission of
Bhagawan and as significant and far-reaching in its influence as any
other; be it the Health mission, or the Educare mission, or the
Sociocare mission.
In a landmark discourse in the year
1963 at Prasanthi Nilayam, Swami declared,
“The Lord comes
as an Avathar when He is anxiously awaited by saints and sages.
The pious prayed - and I have come…My tasks are…Veda Rakshana
and Bhaktha Rakshana - fostering of the Vedas and
fostering of devotees.”
An Unforgettable
Experience That Stunned My Soul” – Dr. Venkat Sadanand, USA
To limit Vedas to any
particular religion, philosophy, sect or culture is like limiting
the ocean to a bowl! Vedas are Universal in nature. They are for the
good of all mankind. It is for the whole humanity to benefit from
this great treasure of energy. A Yagna incorporates various aspects
of the ‘fostering of the vedas’. It is akin to an ultra-wide
spectrum antibiotic. Through the tremendous positive energy that it
generates the Yagna elevates consciousness to a higher level.
|
|
|
|
|
'The pious prayed
- and I have come.'
|
|
“Spiritual energy is
not discernible by our five senses. But it renders an unforgettable
experience that stuns and exhilarates the soul. The spiritual energy
present during the Yagna was high and each individual present at the
time was truly blessed when, out of pure love, Bhagawan infused the
lingam with Prana [consecrated the lingam personally].”
These are the words not of a
philosopher, but of Dr. Sadanand, a neuro-surgeon working in USA who
experienced the Yagna for just one day.
A Great Spiritual
Symphony
The Yagnam was a great spiritual symphony
in perfect harmony which merged the whole congregation into one entity
reaching out to the divine. Recalling his unforgettable experience,
Matthew, a youth from England, says,
|
|
|
A Vedic Sacrifice Performed Par Excellence
|
|
|
“While
watching the 132 priests offering oblations into the fire and
moving in perfect synchronicity; and hearing their chanting, all
uttered in unison, creating a symphony of divine mantras, I felt
transported beyond my ordinary self.
The
flames aglow from the eleven altars, the beautiful robes of the
priests, and their wonderful voices, the entire scene was so
electrifying, I was lost in bliss.
Above all, when the Lord Himself was presiding, I was overcome
with divine vibrations, so much so that I felt filled to
overflowing – surely this was a taste of heaven.
|
Other highlights were the
times when the head priest would offer the holy fire to the Lord and
then all would move their hands back and forth taking in the
vibrations coming from this sanctified act - this again was a tangible
feeing of joy, another gift of grace. Sometimes, there would be one
priest reciting the prayers alone; invariably his voice would be most
beautiful to hear and on one occasion I was spellbound at the speed of
recitation which still maintained a great sense of sanctity and
holiness.
Then at the end of the
day, at least half those present would form well-ordered lines sitting
on the floor. They were all waiting patiently for the holy
abhishekam water and after quite some time they were rewarded
with this by designated seva dals. Surely everyone left the Kulwant
Hall in an exalted state, maybe experiencing feelings they had never
felt before. I am so grateful to Swami for allowing me to be present
at the yagna and I am already praying to Swami to organize the next
one!”
It may be asked that though the Veda
Purusha Saptaha Jnana Yagna has been performed right from 1961 during
Dasara celebrations, what was the necessity for Swami to perform another
Yagnam on such a grand scale at this point in time? Swami clarified this
on the final day of Yagnam when He said,
“The Yagnam done during Dasara is Gyana Yagnam, while this is
an Adhyatma Yagnam”, meaning, this Yagnam is for the
spiritual health of the whole world and much wider in scope and purpose
than the Yagnam performed during Dasara which is related only to the
“mental principle”.
‘See What I Will Make Out
Of It’ - Swami
|
Every effect has a
cause and every purpose, an instrument. The chosen instruments for
this grand spectacle were the Sai Youth of Karnataka. Sri Vinay
Kumar who led this dynamic team of youth exceptionally well,
recalled the very initial days of this sacred project saying,
“On the 13th of June, when I submitted this humble prayer at the
Lotus Feet to allow us to perform this Yagna, on the same day,
Swami said,
“You watch what I will do. You are bringing it as
this small proposal, and now you see what I will make out of it.”
