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brahman
13 November 2010, 05:54 AM
The Atiratra Agnicayana or Athirathram is a 3000 year old Vedic ritual and is the longest and oldest surviving ritual of mankind: 2011, April 4-15.


http://lh3.ggpht.com/_-o2bsLf7TfE/TN5ro3yVdAI/AAAAAAAAAtg/-PWJmPVvrmc/DSC00295.JPG
Lakshmi Narayana Temple, Panjal





The Yajurveda and Samaveda practices that precede the Athirathram have begun at the Panjal Thottathil Mana and Kavupra Maarath Mana.

Preparations for the Panjal Athirathram 2011 began after obtaining consent from Shukapuram temple, as called for by tradition.

In 1975 Athirathram, a 12 day ritual was performed at Panjal(the same location), Kerala by Namboothiri Bramhins according to Samaveda tradition.

After a gap of 35 years, Athirathram will be held at the sleepy hamlet of Panjal in Thrissur district of Kerala, in April 2011.

The choice of Panjal as the venue for Athirathram 2011 is also in line with geographic and vaastu principles.

The yagnashala (where the ceremonies will be performed) is uniquely positioned to imbibe the energy of the sun, which has made Panjal the venue for almost all key yagnas held in Kerala in the past.

The rituals will begin every day with the vedic chantings and homas. On the last four days, the rituals would be held throughout the day and night without any break.

The expenses are estimated to touch Rupees 10 million and the organisers are expecting at elast 15,000 people to witness the rituals daily.
People of all religious belief can participate in the Athirathram .

The organisers are also planning to approach the scientific community to study the various effects of the ritual on the atmosphere and the surroundings.

1975 Athirathram performance was instigated by the Indologist Dr. Frits Staal of the University of California and by Mr. Robert Gardner, with support from several international agencies.


Athiratram 2011 Official site (http://athirathram2011.com/)

Athiratram 1975 (http://www.athirathram.org/home.html)

Ritual Enclosure (http://www.athirathram.org/rituals.htm)

Panjal – Trissur, Kerala (http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=panjal%2C+athirathram&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=)

Athiratram 2011-spread the word (http://athirathram2011.com/tell-a-friend.html)

Namboothiri Brahmins of Kerala (http://www.namboothiri.com/)


Please treat this as a personal invitation to visit god’s own country (http://www.keralatourism.org) this summer, and be a part of the overwhelming, most solemn ritual Athiratram.

Let’s gather under the resonant sounds, hear the verses sing and mediate......Love:)

brahman
13 November 2010, 06:07 AM
Athirathram 1975



"Miraculous events ended on April 24th 1975 "
Heavy rain after Yagam
Trichur, April 25
The 12-day "Athirathra yagna" ended at Panjal, 30 Kms from here, on Thursday with the completion of all the rites and burning of the yagnasala. (sheds).

An hour later, a heavy downpour fell over the area which the sponsors claimed was true to tradition and marked the "success" of the yagna. Those present at the concluding rites claimed that a "garuda"(eagle) flew over the yagnasala as it was set on fire, in confirmation of another traditional belief.
Trichur town too had a heavy shower last evening.

--The Hindu : India’s leading National Daily




http://www.athirathram.org/Yagashala.JPG
Ygashala




http://www.athirathram.org/Agni_Madhanam.JPG
Agni Madhanam



http://www.athirathram.org/Yajaman.JPG
Yajman



http://www.athirathram.org/Bricks_In_to_Cows.JPG
Bricks- Bird shaped




http://www.athirathram.org/Soma_Cart.JPG
Soma cart

Sahasranama
13 November 2010, 06:10 AM
I am very happy to see that these ancient rituals are kept alive.

brahman
13 November 2010, 06:14 AM
Pictures of Athirathram 1975 continued..


http://www.athirathram.org/Altar_Of_Fire.JPG
Altar of Fire




http://www.athirathram.org/offering.JPG
Offering




http://www.athirathram.org/Ploughing.JPG
Ploughing




http://www.athirathram.org/Domestic_and_New_Altar.JPG
Domestic and New Altar




http://www.athirathram.org/Enclosure_set_on_fire.JPG
Enclosure set on Fire


An hour later, a heavy downpour fell over the area which the sponsors claimed was true to tradition and marked the "success" of the yagna. Those present at the concluding rites claimed that a "garuda"(eagle) flew over the yagnasala as it was set on fire, in confirmation of another traditional belief.
Trichur town too had a heavy shower last evening. The Hindu, April 24th 1975

sm78
13 November 2010, 12:08 PM
excellent...thanks for sharing the information.

