Athi
Ruthra Maha Yajnam- FAQ How is Athi Ruthra Maha Yajnam performed?
Lord Shiva is worshipped traditionally in the form of a "LINGA" -
resembling the brahmanda - without a begining or an end. "ABHISHEKA" is
ritual of worship dearest to His heart. The "ABHISHEKA" is performed while
chanting mantras of Vedic and scriptual lore. Sage Satapatha in his
treatise "Maharnava Karma Vipaka" listed four types of Abhisheka. Those
are:
Rudram
Ekadasa Rudram
Maha Rudram
Athi Rudram - each being more protent than the preceding one.
The text of "Rudra Prasnam" is given in' the fifth prapathakam of the 4 th
Kanda of " KRISHNA YAJUR VEDA TAITREEYA SAMHITA".
Sri Rudram as it is called consists of two major divisions: NAMAKAM&
CHAMAKAM. Each of them consists of eleven "ANUVAKAS" or paragraph.
Methods of chanting Sri Rudram :
Chanting of Namakam & Chamakam once.
Chanting of whole of Namakam & first Anuvaka of Chamkam; then repeat whole
of Namakam & second Anuvaka of Chamakam and so on till the eleventh
chanting of the whole of Namakam is followed by eleventh Anuvaka of
Chamakam - this is called "EKADASA RUDRAM".
"EKADASA RUDRAM" being chanted by eleven Rithwiks (Performers of the Yanga)
simultaneously constitutes a "LAGHU RUDRAM".
Chanting of "EKADASA RUDRAM" by 121 Rithwiks (11 x 11) simultaneously is
called "MAHA RUDRAM".
"MAHA RUDRAM" being chanted by the same Rithwiks for eleven consecutive
days constitute "ATHI RUDRAM".
Therefore in "ATHI RUDRAM" is included chanting of 14,641 NAMAKAMS and
1,331 CHAMAKAMS. Simultaneously with Rudrabhishekam, Rudra Homas are
conducted by 121 Rithwiks in 11 Homakundas.
A Linga is installed specially for Rudrabhishekam daily. Side by side
Rudraparayanas and Rudra Homas, other related rituals such as Sri Sai
Gayathri Homas, Lingabhisheka Poojas, Kramarchana Parayanas and Tarpanas
will also be performed.
Where is Athi Ruthra Maha Yajnam being celebrated?
The loacation is Chennai, India. In the southern suburb of the city at
Thiruvanmiyur an open ground of nine acres is the venue. A high roof
construction to seat thousands of devotees has been installed, including
the yagasala with eleven homakundas. Ancillary facilities such as
residential accommodation and kitchen facilities for the exclusive use of
the Rithwiks have also been erected.
Why is the Athi Ruthra Maha Yajnam being celebrated?
Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam has been celebrated for "Loka Kalyanam" (for the
welfare of the world) -- for peace and prosperity of its inhabitants, for
global peace, for realignment of the elements to their pristine glory.
Man has abused the bounties of Mother earth and exploited them callously
and polluted them for his personal benefits. To restore the balance in the
environment of planet earth, this Athi Rudra Maha yajnam is performed.
Hence the beneficiaries are the living creatures of this world.
An yajnam being performed by the Avatar of the age - "Rudra Himself - all
of us who are a part of it, those who attend at least one session and
those who hear even a fraction of it should consider ourself blessed.
Baghavan Baba in his discourse on 19 th August 2006 at Prasanthi Nilayam
during an earlier Athi Ruthra Maha Yajnam declared,
"This yajna is conducted to realize the "Atma Tatma", not with a view to
achieve some physical and worldly benefits. This yajna is not merely for a
few individuals; it is for the entire world. The mantras chanted here have
mixed in the air and spread to the entire universe. These sacred sounds
entered our hearts and purified them. Hence, do not think that the mantras
in this chanted yajna are confined only to this place. They are spread to
the entire world. The yajna is not only for the benefit of India but also
to all countries".
