Tradition of Yajna-Satyananda Saraswati

There was a time when yajnas were a part of the day to day culture of this land. Rishis and munis performed yajnas of all kinds. It was quite common to drop in at the hermitage of a rishi and discover them in the midst of a yajna. The chanting of Vedic mantras abounded in the atmosphere. The fragrance of homa and the tranquil resonance of sattwic vibrations filled the air. It felt as if beauty and auspiciousness had made their permanent abode there. The seasons were always kind and benevolent. Fruits and flowers adorned the trees. Birds chirped merrily. Deer and wild beasts frolicked around not at all wary of humans. The water and air was pure and invigorating. Peace and tranquillity pervaded the surroundings.

Imagine that picturesque scene. The simplicity and richness of that event. The surcharged energy and feeling of unity that it generates. The willpower and stamina that it creates. The immense satisfaction and joy that is felt. The dynamism and power of the mantras which forbid any negative vibrations to enter that sphere. The love and compassion that arises from within. The profound understanding that develops of the role of each and every speck of creation and one's own place within that.

That is the purpose of a yajna. Yajna is no different to yoga. Asanas, pranayama, dharana and dhyana are not the only forms of yoga. Yajna is also a form of yoga. Asanas discipline and regulate the body to function in its optimum condition. Dharana and dhyana train the mind to focus and concentrate. Those forms of yoga are for the body and mind, the physical attributes of man. Yajnas are more than that. They are esoteric yoga. They deal with a part of you that you do not know, have never experienced, and can never see. Yajnas communicate with the hidden part of you. It is not the language of words. It is pure experience. Therefore, your conscious mind cannot understand it nor is it even necessary for your mind to comprehend all that is happening.

The mind simply does not have the faculty to know that dimension because it functions in the realm of intelligence. Even your buddhi cannot take you there because buddhi is governed by intellect. Beyond intelligence and intellect there is a much greater power and that is intuition or prajna. Yajnas alter the state of mind and buddhi to give an experience of that. The esoteric nature of a yajna draws out eternal archetypes that are embedded in us. Without our knowledge, with ease and comfort great transformations take place within us. Samskaras from the causal body get a chance to express themselves and thus blockages and obstacles are removed.

Yajnas exist in time as well as beyond time and space. The smoke that arises from the yajna kund travels to higher realms and other planes of existence. It is consumed by the cosmic energy. This is why yajnas are conducted by proficient pundits with great accuracy and philosophical attention.

Everything that is offered at a yajna is taken from nature. No substances of chemical or artificial origin are used. The fuel that is burnt is aromatic and purifies the air. It is kindled by rubbing the samidha sticks, not with a candle or matchstick. The persons who kindle the fire are those who have been devoted to fire worship for generations and generations. In their daily life they worship the fire with mantras at sunrise and sunset. It is called the heavenly fire, because it reaches out to the heavens and forms a link between heaven and earth.

It is that enchanting scene which will be recreated at Paramahamsa Alakh Bara during Sita Kalyanam. This will give us a chance of witnessing the glorious heritage bestowed on us by our ancestors, the rishis and munis. It is such events that restore global order and uphold the world we live in. If yajnas were not held the earth would degenerate and all life would be crushed. We would not have to die to go to hell, we would experience it here while living.

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