NOURISHMENT OF SUPER DIVINE ENERGIES PRINCIPLES VIA YAJNAS

In the Paanini Sootras the word Yajna comes from:

Yajayaachayatavicha uprakcharaksho nad.

It means worship of God, association with saints and charity . Thus according to Paanini Yajna means worship of demigods and worship of demigods via Hari. Just as each country elects its government for managing its nation aptly so as to ward off hardhips and problems faced by its citizens so too demigods are varius powers of Almighty God that give apt rainfall to the entire world and keep the cosmos well managed/governed. When the elected government’s tax collection is poor the lay public faces crime, looting etc. Similarly if Yajnas (tax) are not performed to appease demigods (government) as mentioned in Vaayu Puraana demigods fail to control water and other elements. Thus either the world faces floods or total lack of rains like famines etc. In turn world denizens undergo immense hardships and stressful lives.

In Nirukta (3/19/6) Yajna is synonymous with worship of demigods, fire sacrifices etc. Overhere demigods are appeased who in turn optimally control water, fire and other powers. In turn as a result world denizens sustain life without getting destroyed. But today in India because governments are secular the import of Vedas and Yajnas no longer rule the roost. The dire result of all this is that the world over, natural calamities have taken over. If only Yajna and Yaagas are performed everywhere along with other sacred activities natural calamities can be warded off so that joy and peace can reign everywhere around the globe.

HOW CAN THE ENTIRE WORLD BE NURTURED VIA YAJNAS?

The thing is we must offer demigods their required materials called Havya. We are gross but demigods are subtle. Suppose we give them their required materials, how will they actually receive them? They need subtle materials only then can they be propitiated. The solution given was ‘Yajna’. We must understand its example. We must give ‘food’ to our soul. We are gross and the food offered by us is gross too whereas the soul is subtle. How can the soul receive gross food? It requires subtle food. The solution for this is that we swallow this food via our mouths as an offering to Jatharaagni or fire of the stomach. This fire transforms gross food into a subtle form. This subtilized food is then imbibed by the soul which also renders our body hale and hearty. If gross food is not given to the soul our mind, body, sense organs will become diseased. Thus neither can we benefit nor aid others to do so. Our intellect will not only refuse to work for us but that it will not help others in need too.

When we offer sacred materials/Havya to the Yajna fire this gross fire transforms Havya into a subtle form. Further gross fire too becomes subtle in nature which merges into Super Subtle Fire. This in turn with the help of subtle wind enters the atmosphere and Diu Loka. Overhere demigods receive their subtle food. Demigods satiated by this subtle food shower rain on earth for food grain production. As a result mankind oozes with joy and peace . This is spoken of in Manu Smriti and Vedas too.

In the Nirukta (7/25/1) Shri Durgaachaarya writes that when we please demigods all animate/inanimate beings will be nurtured aptly because they are dependent on good rainfall and food grains. The way to please demigods is via Yajnas and hence Yajnas are of great value.

Scriptures proclaim that Yajnas are a must for appeasing demigods. So a pertinent question asked is who are demigods? How is mankind related to them? We cannot ignore them by not performing Yajnas and demigods too have their duty towards mankind. In the Bhagwad Geeta it is written that Prajaapati spoke thus:

Influence demigods appropriately via Yajnas. By satiating them they will satisfy you all. By mutually satiating one another attain the pinnacles of supreme greatness. The question asked is which are those demigods who can be pleased via world humanity using Yajna as the means? How do demigods in return create joyful circumstances for satisfying man’s desires?

If we delve deep into the above questions the names of demigods like Agni, Chandra, Prithvi, Soorya, Aushadhi, Vanaspati etc come to mind. How do Yajnas give them contentment? This question too must be pondered over in depth. A gross vision of this has been portrayed by Manuji in the following verse:

Yajna materials offered to sacred fire contact solar rays. Thus an apt atmosphere is created in interstellar space which manifests cloud formation. At the right time these clouds shower rain on earth which help produce herbs , plants, trees, fruits, vegetables, flowers etc. These are not only beneficial for human beings but that all living beings take full advantage of them to sustain their very existence. Various types of life forces are present in herbs , plants, trees, fruits, vegetables, flowers etc which sustain life of all creatures. These life forces are created by demigods like Agni, Chandra, Prithvi, Soorya, Aushadhi, Vanaspati etc. Therefore if we offer demigods their subtle food via Yajna fire they will help augment various life forces in a wholesome manner. This then is the method of satiating demigods via Yajnas. Prajaapati or world creator is performing Yajnas in the form of sun/moon sending rays to earth, sun sends heat and light, wind circulates life force and a group of demigods join forces to obstruct ‘demons’ in the form of virus/germs/bacteria from making us ill or warding off imminent death by them. Hence if we fail to execute Yajnas in a big way, demigods will refuse to perform their duty towards world creatures. This will then give a free for all roadway to demons to execute vile activities like epidemics, diseases, famines etc.

If we perform Yajnas methodically it helps in proper nourishing of demigods. This is what we mean by purifying atmosphere or warding off air pollution via Yajnas. Over here it also connotes nourishing of all demigods and not merely wind god. Thus all types of atmospheres are purified. Once demigods are nourished optimally they kill all human enemies like diseases etc which then go to bestow on man a long healthy life span. It is clearly mentioned in sacred scriptures that Yajnas are ‘food’ for demigods. In the Shatpath Braahmana it is said:

Prajaapati told demigods that Yajna materials are their food. Suppose we keep demigods humgry by not performing Yajnas most definitely tainted activities will augment the world over. Man will become diseased and die prematurely. Today all this is witnessed by us everywhere. It is an imperative fact that demigods obtain energy to function from Yajnas.