True to His
word, God made things happen. With clockwork precision, every single
piece of the massive jigsaw puzzle fell into place perfectly. It was
absolutely amazing to see how such a mammoth project was executed to
perfection. |
|
|
|
|
Sri Vinay Kumar - One of the Lord's Instruments
|
|
More than a thousand fresh
lotuses every morning, tons of toned sandalwood and neem wood, seamless
coordination and communication in every level from the transport of
massive quantities of milk, tender coconut water, curds, honey, ghee,
sugar, nine types of grains and above all, waters from the nine rivers
from their very sources dispersed across the country – everything was
carried out as smoothly as a gentle breeze.
 |
|
Prof. Ramaswamy - full of Praise for
the Karnataka Sai Youth
|
|
|
In the words of Prof. Ramaswamy, a
founder director of the prestigious Indian Institute of Management -
Bangalore,
“…This
organization, this Athi Rudra Maha Yagna is a superb example of
organization management of the highest perfection. As a teacher
for the last 50 years I have not seen anywhere such decorum,
discipline, demeanor - perfection.
Why?
This is based on spirituality, ethics, morals, meditation, law of
order, law of karma, etc….my tribute and my admiration…to Mr.
Vinay Kumar and his group of volunteers, the ritwiks and
all those who were behind him who have sacrificed everything they
want with Ananda (bliss), with a spiritual provocation,
strength which you cannot find even in professors working under me
who get twenty thousand rupees per hour.”
|
Swami Arranged the Entire
Yagna
So, it was the Divine manager who was at
work. Recalling the level of involvement of Swami, Sri Vinay Kumar,
said,
“… The dates for
the Yagna were fixed by Swami, very meticulously, the location of this
Shivalingam, right here in the centre of this hall was His
direction…Out of His mercy, He said, “Every person in this Hall, every
individual, the last person sitting in the hall should also be able to
witness the Abhishekam being performed to the Lingam.”… Every
Homakunda [fire-altar] which is put up here, the layout of
this Yagashala [sacrificial enclosure], was personally
decided by Bhagawan. The colouring of the homakundas, the
selection of the lingam, the methodology for setting up this mantapam,
it was all personally advised, instructed, directed and put into
action by Him. We of course have been fortunate to be used as His
worthy instruments… For the first time, probably in the history of
this Avatar, He released an invitation in the Sanathana Sarathi,
inviting people for this Yagna. He commanded and ensured
advertisements went through newspapers, all over the country, inviting
them for the Yagna…."
“Each time I took some
aspect of planning related to the Yagna to Swami, He would say,
'You don’t take any tension on your head. You remove all the
worries from your head and transfer it to me. I will take care of
everything. I will ensure that everything goes through smoothly.
You don’t worry about anything.' And Swami took care of
everything."
"Sri Nanjunda Dikshit,
in an interview granted by Bhagawan mentioned that the Athi Rudra
Maha Yajna would give a lot of Trupti (satisfaction) to
Lord Shiva. Bhagawan then immediately said, 'But I have a lot of
Trupti, My Trupti is in your Trupti.'
And continued, 'If you listen to what I say, then I will have a
lot of Trupti.'"
|
|
|
|
|
Bhagavan checked every detail
|
|
Bhagawan casually gave us a
glimpse of who He is and how fortunate we are!
Sri Rudram – A Potent
Prayer
This brings us to a question. What is
this good fortune? How is this Athi Rudra Maha Yagnam significant? What
is it in the Rudram that makes it so powerful? Let us turn to the
ancient scriptures to understand the beauty and majesty of this timeless
hymn, Rudram.
Sri Rudram,
also known as Rudraprasna, is a hymn devoted to Lord Shiva. It
is part of the Krishna Yajur Veda and one of the greatest of the Vedic
hymns for all round benefits and to remove all maladies and obstacles.
Sri Rudram is in two parts. The first part, is known as
Namakam because of the repeated use of the word "Namo" in it. In
this sacred hymn the devotee repeatedly salutes the Lord who pervades
the animate and the inanimate, tangible and intangible, visible and
invisible aspects of creation. The devotee prays to Lord Shiva thus:
“O Lord of Mount
Kailash of the Vedas! We pray to attain you by our auspicious
words. We ask that for all our days, this entire world will be
free from ills and discord, and that we may live in amity and
concord.”
“Salutations to Him who was before all things and who is foremost.
Salutations to Him who pervades all and moves swiftly.”
“Salutations to Him who is the source of happiness here and
hereafter. Salutations to Him who is inherently of the nature of
conferring happiness directly in this world and the world
hereafter. Salutations to Him the auspicious one, who is more
auspicious than all others.”
These are just a few of the myriad
expressions of the Namakam through which the Lord is
propitiated. The Namakam concludes with the most potent
Mrutyunjaya stotram.
