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Index of earlier Bulletins
August 9, 2006
This morning Bhagawan came for darshan at 7:10 AM. The priests of the Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam were seated in the Bhajan Hall. Swami went in to the Bhajan Hall and interacted with them. We could hear them chanting mantras for quite a while. Before Bhajans Swami went for a drive upto Gokulam and returned.
In the afternoon, there was a lot of excitement and anticipation in the air as today would mark the beginning of the Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam. The Kulwant hall was tastefully decorated and a pandal with 11 Yajnakundams (sacrificial pits) had been put up. The pandal was almost entirely made of "coconut tree items". It was supported by pillars which had a huge pot at the base and a first tier of coconuts. The second tier consisted of arecanut bundles, followed by holy ferns and then coconut leaves decorations. The leaves had also been intricately interwoven to form a fabric sheltering the whole pandal. Yellow coconuts with little yellow arecanuts hanging below adorned the whole pandal. The holy water from the rivers of Bharat had been placed in one corner and the vessels numbered more than 100. The main stage had also been decorated with flowers and a flower arch had been placed over the Ganesha idol. A metre high Lingam surrounded by three smaller Lingams had been placed.
Swami came out of the Yajur Mandiram at 2:35 pm. The car was led by a procession of 132 Rithwicks (the pundits to perform the Yajnam) and other people holding different paraphernalia. Swami got down in front of the pandal next to the steps leading to the main stage. He sat on the sofa smiling and listening to the chants by the students. At 3:00 pm He told Shri Vinay Kumar, the chief organiser, to begin the proceedings. Firstly there was a song entitled "Athi Rudra Maha Yajna Purusha Sai". At 3:05 pm Shri Vinay Kumar spoke. He related as to how when Swami was told that the Yajnam was being performed for Rudra's joy and satisfaction (Trupthi), Swami said, "But I am always joyous and satisfied!" Then Swami had continued to say that people often mistake Rudra to be an angry God with fiery eyes, but 'Do I look angry? I am full of love'. He said that our great fortune was that Rudra Himself had decided to perform the Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam. (when 11 priests chant the Rudram and Chamakam 11 times around 11 sacrificial fires for 11 days- a total of 14641 chants- it becomes an Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam).
Shri Lakshminarayanan, one of the organisers of the yagnam, was the next speaker. He was followed by the Pradhamacharya (head priest), Shri. Nanjunda Dixit. He said that Swami was the force behind everything as without His will even a blade of grass could not move. He also said that the Lingam would be installed as an object of focus and that God is in fact One.
He concluded his speech and bowed to Swami. As the Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam preliminaries were about to start, Swami sprang a pleasant surprise on all of us. He got up and began to move towards the microphone. Sensing an imminent discourse, the table and His mikes were quickly brought. Given below is the summary of the Divine discourse -
" Embodiments of Love. With the introduction of the English language, love for one's own language has gone down. There is no refinement and culture. Human Values are fast disappearing. This Bharat is a land of merit, sacrifice and purity. Men and women of highest character have treaded on this soil and made it holy. Savitri revived her dead husband by sheer power of her chastity while with the same power Chandramati could put out a fire. Sita came out unscathed from the fire only because she did not even look once at Ravana. Do you find such people anywhere else? No woman here ever confronts her husband. Bharat is the teacher for all nations. Where else will Shiva take birth?
Remember God will not manifest by mere rites. God responds to those with virtues and a pure heart. God is in all people and all material. Eashwara Sarva Bhootanaam. (picking the kerchief)This cloth is made of threads and that in turn is made of cotton. God is the basis for everything and is not ephemeral. Body and the mind are gifts of God no doubt, but do not carry on the sojourn of life making them your basis. Anything you do, do it as an offering to God. Attain God with Love and Truth. Rudram has two parts- the namakam and the chamakam. While the latter desires, the former denies. What is the significance? One must desire the good and deny the bad.