brahman
15 November 2010, 04:10 AM
I shall try to update this with more pictures and news as available. Thanks to all. Love:)

brahman
13 December 2010, 02:28 AM
http://www.mid-day.com/imagedata/2010/dec/kerala.jpg

Clay vessels are being prepared for the Athirathram 2011


The preparation for Athiratram takes about six months, and involves making a large number of mud vessels and wooden items. Athirathram is performed by one person, while 40 others assist him.

Panjal Athirathram 2011 will be led by Puthillathu Ramanujan Somayajippadu as 'Yajamanan' and Dhanyapathanadi as 'Yajamanapathni' and marked by the participation of hundreds of vedic scholars from all around the country.

Interestingly this ritual will be performed after 35 years and involves the chanting of selected mantras from three vedas -- Rig veda, Yagur veda and Sama veda, the last three days of the rituals will go on non-stop for 72-hours, with each priest getting a break of barely 30 minutes.

hrdayananda
13 December 2010, 07:06 AM
Namaste,

Can you please give us more details about how this ritual is performed, what is it's purpose and maybe what does it symbolise?

Thank you

hrdayananda
13 December 2010, 10:56 AM
Nevermind, sorry for asking, I should have searched more first. I found some nice videos on Youtube about it. Fascinating!

brahman
18 December 2010, 04:06 AM
.






There was article in the May25, 1975 edition of the Illustrated weekly of India about Athiratram titled 'Kerala Yajna with foreign participation', please read it.





Scans

http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/ejvs1003/cayana1.jpg


http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/ejvs1003/cayana2.jpg


http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/ejvs1003/cayana3.jpg


http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/ejvs1003/cayana4.jpg


http://www.ejvs.laurasianacademy.com/ejvs1003/cayana5.jpg

brahman
09 January 2011, 03:54 AM
“Our aim is to familiarise the common man with ancient Indian scientific and philosophical knowledge.People in the Vedic era used this wisdom to attain unity, peace and prosperity with no distinctions of caste,creed,colour,community,gender or religion,”says Sivakaran Namboodiri,who participated in the 1975 ritual and who is a key member of the trust(varthathe).

Namboodiri, who is an ayurvedic doctor says, “Athirathram is relevant in today’s discontent, violent and strife-torn world. There’s an urgent need to promote universal harmony, peace, solidarity, prosperity and spiritual enlightenment.”

Explaining the significance of the fire ritual, Namboodiri says, “The Sun is the main source of energy, and fire represents Sun’s energy. According to ancient texts on the yagna, any offering to fire as a god, is actually an offering to the Sun. Such offerings cleanse the environment of all negative energies and protect it too. Ascribing divine attributes to these rituals induces people to practice them. Our scriptures proclaim that such vaidika karmams are result-oriented, and are meant to lead to sreyass or spiritual attainment.”

Each day, the rituals vary. The major offerings to the sacrificial fire are somarasa, the juice of somalatha, a herbal plant plus dozens of other herbs. The fire is created by rubbing two pieces of wood, as detailed in ancient Vedic scriptures. No modern prop is used.

Performing the Athirathram ritual is not for the fainthearted. Namboodiri says, “For one, only those who have performed the somayaga can perform the Athirathram. The one who leads the ritual is called the yajaman or leader. The yajaman — whose wife is an equal participant in the ritual — must observe strict austerities both before and after the yagna. Apart from the yajaman, about a dozen vedic scholars and experts, too, participate. Chanting of mantras by them with accurate intonation is a significant aspect of the ritual.”

Somayaga, also known as Agnisthomam, is a six-day ritual for the welfare of all and is meant to maintain equilibrium in the environment. Like Athirathram, Somayagam is also a fire ritual performed in a brick-lined fireplace.


“Preparations for the Panjal Athirathram 2011 began after obtaining consent from Lord Dakshinamurthy of the Shukapuram Temple. We sought the deity’s blessings by reciting slokas and prayers,” says Namboodiri.

