Sri Suktam Live Yagna with Om Swamiji

Whole Diwali night I could not sleep!

I could not doze for even a minute as I was ultra-excited to do live yagna in Sadhana App with Om Swamiji the very next morning. While doing a yagna I always visualized that He is doing yagna with me. I hadn’t done any yagna in the sadhana without creating His image in my mind. In Sri Suktam Sadhana in Sadhana App, I need not imagine His presence, He would be right there in front of my eyes. Thought of performing yagna and pouring ingredients almost at the same time with Him thrilled me.

But the bitter truth is that I was so busy in chanting mantras, doing sadhanas, meditating on divine and writing post for os.me that when I found the time to sleep, it was actually my time to wake up. Without blinking my eyes for a second, I started for my next day. I took a bath and entered my prayer room. The whole night pass by in chanting, meditating and doing sadhana. Whenever I felt sleepy, I got up to wash my face with chilled water.

At sharp 5:15 a.m. the yajna began. There was a screen in the middle to watch the live performance of yagna by Om Swamiji. On the left-hand side there were basic ingredients like ghee, firewood and havan samagri. The special ingredients were listed on the right-hand side which include raisins, white sesame seeds and red sandalwood, special ingredient to perform Purn Aahuti. In the middle a virtual yagna kund was created. As soon as Swamiji started performing yajna than I started crying. The tears of love and devotion for Him wetted my cheeks. I could not see the screen properly because of the salty water in my eyes. Sometimes I clicked the wrong ingredient because of blurredness. I cried in the beginning, in the middle and towards the end. The only period when I was not crying was while offering ingredients and chanting the first verse of Sri Suktam. It was a difficult mantra and I had to focus on it while chanting. Sometimes, I was crying so loud that I could barely hear which mantra He was chanting.

He was cleaning the outer environment by doing a yagna but His powerful voice was cleaning the negative tendencies of mind as they were flowing out of me in the form of tears. The feeling of jealousy, hatred, anger, fear and desires all were burning into ashes while meditating on the chants in His dynamic voice.

While doing this virtual yagna, I also learned an important lesson that the end of the life is the same for the rich and the poor –we all are a handful of ashes. How high or hot the fire flames of yagna may be but in the end, they will turn into a pile of ashes! ‘इदं न मम’ (idam na mama) which is chanted with the fire offerings simply means is ‘It is not mine’ that nothing in this temporary world belongs to me. I shed the rat chasing for temporary desires of this materialistic world for the permanent desire of God and God alone. His presence and His words helped me in connecting my soul with the Supreme soul to seek God’s mercy and His Blessings.

अफलाकाङ्क्षिभिर्यज्ञो विधिदृष्टो य इज्यते ।

यष्टव्यमेवेति मन: समाधाय स सात्विक:॥

aphalākāṅkṣhibhir yajño vidhi-driṣhṭo ya ijyate

yaṣhṭavyam eveti manaḥ samādhāya sa sāttvikaḥ

(Of yagna, that is performed according to duty and to scriptural rules, and with no expectation of reward, is of the nature of goodness.)

(Bhagavad Gita 17.11)

You can read more of my articles here, here and here.

Eulogy of Ma Lakshmi in Sadhana App

Meditation is a child play!

Seriously, if you have tried concentrating on the golden idol of Ma Lakshmi in Golden Palace in Sadhana App, you must have experienced that focusing on Her is as simple as making a big soapy bubble. How much we enjoyed creating those big bubbles! Similarly visualizing Ma’s golden image in which She is having lotuses in two hands, holding a pitcher in one and is blessing her devotees with the another in so easy. If you haven’t tried it yet, then try it out today on the auspicious Diwali night when everybody is lighting diyas outside why not you light one diya inside you.

After the japa and hawan the eulogy of Ma Lakshmi is done with the aarti. It is Ashtalakshmi Stotram in which eight forms of Ma Lakshmi are worshipped. The eight manifestations of Goddess, bestowing the different aspects of materialistic wealth like agriculture, valor, knowledge, money, progeny, courage, victory and royalty. You can read word to word meaning of the stotram here in English and here in Hindi

Adi Lakshmi brings happiness and prosperity to human beings. She is clad in red saree and is adorned with gold jewelry. She holds a flag in one hand and lotus in another hand. With one hand She is showering gold coins and with other She is blessing Her devotees with long life, good health and bliss.