Tryambakam yajamahe sugandhim pushhtivardhanam
Urvarukamiva bandhananmrityormukshiya maamritath
“He who has
divine fragrance, He who makes men powerful and full of plenty,
Him even we worship, the three-eyed Rudra. Like a ripe berry from
its stalk, release me from death, and let me not turn away from
immortality and enlightenment."
|
|
 |
|
Lord Shiva's Resplendent Form
|
|
The second part of the Rudram,
is known as Chamakam because of the repeated use of the words "Cha
me". The devotee prays to the Lord for blessings and benefits both
in this world and beyond. For instance -
 |
|
The Lingam beautifully arrayed
|
|
|
“Let Lord Shiva
grant us happiness in both worlds on (earth and heaven). All the
materials dearer and attractive and worthy of possession in heaven
and endearing relations.”
“Grant me, Lord,
the capacity to discriminate what to hear and what not to hear.
May my mind be lit up with clarity to understand things properly.”
“May I be blessed
with the capacity to protect and retain what I have already
earned. May I be granted courage and determination to face tough
situations in life. May I win goodwill, respect and honour in this
world.”
|
The “Shanti patha” (invocation
for peace) in the concluding part of Chamakam begins with, “Idaa
devahuurmanu…” meaning:
“Let my pleasant thoughts bring forth
pleasant actions and the resultant enjoyable fruits. Let my joyous
offerings bear fine and worthy speech and my words please the divine.
May men lend their ears to gladden me and may the Gods enlighten me
and make my words powerful. May my forefathers feel joyful over this
and bless me to perpetuate it.”
For a
detailed report of the Athi Rudra Maha Yagnam with all its rituals
and
their significance, go to the
Prasanthi Diary.
|
The Divine Blessings of
Chanting Sri Rudra
|
It is said that
Sri Rudra is a great purifier which when repeatedly chanted
with devotion can expiate the worst of the sins and in the words of
the head Priest, “One can attain Bhukthi or all material
benefits for enjoyment of life on earth and Mukthi, which
is freedom from the ills of the world.” But an important aspect to
note is what Dr. Kashyap, Director of the Sri Aurobindo
Kapalishastri Institute of Vedic Culture, conveyed when he said,
“The mantras we chant are potent and full of power. But it manifests
only if we chant it with full of faith.”
If one Rudra
[that is, eleven times the eleven stanzas of Namakam
chanted along with one stanza of Chamakam every time by a
single person] is chanted, it can free one from all childhood
diseases.
Similarly:
3 Rudras can destroy imminent
difficulties which with one is faced.
5 Rudras can free one from the evil
effects of certain planets occupying unfavourable positions. |
|
|
|
|
The Head Priest Illumines the Listeners
|
|
7 Rudras can dissolve one’s greatest
fear.
9 Rudras can confer the fruit of one
Vajapeya sacrifice (which is believed to bring in bountiful crop and
plentiful water) and also attainment of peace of mind.
11 Rudras can bestow one with great
wealth and the favour of the high and mighty.
33 Rudras can fulfill all material
desires and bless one to be free of enemies.
Now just imagine the benefits
that this hymn can confer when chanted over a thousand times! During the
Athi Rudra Maha Yagnam the Rudram was chanted the prescribed
14,641 times accompanied by the Vedic fire ritual or
Homam.
"If This Can Happen Anywhere It
Can Be Only In Prasanthi Nilayam" - Sri Veda Narayan
One of the unique aspects of the
Yagnam in Prasanthi Nilayam in the words of Sri Veda Narayan, who
generally leads the Vedic chants in Prasanthi Nilayam,
 |
|
The Vedas Span the Nations
|
|
|
“One thing, which touched me most, is that it is not the mandatory
132 Ritwicks alone who chanted the Vedas, but from the
tiny tots of primary school onwards to the illiterate devotees who
joined in the chanting of Namakas and Chamakas
irrespective of the caste, creed or gender! (So the number was
actually much more than 14,641).
In any Yagna performed before, there never was a chance
for people of other beliefs to see such an occasion let alone
chant the Vedas. In other words the spirit of Namakam “Namo
Mahadbhyah Kshullakebhyaschavo Nama” - Salutation to the Lord
in the mighty as well as in the lowly - was practically
demonstrated in the presence of Bhagawan, and if this can happen
anywhere it can be only in Prasanthi Nilayam.”
|
And what was most significant is
that in Prasanthi Nilayam the Lord in flesh and blood presided over
the Yagna.