Vedas today have been neglected. Veda is the richest of all. It makes no differences of caste and creed. (At this point Swami called out two students who were from USA and Lithuania and told them to chant the Sri Suktam.) Swami's decision is that everyone in all the countries must chant the Vedas. It is not to be limited to the Brahmins and India alone. There are people from places like Iran here who chant the Vedas. Veda is the relief and remedy for all and not only for getting power or children. Fortunate are those who learn the Vedas and unfortunate are those, who, having learnt it, do not make efforts to spread and teach it to others. I am sending my students as my emissaries to spread this knowledge. (Swami now made the two students chant the Rudram) Do not neglect the Vedas. They contain the mysteries of nature in all totality.
Rudra is often mistaken as Shiva. Rudra is the essence of all the 4 Vedas. Yajnam or sacrifice means to sacrifice the fruits of action- not running away from home and responsibilities in the name of sacrifice. Why were you born? Not to eat, sleep and roam. You must help ever and hurt never. Do not hurt or use harsh words against anyone. To criticize is the worst sin.
Today's education is useless. The manifestation of divinity within is possible only by Educare. Educare makes patent what is latent. You can get Educare from God and God alone. And God is one. Jewels are many but gold is one. Cows are of many colours but milk is one. The truth is one but the wise call it by many names. We need an open heart to understand the unity in Divinity. Do not praise one God and criticize another. This message is not for the youth alone but for all. God's name is more powerful than even the mightiest of bombs. It will annihilate all the bad. Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam will uphold righteousness. Everyone can do it.
Vinay Kumar and his wife have given up all desires and they want only Swami. Vinay is the youth leader. Leaders like him are needed. Today there is a lack of leaders. Everywhere it is only money and business. But here everything is free. Education and hospitals - People come as patients with torn clothes and go back with new ones. All the seva dal members and students must render service. Then Swami's grace will be ensured.
(Swami then sang 'Hari Bhajan Bina')
Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam is noble and sacred. Those who perform it are blessed. The key is to do it with unity. This will lead to purity and then to divinity. The 6 vices are your enemies. Keep them away. You are all embodiments of the ATMA. Be happy, healthy peaceful and spiritual. But one cannot be happy without devotion. Immerse yourself in devotion and not the deep ocean (of Samsara).
Swami then sat down and the Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam began at 4:30 pm. It began with the Ganapati pooja and the Sadguru Prarthana. "Bhadram karne" and "Na Karmana" were vigorously followed by all. Then the Sai Gayathri was chanted and the Sankalpa and Pravara were done (where the space and time co-ordinates of the Yajnam were mentioned.) Swami in the meanwhile had the prasadam distributed to all people including the pundits. Then a cow and calf were brought and worshipped as part of the Godaan or the gifting of the cow. At about 5:00 pm Swami got up and went into the interview room. After a short while, He left for Yajur Mandiram. The Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam continued in all elaboration. The installation of the Kalasha and the Vaasthu Rakhoghna homam were also performed. The peetham (base of the lingam) was unveiled and it was about a foot high and completely silver. The Bimba Shuddhi pooja to wipe out all the mistakes committed while the lingam was sculpted was then performed. The Lingam was treated as a living God. Water, fruits and flowers were offered to it. The abhishekam was done with milk and water. After all the elaborate rituals, at about 5:45 pm, they began to prepare the "bed" for Rudra. As if to act as a natural air conditioner, it rained for the next 3 minutes! The Shayyadheevasa ('sleeping' of the Lord) was performed. The Lingam was literally placed in a cozy bed with fruits, flowers and incense. Lullaby was sung and music played in 5 ragas as the two chamargrahas (Fan bearers) gently fanned the Lord. Sentries - Indra on the East, Agni (S.E), Yama (S),Nirariti (SW), Varuna (W), Vayu (NW), Kubera (N), Shiva (NE), Brahma (above) and Ananta(below)- were posted to ensure a peaceful rest to the Lord! Offerings in gold and silver were made before the Deepam (100 wick lamp) was waved. As the Lord retired, Aarthi was sung and the eventful evening came to a close at 6:45 pm.
Images from the first day of the Yagnam are available at the Book Trust site.
During the Ati Rudra Maha Yagnam, Radio Sai will be broadcasting special half-hour capsules daily: The schedule page lists this programme as "Sounds from the Ati Rudra Maha Yagnam being conducted at Prasanthi Nilayam."
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