The Yajurveda and Samaveda practices that precede Athirathram have already begun at Panjal. Traditional craftsmen are busy making the innumerable clay and wooden utensils that will be utilised during the ritual.

The choice of the venue is also in accordance with geographic and vaastu principles. Namboodiri says, “The yagnashala or the spot of the yagna is uniquely positioned to imbibe the sun’s energy — the primary reason why Panjal is the chosen venue for almost all key yagnas held in Kerala in the past.”

Once the yagna is over, the yajaman has to take home some burning embers from the sacred fire and feed it as long as he lives. After the yagna, the yajaman is conferred a title — Agnisthomam or the basic Somayagam makes him a Somayaaji, and Athirathram bestows on him, the title of Akkithiri or Agnihotri.


Will we ever know if the ritual has been conducted precisely in accordance with the Vedas? “Spotting of a solitary eagle flying in the sky above the yagnashala and a heavy downpour are indications that the gods are pleased with the ritual,” says Namboodiri. In 1975, for instance, it rained!

brahman
15 January 2011, 12:23 AM
Can ancient mantras induce rains? Do Vedic chants impact the surrounding environment?

A team of scientists led by VPM Nampoori, former director of the International School of Photonics, Cochin University (CUSAT), will conduct research into the impact of Vedic chants and the fire ritual on the atmosphere.

The 12-day ritual will present the opportunity to explore the "scientific implications on nature, mankind and all other living creatures", the scientist said in a statement.

Nampoori said the "chanting of mantras and the worshipping of Agni with medicinal herbs energise and protect the environment".

"The application of mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology and astronomy is evident in every aspect of this performance."

The scientist said he would conduct "elaborate experiments in the areas of atmospheric changes in temperature, humidity and pressure level during the ritual".

"Studies will be conducted on the implications on micro-organisms in the soil and variation in the yield from plants and animals," he said.

The research will also include the "physiological and psychological effects on human beings, especially on those who meditate or are under medication ..."


Indologist Frits Staal from US, who authored a book, "Agni", in two volumes after the first ritual in April 1975, said the "ritual was a triumph of the human spirit over the limitations of matter and the physical body."

The ritual, which revolves around a sacrificial fire, offering of medicinal herbs and constant chanting, involves practitioners and scholars of Rig Veda, Sama Veda and Yajur Veda.


http://athirathram2011.com/images/V%20P%20N%20Namboothiri,%20Former%20Director%20CUSAT.JPG
VPM Nampoori, former director of the International School of Photonics, Cochin University (CUSAT)

brahman
15 January 2011, 12:51 AM
RELATED VIDEO 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t32t5-s2sd4&feature=player_embedded)

RELATED VIDEO 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eV9Zb72lkJo&feature=player_embedded)

RELATED VIDEO 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYKPJ1VI3ic&feature=player_embedded)


Some pictures from the yagna site


http://athirathram2011.com/images/Making%20of%20Utensils.JPG
UTENSILS MAKING



http://athirathram2011.com/images/Athirathram%202011_Pic.JPG
VARIOUS SHAPED MUD POTS



http://athirathram2011.com/images/Athirathram%202011_Pic15.JPG
POT MAKING



http://athirathram2011.com/images/Athirathram%202011_Pic7.JPG
WOODEN SHAPES




http://athirathram2011.com/images/Athirathram%202011_Pic9.JPG
WOODEN CONTAINERS




.

brahman
27 February 2011, 02:41 AM
http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/24/images/2011022464350301.jpg
A brick for constructing the altar of the yagashala for Panjal Athirathram being taken out of the Sree Vadakkunnathan temple in Thrissur on Wednesday after it was offered pujas.

In all, 1,110 bricks specially designed and made for constructing the altar (Chithi) of the yagashala for Athirathram, to be held at Panjal, near here, from April 4 to 15, were on Wednesday transported from Chittissery to the venue.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


An odd array of clay and wood vessels are used in Athirathram, a Vedic fire ritual,
writes Ranjeni A Singh Read more (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spirituality/faith-and-ritual/Vedic-pots-and-pans/articleshow/7539362.cms#ixzz1F98Wl0RF)

yajvan
27 February 2011, 07:04 PM
 
hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

namasté








In all, 1,110 bricks specially designed and made for constructing the altar (Chithi) of the yagashala for Athirathram, to be held at Panjal, near here, from April 4 to 15, were on Wednesday transported from Chittissery to the venue.