आदिलक्ष्मी

सुमन सवन्दित सुन्दरि माधवी चन्द्र सहोदरी हेममये ।

मुनिगण वन्दित मोक्ष प्रदायनि मंजुल भाषिणि वेदनुते ॥

पंकज वासिनी देव-सुपुजित सद्गुण वर्षिणि शान्ति युते ।

जय जय हे मधुसुदन कामिनी, आदि-लक्ष्मी जये पालय माम्  ॥१॥

ādilakṣmi
sumanasa vandita sundari mādhavi, chandra sahodari hēmamayē
munigaṇa vandita mōkṣapradāyani, mañjula bhāṣiṇi vēdanutē ।
paṅkajavāsini dēva supūjita, sadguṇa varṣiṇi śāntiyutē
jaya jayahē madhusūdana kāmini, ādilakṣmi paripālaya mām ॥ 1 ॥

Dhanya Lakshmi is the goddess of sustenance. She is the Goddess of agriculture wealth. She manifests herself in seeds, grains, fruits, flowers, leaves, plants and trees. She is dressed in vibrant green saree and is holding wheat plant, sugarcane, gada, Abhaye Mudra, lotus flower, bunch of bananas, beautiful red color flower and Varada Mudra. She blesses Her devotees with opulence in farm yield.  

धान्यलक्ष्मी 

अहिकली कल्मष नाशिनि कामिनी, वैदिक रुपिणी वेदमये ।

क्षीर-समुद्भव मंगल रूपिणी, मन्त्र निवासिनी मन्त्रनुते ॥

मंगल दायिनि अम्बुज वासिनि, देव गणाश्रित पाद्युते ।

जय जय हे मधुसुदन कामिनी, धान्यलक्ष्मी जये पालय माम् ॥२॥

dhānyalakṣmi
ayikali kalmaṣa nāśini kāmini, vaidika rūpiṇi vēdamayē
kṣīra samudbhava maṅgaḻa rūpiṇi, mantranivāsini mantranutē ।
maṅgaḻadāyini ambujavāsini, dēvagaṇāśrita pādayutē
jaya jayahē madhusūdana kāmini, dhānyalakṣmi paripālaya mām ॥ 2 ॥

Dhairya Lakshmi blesses with everyone with happiness, calmness and peace. She bestows infinite courage, confidence and strength to fight against evil. She is wearing red color garments and is adorned with splendid jewelry. She is holding various weapons and things like chakra, conch, bow, arrow, trishula (trident) or a sword, bundle of palm leaves, the other two hands in Varada Mudra and Abhaye Mudra.

धैर्यलक्ष्मी 

जयवर वर्णिनी वैष्णवी भार्गवी, मन्त्र स्वरूपिणी मन्त्रम्ये ।

सुर-गण पूजित शीघ्र फलप्रद, ज्ञान विकासिनी शास्त्रनुते ॥

भव-भय हारिणी पाप विमोचनि, साधु जनाश्रित पादयुते ।

जय जय हे मधुसुदन कामिनी, धैर्यलक्ष्मी जये पालय माम् ॥३॥

dhairyalakṣmi
jayavaravarṣiṇi vaiṣṇavi bhārgavi, mantra svarūpiṇi mantramayē
suragaṇa pūjita śīghra phalaprada, jñāna vikāsini śāstranutē ।
bhavabhayahāriṇi pāpavimōchani, sādhu janāśrita pādayutē
jaya jayahē madhu sūdhana kāmini, dhairyalakṣmī paripālaya mām ॥ 3 ॥

Gaja Lakshmi is the protector of human beings. She is the giver of peace and prosperity. She is dressed in red saree and is holding two red lotus flowers in Her hands. She is showering gold coins from one hand and blessing Her devotees with another. Two elephants are pouring fragrant water on Her from both the sides which represents that She bestows one with royalty and power.