These Mantras are essential for the wellbeing of every human being. The
Vedas transcend the individual (Vyasti) and concerns inself with Samishti
swarupa (collective form).
What is auspicious about the dates being chosen for Athi Ruthra Maha
Yajna?
The days and timings have been determined by Baghavan hilmself. He
ordained that this Chennai Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam shall be performed at
the beginning of the auspicious time of "Uttarayana." The date of
commencement will be 19 th January 2007 and the final day will be 30 th
January 2007.
The morning session will be started in the "Bramaha Murtha" time (between
4.00 AM and 5.30AM) and concluded around 10.00 AM. The afternoon session
will commence from 2.00 PM and will be over by 4.30 PM. These will be
followed by divine discourse by Baghavan, lectures by scholars and
specialists and music and cultural programs. The Proceedings will come to
close by 5.30 to 6.00 PM.
The Poornahuthi will be in the forenoon session on 30 thJanuary 2007.
For the last question "WHEN" - the days and timings have been fixed by
Baghavan Baba hilmself. He ordained that this Chennai Athi Rudra Maha
Yajnam shall be performed at the beginning of the auspicious time of "Uttarayana."
The date of commencement will be 19 th January 2007 and the final day will
be 30 th January 2007.
The morning session will be started in the "Bramaha Murtha" time (between
4.00 AM and 5.30AM) and concluded around 10.00 AM. The afternoon session
will commence from 2.00 PM and will be over by 4.30 PM. These will be
followed by divine discourse by Baghavan Baba, lectures by scholars and
specialists and music and cultural programmes. The Proceedings will come
to close by 5.30 to 6.00 PM.
The Poornahuthi will be in the forenoon session on 30 thJanuary 2007.
What are the protocols and procedures for the Athi Ruthra Maha Yajna?
En essence, it is according to the strictest adherence to the letter and
sprit of the procedure laid down in the “Agama Shastra”. Perhaps nowhere
else such strict adherence to "Agama Shastra" will be encountered as in
these, conducted under the direct supervision of Veda Purusha Himself,
Baghavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. All Rithwiks were selected by Baghavan
himself. They strictly practice all the austerity regarding food, dress
and living style.
All individuals volunteering to serve in the yajnam also have to strictly
adhere to austerity prescribed for them by Baghavan Himself. Strict
adherence to these values prior to and during the yajnam will result in
these becoming a way of life even after the yajnam.
The water for the Abhishakam from the designated rivers in the country
will have to be collected in a specified container by designated devotees,
as the origin of these rivers while chanting these mantras and seal them
and bring the container to the yagasala. Every single item of the offering
of the yajna has to be procured and preserved in this uncompromising
purity not only of quality but also the thought and actions of the
performer.
During the first Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam at Prasanthi Nilayam, when
guidance was sought from Baghavan about the location and the height of
istallation of the LINGA for abhishekam, the direction was that it should
be visible to the person sitting in the last row of the huge Sai Kulwant
Hall. He said "I want everyone to witness and derive grace and benefit
from it".
Baghavan and the New World
The New World is not a world without suffering. But it is a world in which
man will not inflict suffering on man. It is not a world without darkness,
but it is a world in which man believes that he can conquer darkness. It
is not a world without death, but it is a world where man knows that there
is life beyond death. The New World is not a world that looks up to God in
heaven for its redemption, but it is a world where men join hands with God
on earth, to bring heaven down to earth. In this heaven on earth no one
will be allowed to starve or go without raiment and shelter; none will
suffer without medicine and care when needed. No child born into this new
world is denied opportunity of right to education. This is the vision and
that should inspire us today.
Some, may think that such an idea is Utopian, and not practical. But let
us remind ourselves, the greatness of man lies in aspiring and working for
goals that are seemingly unreachable. We should have implicit faith that
with Swami by our side, anything can be achieved. The Sai Avatar has come
with a mission. It is bound to be fulfilled. Let us find fulfillment in
our lives by being part of this glorious divine mission.