“Never in the history of mankind,"
continues Sri Veda Narayan,
“was such a Yagna
performed in the immediate presence of the Avatar, who was the
Yagna Kartha (performer of the sacrifice) and the Yagna
Bhokta (receiver of the oblations) for the welfare of the whole
world.”
“We Need To Ignite Fire
Only In The Engine” – Bhagawan Baba
Now, many might wonder how could a
sacrifice done in a small corner of India impact the whole world! This
is exactly what a devotee posed to Swami many years ago,
“Swami, you
say all yagnas are conducted for loka kalyana (welfare of
the world), but all yagnas are conducted in India alone?”
Swami gave a
beautiful reply to this saying,
“All the
nations in the world are like the coaches and India is the
engine. We need to ignite fire only in the engine.”
What is the eligibility of
India to be the guide for the whole world? Someone might ask.
Prof. N. S. Ramaswamy, a Founder Director of Indian Institute of
Management, Bangalore, (one of the premier Management Institutes
of India) and a recipient of Padma Bhushan (one of
India’s highest civilian awards) who spoke during the Yagna’s
proceedings,
“Out of the 49
civilisations existing in the world prior to the Christian era,
ours is the only one which is living and vibrant. Why?
Everything is conceptualized as a mother - Mathrutva Bhava."
|
|
 |
|
'India is the engine for the world' - Bhagavan
|
|
"In every century, in
every part of India, great saints and evolved souls and Avatars were
born... Loka samastha sukhino Bhavantu (Let all beings
everywhere be happy) – no other country says it. We are the only
people to say that all religions lead to the same God… Akashat
patitam thoyam, yatha gachati sagaram… We are the only
civilisation in the whole world to give highest praise, highest
pedestal to women… our civilisation has continued for 5000 years
because of sacrifice, suffering, modesty, chastity, sympathy, empathy
and service of the women of India. The world is divided into two - the
haves and have nots. But India has a third category - those who have
but don’t want. Buddha, Mahaveera and Janaka belong to this exalted
category.”
 |
|
Sri B N Narsimha Murthy
addresses the gathering
|
|
|
“The
Indian Way Is The Sai Way ” – Sri B N Narsimha Murthy
Arnold Toynbee, a
British historian said,
“…at this supremely dangerous moment of human
history, there is only one way of salvation for mankind and that
is the Indian way.”
And what is the Indian way?
Sri B N Narasimha
Murthy, author of the fifth volume of Baba's biography, Sathyam
Shivam Sundaram, emphatically stated,
“It is the Sai way, the way of the Vedas, the
way of Daiva Prema [Divine Love] and Jeeva Karunya
[Compassion for all].”
|
The Youth Lead The Way
The 11-day glorious ritual of the Yagnam
was one potent facet of this Indian way. And by whom did the Lord choose
to demonstrate this significant aspect? The youth. And there are good
reasons for this.
|
Sri S V Giri, former Vice-Chancellor
of Swami’s University, explains,
“Rudram by itself is a very dynamic,
highly energy-infusing mantra. It is in a class by itself. To
chant the hymn means to charge oneself internally with dynamism
and elevate one self to higher levels. So it is only appropriate
that youth have come together to organize this elaborate event.
For, just as this mantra, youth represent energy and vigour.”
In fact, it would be
interesting to note that even among the priests there were many who
were in their 20s. Swami Himself expressed great satisfaction about
this in His final discourse of the celebration on the 19th of Aug
and said,
“There
are several youths in this group. The country needs such youths. I
feel very happy in the midst of youths. I will give whatever they
want.”
|
|
|
|
|
Sri S V Giri enlightens the audience
|
|
“The Youth Will Build The
Kingdom of Sai ” – Sri V Srinivasan
“It is the Youth of
India which will bring out her spiritual regeneration. This is what
Bhagawan has said on many occasions,”
affirmed Sri V Srinivasan, the All India President
of Sai Organisations, on one evening during the celebrations.
“The people of India look to the youth
of India to make India again not only a Ram Rajya but a
Sai Rajya ( kingdom of Sai ).”
He continued,
“In the Sai
organization today, much has been done, but much more is yet to be
done. You the youth have to take the reins and give it a new energy
and enthusiasm.
 |
|
Another
eminent speaker, Sri V Srinivasan
|
|
|
Today we have begun to
use technology in the Seva organization. We can proudly say that
our Sai brothers in Uttaranchal have commissioned successfully a
mini hydro-electric project that is giving electricity to a
village to run their ‘chhakkis’ (small grinding units).
Where the governments are unable to provide electricity, our Sai
brothers have made it possible.
Our brothers in Andhra
are installing in the villages new types of water purification
plants using reverse osmosis technology and membrane technology.