गजलक्ष्मी 

जय-जय दुर्गति नाशिनि, कामिनी सर्व-फलप्रद शास्त्रमये ।

रथ-गज तुरग-पदाति समावृत, परिजन मंडित लोकनुते ॥

हरिहर ब्रह्म सुपूजित सेवित, ताप निवारिणि पादयुते ।

जय जय हे मधुसुदन कामिनी, श्री गजलक्ष्मी पालय माम् ॥४॥

gajalakṣmi
jaya jaya durgati nāśini kāmini, sarvaphalaprada śāstramayē
radhagaja turagapadāti samāvṛta, parijana maṇḍita lōkanutē ।
harihara brahma supūjita sēvita, tāpa nivāriṇi pādayutē
jaya jayahē madhusūdana kāmini, gajalakṣmī rūpēṇa pālaya mām ॥ 4 ॥

Santana Lakshmi is the Goddess of fertility and progeny. She blesses Her worshippers with the children of high intelligence and good character. She is clad in golden saree and a cute baby is sitting in Her lap. She is holding a shield and a sword in Her two hands. In other two hands She had two pots decorated with mango leaves and coconuts in it.  

सन्तानलक्ष्मी

अहि-खग वाहिनि मोहिनि चक्रिणि, राग विवर्धिनि ज्ञानमये ।

गुण-गण वारिधि लोक हितैषिणि, सप्तस्वर भूषित गाननुते ॥

सकल सुरासुर देवमुनीश्वर, मानव वन्दित पादयुते ।

जय जय हे मधुसुदन कामिनि, संतान लक्ष्मी पालय माम् ॥५॥

santānalakṣmi
ayikhaga vāhini mōhini chakriṇi, rāgavivardhini jñānamayē
guṇagaṇavāradhi lōkahitaiṣiṇi, saptasvara bhūṣita gānanutē ।
sakala surāsura dēva munīśvara, mānava vandita pādayutē
jaya jayahē madhusūdana kāmini, santānalakṣmī paripālaya mām ॥ 5 ॥

Vijaya Lakshmi is the Goddess of victory, the victory of dharma or righteousness. She bestows one with the victory over anger, lust, greed, jealousy, hatred and evil thoughts. She is wearing red saree and is holding various weapons like disc, sword, shield and noose. She is holding lotus and conch in Her other two hands. She is also showing Abhaya Mudra and Varada Mudra to support Her devotees mentally and spiritually and to dispel fear of ignorance from them.

विजयलक्ष्मी 

जय कमलासनि सद्गति दायिनि, ज्ञान विकासिनि गानमये ।

अनुदि नमर्चित कुमकुम धूसर, भूषित वासित वाद्यनुते ॥

कनक-धरा स्तुति वैभव वन्दित, शङ्कर देशिक मान्य पदे । 

जय जय हे मधुसुदन कामिनी, विजय लक्ष्मी जये पालय माम् ॥६॥

vijayalakṣmi
jaya kamalāsini sadgati dāyini, jñānavikāsini gānamayē
anudina marchita kuṅkuma dhūsara, bhūṣita vāsita vādyanutē ।
kanakadharāstuti vaibhava vandita, śaṅkaradēśika mānyapadē
jaya jayahē madhusūdana kāmini, vijayalakṣmī paripālaya mām ॥ 6 ॥

Vidya Lakshmi is the Goddess of knowledge which helps in the intellectual development of Her devotees. She provides value-oriented education to those who worship her with full devotion. She is holding lotus flowers in Her two upper hands. The lower two hands show Varada Mudra, a boon giving gesture and Abhaya Mudra, a power to overcome fear, anxiety, insecurity and ignorance.