It is quite interesting to me that the arrangement of bricks = 1,110.

It is trika त्रिक or triple , threefold , forming a triad ; 1 +1 +1 + 0 =3.
It is also the symbol of rudra on each side of this number 11:
11 then 11 with the sharing of the 1 in the middle.


There is so much one can say about this 3. Yet it will be sufficient to say the number of bricks chosen was mindfully done.


praṇām

brahman
03 March 2011, 04:11 AM
 



There is so much one can say about this 3. Yet it will be sufficient to say the number of bricks chosen was mindfully done.




Dear Yajvan,
Definitely it must have been mindfully chosen.
I have no expertise in this complex ritual like agni cayana, but I think the shape of the altar too matters, the bird (falcon)shape as the fire altars, with astronomical basis, have been found in the third millennium cities of India. Vedic texts describe the design and ritual of the fire altars which were oriented towards the east and whose design, using bricks laid in five layers, coded astronomical knowledge of its times The best known of the fire altars is the falcon altar. Texts that describe fire altar designs are conservatively dated to the first millennium BCE, but their contents appear to be much older and complex. pranams to you.




http://journalofcosmology.com/images/KakFigure6.jpg



http://www.athirathram.org/Bricks_In_to_Cows.JPG
Falcon altars used in the 1975 event(repeated picture)


http://www.athirathram.org/Altar_Of_Fire.JPG
Falcon altars used in the 1975 event(repeated picture)



http://www.athirathram.org/sketch.jpg
The whole enclosure would look like this

brahman
03 March 2011, 04:41 AM
Fire altars excavated in Kalibanhgan (http://www.google.co.in/search?q=Kalibangan%20altar&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=ivnsb&um=1&biw=1280&bih=615&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=iw)

At Kalibangan, fire Vedic altars have been discovered, similar to those found at Lothal.. These altars suggest fire worship or worship of Agni, the god of fire. It is the only Indus Valley Civilization site where there is no evidence to suggest the worship of the "mother goddess".
Within the fortified citadel complex, the southern half contained many (five or six) raised platforms of mud bricks, mutually separated by corridors. Stairs were attached to these platforms. Vandalism of these platforms by brick robbers makes it difficult to reconstruct the original shape of structures above them but unmistakable remnants of rectangular or ovalkuṇḍas (Kundas) or fire-pits of burnt bricks for Vedi (altar)s have been found, with a yūpa or sacrificial post (cylindrical or with rectangular cross-section, sometimes bricks were laid upon each other to construct such a post) in the middle of each kuṇḍa and sacrificial terracotta cakes (piṇḍa) in all these fire-pits. Houses in the lower town also contain similar altars. Burnt charcoals have been found in these fire-pits. The structure of these fire-altars is reminiscent of (Vedic) fire-altars, but the analogy may be coincidental, and these altars are perhaps intended for some specific (perhaps religious) purpose by the community as a whole. In some fire-altars remnants of animals have been found, which suggest a possibility of animal-sacrifice.

The official website of ASI reports : "Besides the above two principle parts of the metropolis there was also a third one-a moderate structure situated upwards of 8O m e. of the lower town containing four to five fire altars. This lonely structure may perhaps have been used for ritual purposes ." Thus, fire-altars have been found in three groups : public altars in the citadel, household altars in lower town, and public altars in a third separate group.



http://www.allempires.com/forum/uploads/31444/Domestic_and_New_Altar.JPGPanjal 1975 http://www.allempires.com/forum/uploads/31444/kalibangan-fire-altars.jpg Kalibanhgan

Fire altars of Kalibanhgan dates back to 2700BC is seen on the Right lower corner similar to D shaped one and upper one similar to the square one.





http://www.allempires.com/forum/uploads/31444/kalib4.jpg
Another Kalibanhgan ruin

brahman
01 April 2011, 04:03 AM
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/40/93260494_79e6763e95.jpg


Altar of Fire- 1975 (Video) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvvI3bIAgVA&feature=related) Must see