Brothers in Madhya Pradesh have commissioned thousands of new
types of toilets in villages.
So we are looking to
you to take the Sai Organization further in playing your role in
Sai’s divine mission. Remember, you are the Amritha Puthras
– sons of immortality who are full of confidence and without
doubts. With Bhagawan we are heroes, without Him we are zeroes."
|
If the world today is a pathetic picture
of restlessness, terror and insensitivity towards fellow beings of a
different community, region or religion, misguided Youth are surely a
major part of the problem. As Krishnan Bhagawat, a youth from Karnataka
put it,
“At the core of all the
hotspots of violence the common thing is disaffected and disoriented
youth. What is the solution for this problem? It is the transformation
of hearts that can bring about a change in the youth.”
And this transformation can come about
only when the youth take up tasks which will cleanse their senses,
energize their inner self and connect them to their roots – their
glorious ancient heritage. It is in this respect that the Athi Rudra
Maha Yagnam stands as a perfect example.
|
Shashank, a senior student of the
Institute said,
“We
saw Bhagavan achieving multiple objectives through one event – the
upholding of the Vedic wisdom, the upkeep of the Vedic scholars,
the encouragement of the youth in the positive direction and the
purification of the environment through the positive vibrations.”
It was really a very
heartening sight to see hundreds of youth from Karnataka working so
systematically with so much unity and more importantly with passion
to see that the yagnam proceeds without even a slightest hiccup. “It
really was a great lesson for us in project management as well as
dedicated service,” many students from the Institute said. |
|
|
|
|
The priests were always full of joy
|
|
More than 300 youth – most of them
employed in multinational companies in Bangalore - working tirelessly
for two weeks for an event like a Yagna has done more than just setting
an example. And this is something which is going to have awesome
cascading effects in the days to come. Swami already mentioned in the
final day of the Yagna that He wants the Youth of Tamil Nadu to come
together and conduct the Yagna in Chennai in the month of January. That
this is going to be replicated in multiple locations all over India and
all around the world spearheaded by Sai Youth is anybody’s guess.
Exhilarating Experiences
A young adult, Arvind, from Hyderabad,
India, who attended the Yagnam said,
 |
|
Worship of the formless made form
|
|
|
“Every time I
heard the opening lines of the Rudram Om Namo Bhagavate
Rudraya… I was filled with some inexplicable sense of awe
and reverence. When I first saw the lingam of sparkling white
marble that glowed in ethereal hue and heard it being christened
“Saieaswara” [ritual demands that the lingam being worshipped be
given a special name] my mind filled with the multitudinous
names of Lord Shiva and His lingas all over the sacred land of
Bharath, from the Amarnath in the Himalayas to Rameswara at the
southern tip. And most of all, I was filled with a deep sense of
satisfaction when I reflected on the set of circumstances that
had culminated in me being in Prasanthinilayam, in the presence
of Lord Rudra himself, as He presided over the Athi Rudra Maha
Yagnam. It is an opportunity of several thousand lifetimes that
all of us are blessed to be here at this time – with the living
loving God.”
Such was the blissful
experience that every youth felt. That it was a purifier of
massive proportions, something which propelled every individual
present to journey towards one’s soul with greater vigour is what
every participant testifies.
“I am very grateful to have been part of such an
extraordinary event,” said S. Mass
from USA,
“I experienced a strong purifying energy. Also, there were
moments which transported me to a brighter, more intense, yet
subtle place of harmony within.”
|
And Pedro Montero from Spain said after
attending the ninth day of the Yagnam,
“I went to the Yagna very
early (sleeping only 4 hours in the previous night) and spent the
entire morning and evening in Kulwant Hall. Later, I experienced
strong physical energy as well as a heightened sense of alertness,
something akin to Swami’s Constant Integrated Awareness. Even now I
feel that not only my body, but mind, intellect, senses, intuition and
even my soul have made a quantum leap in all their functions. It is
truly amazing! I don’t know myself.”
So, that was a small glimpse of the
mystifying and soul-enriching experience that thousands had all through
the eleven days of the Yagna. But all this exalting spiritual experience
is subjective and very personal - how did the Yagna actually contribute
to world peace, one might ask? The answer is – in different ways at
different levels, gross and subtle, individual and cosmic. Let us deal
with the cosmic level first.