विद्यालक्ष्मी 

प्रणत सुरेश्वरि भारति भार्गवि, शोक विनाशिनि रत्नमये ।

मणिमय भूषित कर्ण विभूषण, शान्ति समावृत हास्य मुखे ॥

नवनिधि दायिनि कलिमल हारिणि, कामित फलप्रद हस्त युते ।

जय जय हे मधुसुदन कामिनी, विद्या लक्ष्मी पालय माम् ॥७॥

vidyālakṣmi
praṇata surēśvari bhārati bhārgavi, śōkavināśini ratnamayē
maṇimaya bhūṣita karṇavibhūṣaṇa, śānti samāvṛta hāsyamukhē ।
navanidhi dāyini kalimalahāriṇi, kāmita phalaprada hastayutē
jaya jayahē madhusūdana kāmini, vidyālakṣmī sadā pālaya mām ॥ 7 ॥

Dhana Lakshmi grants wealth, money and riches. She also blesses us with natural resources like river, ocean, sun, moon, star, sky, clouds, rain etc. which is too a form of wealth. She has a beautiful aura around Her. She is beautifully dressed in maroon saree with adorable golden necklaces embedded with jewels of various length. She holds chakra, bow and arrow, golden coins (showers), conch, golden pot and lotus flower in Her hands.

धनलक्ष्मी

धिमि-धिमि धिन्धिमि-दिन्धिमी दुन्धुभि नाद सुपूर्णमये ।

घूमघूम घुंघुम घुंघुम घुंघुम, शङ्ख निनाद सुवाद्य-नुते ॥

वेद पूराणेतिहास सुपूजित, वैदिक मार्ग प्रदर्शयुते ।

जय जय हे मधुसूदन कामिनि, श्री धनलक्ष्मी पालय माम् ॥८॥

dhanalakṣmi
dhimidhimi dhindhimi dhindhimi-dindhimi, dundhubhi nāda supūrṇamayē
ghumaghuma ghuṅghuma ghuṅghuma ghuṅghuma, śaṅkha nināda suvādyanutē ।
vēda pūrāṇētihāsa supūjita, vaidika mārga pradarśayutē
jaya jayahē madhusūdana kāmini, dhanalakṣmi rūpēṇā pālaya mām ॥ 8 ॥

I meditated on Gaja Lakshmi, and She has always blessed me with courage, valor and power.  You can choose the verse of your choice to meditate for just two minutes to experience transformation in your life. 

Pic : A shining star guiding towards Golden Palace in Sadhana App.

Sri Suktam Abhishekam of Ma Lakshmi in Sadhana App

An implausible milestone!

I had performed only Sri Suktam (4 min) Abhishekam of Ma Lakshmi in Sadhana App in which water, milk, yogurt, red garland, dhoop, handheld bell and handheld lamp were used while anointing Ma with 16 verses of Sri Suktam. According to Dr. T. S. Narayana Swamy, "Sri Suktam is a grand hymn extolling a great deity. It is verily a gift of god to the mortals." I did it just to give it a try. Surprisingly, I neither felt any spiritual experience nor devotional peace.  It was a ritual that I performed just by tapping the buttons one after the other. I did not feel any special divine feelings for Ma Lakshmi while doing it. But Ma is MA. She is the Universal Mother. She takes care of us like her own children. It did not matter whether we did pooja with devotion or without devotion. 

Later, same day, my employee called me to seek permission to do an important pending work in my prime property. I told him that it was not feasible as I had already tried hard for fifteen years. No success due to expected or unexpected hurdles. He explained his strategy to work on it. I was happy yet a bit tense.  Being knowledgeable about Vastushastra, I knew that the task when completed would be forthbringer of monetary gains. 

After three days, my employee called me to share the good news that the work was done without any hindrance. He had accomplished the task very smoothly. I was elated.  

I felt an immense surge of emotions to express gratitude to Ma. I hurriedly clicked the buttons of my gadget. I entered Golden Palace in Sadhana App and opted for Abhishekam with Lakshmi Sahasranama (35 min). The following virtual ingredients were used water (jal), Gangajal,  milk (doodh), honey (madhu), yogurt (dahi), mango juice (aamra ras), white sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, pomegranate juice, sugar, turmeric, kumkum (sindoor), rice (akshata), vermillion, fragrant oil, small pot, gold, red cloth, red garland, sacred thread, betel nuts, paan, flowers, saffron, rice pudding (kheer), sweetmeats (ladoo), cloves, red sandalwood, kusha grass, green grass, dry fruits, incense, bananas, camphor, dhoop, handheld bell, ghee lamp and handheld lamp. It was a divine experience to hear Ma Lakshmi’s sahasranama (1000 names). I was overjoyed to hear my name as one of Ma's names. I offered all the ingredients with immense love and devotion to Her. With each offering, I thanked Her from the depths of my heart. The more I thanked Her the more I wanted to express my gratitude.