In the Shatpath Braahmana it is said:

Demigods function with means called Stoma. Stoma is a type of Yajna and thus only via Yajnas can demigods act.

Do Yajnas create beneficial situations or not in the atmosphere? This can be experienced first hand by one and all. When Yajna materials are offered to Yajna fire a special fragrance is inhaled by individuals in far off places. Life utility based powers of Yajna materials (Aahutis) are rendered extremely subtle. The help manifest life forces in demigods like Vayu, Prithvi, Soorya etc and they in turn sustain the life force of all creatures.

There are many who fear that instead of burning Ghee, grains and other valuable materials in the Yajna fire why not donate it to individuals in society for their welfare? Why ‘unnecessarily’ burn up all these materials to ashes? In reality those who question thus are purposely flaunting their ignorance. Assuming we donate a portion of Ghee to one individual only he/she will benefit marginally but if that same portion is offered to Yajna fire thousands will benefit by inhaling sacred Yajna fumes. It is hence that Yajnas are full of selfless service and renunciation. Every individual associated with it lovingly serves all beings. One portion of Yajna offering/Aahuti becomes so subtle which activitates infinite fold life forces in demigods. The latter in return give benefits to thousands of creatures in this world. In the Shatpath Braahmana such sentiments pertaining to Yajnas has been written beautifully as follows:

Asuras or demons covered all herbs with fatally venomos substances. Men and animals use herbs to sustain life. They thought that by making them use this we can defeat demigods. But what happened is that only animals ate those herbs and since human beings did not use them, demons could not defeat demigods.

One must note minutely in the above story that it is best to abstain eating food/herbs which contain demons in the form of disease generating bacteria, germs etc. Demons yearn to defeat demigods by making human and other creatures eat food grains, herbs etc that are infected by poisonous germs. Of course it is a fact that by not eating food, beings go hungry. How long can living beings live without food, air and water? And demons are so sly and vile that they do not reveal themselves very easily. It is difficult to first recognize them and then overcome them. Hence demons are said to put on a false garb and façade which deludes and harasses demigods. As mentioned in the story above demons were hiding in the food grains etc. Hence demigods vowed to destroy these demons so as to protect themselves from a demonic onslaught. Someone asked the demigods as to how would they destroy these demons? The answer given was that via Yajnas this was very much achievable. From this episode it becomes crystal clear that in order to destroy, germs, venom etc in food grains etc that are responsible for ill health one has to definitely take recourse to Yajnas. Wherever Yajna programs are conducted on a regular footing there health destroying bacteria etc dwelling in food, herbs etc are easily warded off.

The above story’s gist is given in Shatpath Braahmana thus:

Only via yajna health destroying germs were killed that are present in food/herbs partaken by humans and other beings. As a result not only world humanity but other beings too started partaking these herbs etc. What more proof is required to point out that Yajnas purify the atmosphere and thus ward off air pollution? In Braahmana texts there are many more such examples elucidated in detail. Readers can further refer to Gopath Braahmana’s Uttar Part (1/19) and Kausheetaki Braahmana (5/1).

In a nutshell one can say that it does not matter whether one is performing Yajnas for desire fulfillment or a regular Yajna. Its fruits may be material or spiritual but what stands out is that all Yajnas purify the atmosphere. None can refute this priceless fact. After performing Yajnas we cannot escape its great results. This is an imperative and most definite result of Yajnas. If we wish to attain any other goal of Yajnas even then we will have to go through this path. This is an inseparable bond between demigods and human beings. In this manner it is a root substratum of human society’s advancement.

It is only when humans successfully complete their Yajna, can demigods perform their appointed Yajna in return. This is a supreme righteous precept. It is one without a second, great and incomparable to anything else.

Maharshi Yaaska while commenting on Vedic terminology has the following to say about the word ‘Deva’:

Why are Devas/demigods called thus? The answer is because they donate/give charity . They throw light, become illumined themselves or stay in Diu Loka. Maharshi Yaaska’s observations clearly opine that ‘daa dyotana’ meaning illumination or illumining other things. It also connotes demigods who dwell in space. These qualities help identify demigods easily. Researchers opine that if you wish to prove anything 2 aspects are most required. What are they? One is characteristic and the other is proof. Scriptures too say that something can be proved only by their characteristic and proof. From the above characteristics Soorya, Chandra, Prithvi, Jal, Agni etc connote demigods/Deva which is their existence’s proof.

In the Yajur Veda (14/20) a Mantra tells us that earth, fire and other matter are clearly demigods:

If the Mantra is read aptly the reader will realize which material objects connote demigods. If demigods are revered via Yajnas man attains various powers. How does this happen? Let us understand this answer.

Regular Agnihotra is called Divine Yajna in scriptures. Divine Yajnas mean performing pious acts keeping demigods in mind. A Yajna pyre is erected and fire is lit in it. On a daily basis Havya or Yajna materials are offered in this sacred fire. By doing this demigods are pleased or in other words they are sanctified.

Fire is the mouth of demigods. Hence any material added to fire is received by various demigods. It is akin to humans eating food which is then passed on to every organ/cell of the body. In the same way materials added to Yajna fire are easily received by demigods like water, earth, fire, space etc.

When demigods like water, earth, fire, space etc. get purified it is called ‘honoring’ of demigods. Via Yajnas demigods are sanctified. Meaning they are purified. These sanctified/pleased demigods are utilized by householder beings. Via their sense organs all living beings imbibe these material objects.

This augments the power of our sense organs. Senses become pure, life becomes sacred and disease free. Our bodily organs made of pure and sacred water, food etc too becomes sanctified. Your mind is synonymous with the type of food you eat. Is it not power attained when the senses become potent and the mind is rendered pure and sacred? Which indeed is greater power than this? With a pure mind man can carry out innumerable tasks for sure.