How the Yagnam Furthered
World Peace
The chaos theory of physics states
that the flap of a butterfly’s wing in Brazil could set off a tornado in
Texas. Such is the way the whole cosmos is connected. The power of
positive thought is something which every discipline of modern knowledge
acknowledges. New research suggests that once Alzheimer's disease robs
someone of the ability to expect that a proven painkiller will help
them, it doesn't work nearly as well. Scientists from the University of
Michigan injected the jaws of healthy young men with salt water to cause
painful pressure, while PET scans measured the impact in their brains.
During one scan, when the men were told they were getting a pain
reliever which was actually a placebo, their brains immediately released
more endorphins - chemicals that act as natural painkillers by blocking
the transmission of pain signals between nerve cells - and the men felt
better.
Positive thought generates positive
energy and in a similar fashion positive energy creates positive
thoughts. Just think how peaceful you feel when you are in the sanctum
sanctorum of a venerated shrine. If the Yagnam was anything it was a
‘colossus of positive energy’ which could alter the collective
consciousness of the world.
|
|
|
'A sight to make even the Gods jealous' - The Head
Priest
|
Leni Matlin from USA says,
“I find it more than
curious that Baba called for this powerful Yagna just when the world
was on the brink of violent madness, which always leads to more of the
same. As the Yagna began, the terrorist plot to blow up 10
transatlantic aircraft was thwarted, and during the Yagna, the UN
approved to the ceasefire resolution which both Israel and Lebanon
agreed. I am not a pundit and cannot understand or explain the Yagna
in esoteric terms, but it is clear to me that the flood of divine
light it brought to the planet has saved humankind from further
disasters, either manmade (war and terrorism) or natural. Swami says
He does not interfere in karma, but we know He sometimes mitigates it.
I shudder to think what might have occurred without His divine
presence and the conducting of this Yagna.”
In how many diverse and subtle ways will
this critical mass of positive energy affect the world is something
unfathomable for our limited minds. But that it’s favourable impact is
inevitable is beyond doubt. Katharina from Austria says,
“I could feel that this
Athi Rudra Maha Yajna was not only meant for the welfare of the
participating individuals in Prashanti Nilayam. Something much, much
bigger was going on. It was for the welfare and peace of the entire
Humanity.”
 |
|
'Whatever is offered to God, comes back to us a
thousand fold' - Bhagavan
|
|
|
Is the Yagnam a Waste
of Resources?
A good act can only
result in good results just like a mango seed can grow only into a
mango tree as Swami often says. There are some who question the
various oblations made to the fire during the Yagna – the grains,
the ghee, etc. Is it not ludicrous to submit all these edible
articles to fire when thousands do not have food to eat?
To this Bhagawan gave
a beautiful reply in His discourse on the 16th of August. He said,
“Today a farmer sows five bags of paddy in a field. When they
sprout, he transplants them in the entire field and waters them.
Can anyone say that he is throwing valuable paddy into mud and
water? Ultimately, he reaps a harvest of fifty bags.
Similarly, the rituals being performed by the Ritwiks
(priests) confer great benefit on humanity; they are never a
waste. Whatever is offered to God today is like this paddy and
ghee; they all confer great benefit to humanity at a later date.
Just as a bag of paddy sown in a field multiplies itself into
fifty bags, similarly all the materials that are offered to
Agnihothra (the fire-god) multiply themselves several times….
Whatever is offered to God, comes back to us a thousand fold.”
|
“A Grand, Self-Purifying
Event” – Prof. William Miller, USA
Now coming to the individual level, what
the Yagna has done to every participant and through them to society in
general is something most profound. William Miller from USA says,
“At the beginning of this Yagna, someone suggested to me that it
could become quite repetitious and even boring with the Vedic
chants and rituals being done day after day. I had just the
opposite experience -- it became more engaging and more enriching
as a cumulative effect, for me and others. Before this Yagna
started, I read many of Swami's quotes from Sathya Sai Speaks
about the purpose of Yagnas in general, and a focus on Rudra
and Siva in particular.
I realized that this grand, self-purifying event incorporates two
metaphors that prepared me for how to participate: that I could
use the sacrificial ceremonies to ‘wash myself clean of my errors
in life’ and to ‘offer into God's 'refining fire’. Thus, Swami
helped me get ready for how to actively take part in the ceremony,
even though I don't chant Vedic mantras.
|
|
|
|
| A unique view - as the
angels must have seen! |
|
Also, I kept in mind the
Sanskrit verse we chant every day -- 'Loka Samastha, Sukhino
Bhavantu” --' May all beings in all the worlds be happy'. Since
that is the purpose of this Yagna, I felt attuned to whatever has been
happening, even without mentally understanding everything. In this
regard, I met a friend coming out of the darshan hall who was ecstatic
that an ‘impure set of thoughts’ (vasanas) had arisen in
him during the ceremony, which he could then enthusiastically ‘put
into the fire’ to finish off. I realized that I could do the same, and
in that way contribute in some small way to greater peace -- if not in
the whole world, at least in the world around me. And as one of the
speakers said, this Yagna doesn't really end on 20 August, 2006. It
will remain an ongoing process in my heart. I will simply continue to
focus on asking God to make me pure so I can be an instrument of
peace.”