Ma is the epitome of compassion. She is eternally the bestower of happiness, wealth and prosperity.

You can read the previous parts of this post here, here and here.

Pic : Lakshmi Sahasranama Abhishekam in Sadhana App

Vastu Tips to Remove Financial Crisis

This post is the sequel of a day before yesterday post and yesterday post.

Almost a decade back, I visited a house for Vastushastra consultancy. I suggested them that they should change the position of the double bed and the almirah in which they keep valuables so that their financial problems can be solved. After a week when I visited them again, the owner of the house excitedly told me that when they shifted the furniture, in the dust bunny behind the bed they found a golden ring which they had lost a couple of years back. I still wonder about it!

The following points are not based on one success story but hundreds and thousands of my clients who have been benefited over the period of nearly two decades. These tips are so simple to follow however they give surprising results sooner or later.

1.      The altar or the prayer room should be in the North, East, North-East corner of the house.

2.      Make the North, East and North-East area of your house (marked as tick in the figure) junk free and as light as possible. Keep this part of your house as spacious as possible. Declutter it. (Maybe you also find some lost golden ring(s)!) Remove steel almirahs and heavy furniture from this area and place them in the South, West or South-West direction of your house (marked as cross in the figure). 

3.      Try to keep the doors and windows in the North, East and North-East direction of your house open for the maximum possible time so that the beneficial rays enter your house in abundance.

4.      Place big planters with creepers and heavy plants in the South, West, South- West area of the house so that the positive rays stay in your house. This will help you grow monetarily.

5.      Place a water filled pot for birds in the North, East or North-East corner on the roof or balcony. Daily change the water of the pot. It will bring prosperity for the residents of the house.

6.      Daily feed birds with just a half teaspoon of broken rice on the roof, terrace, balcony or windowsill in your house in the North, East or North-East direction of your house. It is an easy peasy point but blesses one with enormous wealth.

7.      The almirah in which you keep your valuables and money should be in the North or East area of the house. But the almirah should be placed along with the South or West wall of the room.

I charge a decent sum of money from my clients for sharing some of the above points. But I am writing it on my blog for free with a request to the readers to donate generously in the Sadhana App. If you do not have sufficient funds right now then please do not worry, donate whenever you have ample.

For further reading I suggest this, this and this.

Pic : Unsplash

Welcome, Ma Lakshmi!

Your overwhelming response to my post the other day as it was 1000th post on my blog, I am tempted to write this sequel. 

Enter the Golden Palace in Sadhana App to meditate on golden idol of Ma Lakshmi. As you close your eyes you will be able to visualize Her very easily as compared to any other image of Ma Lakshmi. Express your one desire to Her. Remember only ONE, not two and never three. Do not be greedy. You want a decent job, a hike in pay, good profit in business, gold coins, exquisite food, luxurious car, expensive clothes, magnificent mansions, wisdom of righteous thoughts, righteous words and righteous deeds, knowledge of immortality, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death. The choice will always be yours. She is the embodiment of grace. It is Her nature to be eternally merciful to her devotees and bless them in opulence. 

On Diwali 2021, Om Swamiji said, “Good acts are mandatory prerequisites to spiritual activities like chanting, meditation etc. In the absence of these prerequisites, one’s devotion becomes bereft of spiritual grace and strength. It is incomplete and leaves us spiritually weakened. Sri Narayan can be attained with purity and good deeds. Sri Bhagwan and Sri Mata reside in the hearts that are brimming with purity.”