Instruments of Peace
 |
|
Love - the royal pathway to God
|
|
|
An instrument of peace – that is
what the Yagnam made out of individuals. It infused tremendous
inspiration more importantly into the minds of Youth. One of the
Youth leaders from Karnataka, Sri Gunaranjan, an IIT and IIM
alumni, said,
“Any student
of science will know that in any equation of nature L.H.S or
Left Hand Side is equal to R.H.S or Right Hand Side. For us,
L.H.S. is Love, Humility and Service. And R.H.S is Royal Highway
to Swami. Let us cultivate these three aspects. Let us build the
royal highway to our Mother Sai.”
And many were really on the
path. Having mended their senses with the sacred chants, they
wanted to bend their bodies and end their mind. Just consider this
startling case.
|
It was one blissful evening during the
Yagna celebrations. The programme was in its concluding lap and
Prasadam distribution was going on. Carrying the carton of sweets,
Bhanu, a senior student of the Institute, went to the far corners of Sai
Kulwant Hall trying to reach everyone present. He distributed as many as
he could. The carton was now empty and Bhanu was returning. But suddenly
there was tug. The box is empty, why is someone holding on to the
carton? Agitated, Bhanu looked around. It was a 60 year old man pleading
through his eyes for the carton box. It is empty, Bhanu explained, but
the old man in silence persisted. Bhanu let it go. He had no time. There
were hundreds yet to receive Prasadam. He picked up another box
from the store and forgot all about the old man, until he saw him again
after half an hour. Now from a distance. Most of the crowd having
received the sweet was now dispersing. But the old man with his back
bent was busy on the road just beside the hall. There was the carton in
his hand, Bhanu noticed and he was picking something. Intrigued, Bhanu
went near the man. The old man’s carton box was full with the sweet
wrappers. Bhanu was moved. The old man must have walked up and down the
road at least 20 times to fill the carton box with empty papers, he
thought to himself. With shock and reverence, he asked, “Why are you doing this, Sir? Can I
offer you one more sweet?”
The man very reluctantly said,
“I always wanted to be
part of this great Yagna, but I could not be part of the organizing
group. The only way I thought I could do some service and be part of
this glorious Yagna is by collecting the left-over wrappers of
devotees. Thank you for the carton box.”
“This Is The Way We Serve
Devotees In Gurudwara”
And this is no incident in isolation. The
Yagna worked on each individual in a magnificent way and how the
transformation found expression in each individual is something very
special and actually stirring.
Just outside the Sai Kulwant Hall on the
Southern side is a small shoe-stand where generally the students and the
staff leave their slippers before entering the Hall. One evening as the
Yagnam was going on, a senior student noticed that beside the shoe-stand
was the rear of a red turban. What’s a red turban doing here, he thought
and moved closer. As he went nearer, he found there was a head below the
turban and actually it was a person, a red-turbaned Sikh, who was
sitting facing his back to the road. The man intently looking down was
busy. With a neat napkin in his hand, he was assiduously cleaning a pair
of slippers. The amount of care and undivided attention that the man put
into want he was doing, it looked as if the man was cleaning a piece of
gold. Shocked beyond measure, the student bowed down to the middle aged
man.
“Why are you doing
this, Sir”, he asked, with all humility and
reverence. What the man replied sent a chill down the boy’s spine. The
devoted Sikh said,
“Yesterday in His discourse, Baba praised His boys very much, he said,
‘All our children are like gold, not impure gold, but pure and
unalloyed gold!’ I am new to Sai Baba and the Sai Organisation. I do
not know anybody here. But I love Baba and want to serve Baba. And the
best way I can serve I thought is wiping their slippers clean. This is
one way we serve the devotees who come to the Gurudwara in Punjab.” The student stood transfixed to the spot.
And these two examples are not alone as
this gentleman’s experience shows. Mr Gopal from South Africa, told
Heart2Heart that he and his wife had been drawn to do seva in the North
Indian canteen for the entire duration of the Yagnam. They missed most
of the ceremonies, but had been able to take part in the massive
prasaadam preparation work. Their job was to wrap up the prasaadam ready
to be distributed later in the day. Sometimes there was prasaadam both
morning and evening, so he and his fellow sevaks often found themselves
working until 10.30 at night, completing batches of up to 40,000 per
day. He mentioned that the spirit of camaraderie and love amongst those
preparing the prasaadam was unprecedented and a clear reflection of the
presence of Sai amidst them.
Just imagine what the world would be like
if every heart shines resplendently with purity and love just like the
Sikh gentleman, or the old man from Karnataka, or those workers in the
North canteen. Has anybody any doubts about the efficacy of Yagna? Just
like one cannot quantify the power of mother’s love or the bliss of
Mother Nature, the impact of the Yagna can only be felt. And just as
every second in vital in an hour and every drop important for the ocean,
every person in peace is a concrete step towards world peace.
The
True Yagna
But one does not necessarily need to
organize elaborate Yagnams for world peace. In His divine discourse on
the second day of the Yagnam, Swami said,
 |
|
Swami tells us what the true yagnam is
|
|
|
“We do not find the performance of sacred rituals
like yajnas and yagas anywhere else in the world. People think
that only offering oblations in fire is Yagna, but the true Yagna
is offering oneself to God, to please God and to become worthy of
His love.”
In fact, what the
Athi Rudra Maha Yagnam really did is it light this fire of inner
Yagna in the hearts of thousands who witnessed the grand spectacle.
“Even more enthralling than simultaneous Vedic
chanting,” Dr. Sadanand from USA
says, “were
the words delivered by the One from whom the Vedas, and indeed,
the universe itself originated. It reminded me that it is more
imperative now than ever before for all individuals to heed the
words of Bhagawan and cherish the loving touch of the Divine
Avatar in our lives.”
|
Speaking to a group of students on one
occasion, Bhagawan Himself asked,
“What is the meaning of Yagna?” And then went Himself
went on to explain,
“Any
action that you perform, if you offer the fruit thereof to the Lord,
it becomes a Yagna. In other words, a true Yagna involves unity of
mind, action and words.”
“We Need To Rededicate
Our Lives” – Sri Vinay Kumar
It is to remind one and all of this inner
Yagnam is what the real purpose of Athi Rudra Maha Yagnam is.
“It is time to be ready at Bhagawan’s call, and to
me it is not only a question of being an example but also to be
ready to sacrifice and use all my strength to meet challenges of a
transformation in my life,” said
Cecilia Parisi Frascati from Italy.
Sri Vinay Kumar, the
youth leader emphasized this very significant aspect of the Yagna on
the final day of the celebrations when he said,
“Efforts
towards world peace are happening whether this Yagna happens or
not. This was done only to put us on the right path. Only to
give us the thought process that we need to dedicate our lives
towards this end. And this surely is only a beginning. The real
work starts when every single soul sitting over here and the
rest of humanity sits up and thinks what one needs to do to take
all the aims that Swami has set out for us and convert them into
reality.”
|
|
|
|
|
Rewarding a worthy servant
|
|
Captain Ong from Singapore who was there
for the penultimate and last day of the Yagna says,
“Just last month, on
the 9th of July, one of the main intentions of the chanting by the
group Tibetan monks in Prasanthi Nilayam in His divine presence was
for the peace of the world and today, our Most Loving Bhagawan had
upped the scale and grandeur of His Divine Will with this Maha Yagna
and the forth coming one in Chennai. He so very much wants to confer
upon us the peace and bliss that is our very nature. Let’s us all open
our hearts so that God may do His work so that there will be peace in
the world.”
 |
|
'You must be
immersed in devotion' - Bhagawan
|
|
|
“Develop Devotion, Golden One!” – Bhagawan Baba
Whether we understand
world peace or not, whether we understand Swami’s grand mission or
not, one thing we can do which will take care of our personal
welfare as well as the welfare of the world and which Swami
emphasized over and over again during His discourses all the eleven
days is - love for God.
Swami said on the
very first discourse itself,
“Develop devotion, bangaru (golden ones)! You must be
immersed in devotion, not deep ocean. It is only such devotion
that will take you to the Divine.”
|
“This yagna, for me,
was a manifestation of love” said Harry Geurts, Visiting Faculty from the Netherlands. All
we have to do is to light this fire of God’s love in our hearts. This is
our true Yagna. Once guarded and protected with enthusiasm and
concentration, this is what will purify us, energise us, enlighten us
and one day help us merge into that pure ocean of consciousness that
divinity is all about.
– Heart2Heart team