Put a cut on your expenditure and light the lamp in someone else’s life with that saved money. Last Diwali, I did not decorate my house with decorative lights, attractive lamps, glass jar lanterns, colorful candles, creative rangolis, fresh flowers or any other costly decorative items rather I was helping the bubbling students who were interested in upgrading their knowledge with the course ‘Walk the Dragon’ by Om Swamiji so that they could ‘learn and earn’. In future, when they would be financially sound, they could pay this course forward to other needy ones. In this way, we all could take baby steps to make this world a better and a more beautiful place to live. This is my way of welcoming Ma Lakshmi.

One can also opt to eradicate one of the negative emotions like hatred, jealousy, anger, greed, lust etc. or one can develop a good virtue like compassion, love, kindness, forgiveness etc. Swami Tejomayananda said, “The most beautiful thing to do on Diwali is to forgive everyone around us. Once we forgive, the intellect becomes subtle, pure and mature. We will be filled with love and happiness.”

If you enjoy reading this post then you will also enjoy this, this and this.

Pic : Golden Palace in Sadhana App 

Say Goodbye to Your Financial Crunch

“I am helpless, what should I do?”

A young guy who was going through financial crunch, bad health issues and onus of family responsibility asked me a couple of months back.

I suggested, “Do chanting of Mahalakshmi Tantric Mantra ‘Om Shreeng Mahalakshmayai Namah’ in Golden Palace in Sadhana App. When you become comfortable with the chanting also try Sadhana of Mahalakshmi in Sadhana App.”

The mantra contains the universal sound ‘Om’ which is the most powerful sound and can invoke pure vibrations. Swami Vishnudevananda in the book ‘Mediation and Mantras’ explained that ‘Shreeng’ is the Mantra of Maha Lakshmi. ‘Sha’ is Maha Lakshmi, ‘Ra’ means wealth, ‘Ee’ is satisfaction or contentment. Nada is the manifested Brahman, and ‘Bindu’ is the dispeller of sorrow.” Mahalakshmi is the consort of Lord Vishnu and is a bountiful provider. According to V.R. Gowri Shankar, Administrator Sri Sringeri Math, “Sri Mahalakshmi is the bestower of benefits. She is the giver of prosperity, splendor and glory. She represents the emergence of divine qualities in the sadhaka, subduing rugged tendencies. Purity of mind is another form of wealth, also achieved through praying to Lakshmi.” Mahalakshmi not only grants materialistic wealth to devotees but also blesses them with liberation from these repeated cycles of birth and death. ‘Namah’ means that I bow down to the Goddess Lakshmi. According to T. S. Narayana Swamy, “Goddess Lakshmi is manifested in eight forms as a mother of eight different aspects of prosperity. Adi Lakshmi brings happiness to mankind. Dhanya Lakshmi is the goddess of nourishment. Dhana Lakshmi grants wealth. Santana Lakshmi blesses with the children of high intelligence and good character. Gaja Lakshmi is the protector of humanity and promoter of peace and prosperity. Vidya Lakshmi grants value-oriented education to those who worship her. Vijaya Lakshmi bestows one with the victory over anger, lust, greed, jealousy, hatred and evil thoughts. Dhairya Lakshmi blesses with infinite courage, confidence and strength to fight against evil.”

Worshipping MahaLakshmi in Sadhana App by chanting, performing yajna and doing sadhana, the young guy’s problems were solved miraculously. Moreover, he had sufficient funds to take good care of his responsibilities.

The chanting of this mantra must be followed by yajna of Ma Lakshmi. Brief Yajna (4 minutes) which include fire offerings on Tantric Mantra and Gayatri of Mahalakshmi. One can also do Medium Yajna (10 minutes) which contains the offerings on the various names of Ma Lakshmi, Tantric Mantra and Mahalakshmi Gayatri Mantra. One should try to do Elaborate Yajna (15 minutes) to spend more time with the deity in which offerings are made on hundred names of Ma Lakshmi.

The auspicious time to carry out this is mentioned in the right-hand side bar under the heading 'Auspicious Date'. You can make the maximum use of this super auspicious time by choosing chanting and yajna according to your capacity and availability of time. You can also do Lord Ram yajna during this span of time before or after it.

Some points that one should keep in mind while worshipping Ma Lakshmi are as follows: -

1.      Do not touch the screen with your index finger while doing Mahalakshmi pooja in Sadhana App. Index finger brings poverty, ill health and bad luck. Try to touch the screen with the ring finger. You can also use other fingers and thumb as well.

2.      Divide the house in nine equal parts and as shown in figure. Worship Goddess Mahalakshmi while sitting in the North, North-East or East corner of the house. While worshipping Goddess one should face towards North, North-East or East.

Follow all these points sincerely and call Ma with immense devotion. You will be blessed with wealth and prosperity.

‘Khul ja sim sim’ (Open sim sim) as the magnificent doors in the Sadhana App open then one can have the darshan of the amazingly beautiful Mother Divine. The mother is holding golden lotus flowers in Her two hands, in one hand She is holding a pot filled with nectar and with the other hand She is blessing her devotees with name, fame, knowledge, victory, good children, valor, gold, delicious food, happiness, bliss, wisdom, beauty, religious thoughts, good health and liberation. The deity in the App is made up of Gold, showering golden blessings on Her devotees in the form of gold coins and golden knowledge. One is blessed to have Ma’s divine darshan on the screen!

Does the owl wink at you like me? ;)

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Pic : ‘Khul ja sim sim’ in Sadhana App

Yajna of Lord Ram in Sadhana App

I started crying uncontrollably.

As soon as I heard ‘Om Shri Ramaye Swaha’ in Om Swamiji’s magical voice while performing Elaborate Yajna (16 minutes) of Lord Ram in Sadhana App, I began to cry loudly. The tears of devotion flowed down, wetting my soft cheeks. Swami Tejomayanada said, “The world will make you cry so it is better that you cry for God.” ‘Om Shri Ramaye Namahe’ is the first mantra of Lord Ram’s hundred names. It means that I bow down to Lord Ram who is the giver of happiness.

Yajna is a ritual of self-dedication by which one can unite with the Supreme Power by cultivating cosmic love. It facilitates kindness and compassion by connecting all human beings together just like all the different colors of beads in a mala. It helps in eradicating the feeling of separateness which one experience due to false ego. According to Swami Krishnananda, “It is a sacrifice of all those factors which tend to tether the soul to the bodily tabernacle into the fire of knowledge of the Absolute.”

Thousands of yajna I have performed solely as well as with my family members. Therefore, I was quite familiar with the opening mantras of the yajna. Although, a few mantras were new to me which I was hearing for the first time, I thoroughly enjoyed offering ingredients with the Sanskrit arduous mantras. The material used to do fire offerings were ghee, firewood, havan samagri, paddy, guggal, sugar, camphor, dry fruits, cloves, rice, red sandalwood, white sandalwood, black sesame seeds, white sesame seeds, fox nuts, satavari, cardamom, dry coconut and rice pudding. I was well known with all the items except satavari. I had never seen or heard about it. I asked Google Baba and I came to know that it is a deep-rooted medicinal plant grown in the Himalayas. Its roots are used in fire offerings.

While performing this yajna I became familiar with the Gayatri of Lord Ram – Om Dasarathaye Vidmahe Sitavallabhaya Dheemahi, Tanno Ramah Prachodayat. It connected me with my Lord Ram as if we are not two but one. Purnahuti was made with dry coconut which was followed by melodious Stuti ‘Shri Ramchandra Kripalu Bhaju Mana’ a soul uplifting bhajan written by Tulsidas.

In the book, ‘Am I a Hindu?’ Ed Viswanathan said, “Yajna is usually done for material human welfare. Of course, by performing yajnas, a devotee is indirectly brought closer to God, for he fully understands the power of God in his day-to-day affairs. Physical health, mental discipline, expansion and purification of the heart are only some of the benefits. Whatever desire a person has while doing the havan, that desire is fulfilled.” The auspicious time to do yajna of Lord Ram to fulfil one’s desire is mentioned on the right-side bar under the heading 'Auspicious Date'. 

Swami Sivananda said, “Life is a yajna, a holy sacrifice, and the world, which is the field of righteous action, is the altar at which the individual offers himself to God.”

So, make hay while the sun shines!

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Pic : An Elaborate Yajna of Lord Ram in Sadhana App