About this video
This film records a 12 day ritual performed by Nambudiri Brahmins in Kerala, southwest India, in April 1975. This event was possibly the last performance of the Agnicayana, a Vedic ritual of sacrifice dating back 3,000 years and probably the oldest surviving human ritual. Long considered extinct and never witnessed by outsiders, the ceremonies require the participation of seventeen priests, involve libations of Soma juice and oblations of other substances, all preceded by several months of preparation and rehearsals. They include the construction, from a thousand bricks, of a fire altar in the shape of a bird.
More (http://www.der.org/films/altar-of-fire.html)

TheOne
01 April 2011, 08:49 PM
Please do keep us updated in the coming days on this! : )

brahman
03 April 2011, 05:04 AM
Athirathram 2011: The goal of all Yaagams is the prosperity of the people at large by energizing and protecting the environment. The Sun is considered as the main source of energy supply, and fire is considered as a representation of the Sun's energy. According to the ancient texts on Yaagam, any offer to Fire as a god, is actually an offer to Sun. Any such offer is either to enrich energy in the environment or to destroy the undesirable elements in the environment, and thus, in both ways, environment is protected. Attaching divine nature to such rituals (like Yaagam) induced people to practice them. Thus, the ancient texts proclaim that "Such Vaidika Karmams are result-oriented, and meant to lead to Sreyass or spiritual attainments". The technical procedures for such Karmams (rituals) are detailed in ancient texts like the Braahmanams and Sroutha Soothrams. More important than the learning and understanding of the concepts, is the actual performance of such Karmams. In other words, the "performer" spreads more Sreyass to the world than the texts (Granthhams) themselves.

Click to download/read the entire program schedule (http://athirathram2011.com/images/detailed-programme-of-athiraathram-01.pdf) Day-1 to Day-12




Location Map

http://athirathram2011.com/images/locmap.jpg

Official Site (http://athirathram2011.com/home.html)

akshara
14 April 2011, 06:50 AM
One might wonder why ‘Panjal’ is chosen the venue for the ceremonies of Athirathram. Families of Sama Veda experts, who have been performers in the ritual in 1901, 1918 and 1954, belong to this small place. They are mainly the Nellikattu Mana and Muttathukattil Mana.

The remains of the altar of the ‘yagasala’ in 1954 is still visible as a ritual remain in a wooded area of the region, where a huge banyan tree has grown from its centre.

The tradition was the prerogative of Brahmins. The realization that inorder to preserve the tradition, it had to be revealed to the whole world, allowed general public to witness it.

The world is also looking forward to the key findings of several scientific experiments being carried out at the region, to be revealed by May 15 this year. One such is to analyse the impact of Athirathram on the biological system and to find if it affects germination of plants. As part of it, a comparative study on seeds and plants that germinated before and during the event is done.

Another study measures the degree of cell division in plant roots, whether chanting in Vedic style influences cell division .Yet another study is on the change in atmospheric pressure. Whether yagas purify air is being studied and also the microbial content on soil and in water, gas analysis etc are also subjects of study.

Arjuni
15 April 2011, 11:21 PM
Lovely (though not unexpected) Athiratram news updated here (http://www.prokerala.com/news/articles/a215454.html) and here (http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/lifestyle/when-lord-indra-answered-the-call-of-vedas-with-images_100526022.html).

The second article makes me giggle. "It's almost as if Lord Indra is responding or something!" Nooooo, really? :P

Indraneela
===
Oṁ Indrāya Namaḥ.
Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.

flabber
16 April 2011, 06:47 AM
some more links:

https://picasaweb.google.com/vividvivek/AVisitToPanjalAthirathramAndGuruvayurappan
https://vivekitam.wordpress.com/2011/04/15/athirathram-a-perspective-1/
http://athirathram2011.com/home.html

Arjuni
19 June 2011, 07:30 PM
More news from the site. Very interesting!

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/article2103881.ece (http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/article2103881.ece)

Indraneela
===
Oṁ Indrāya Namaḥ.
Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.

Ramakrishna
20 June 2011, 01:42 AM
Namaste Indraneela,


More news from the site. Very interesting!

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/article2103881.ece (http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/article2103881.ece)

Indraneela
===
Oṁ Indrāya Namaḥ.
Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya.

Truly amazing! The world could definitely use more of these rituals.

Jai Sri Ram

smaranam
20 June 2011, 07:04 AM
To have scientists who have faith in the Vedic Truths, is like having the cake and eating it too. Double genius contributes to the world. The good news is, there are many out there - In India there are vedic-scientist foundations so not surprising, but let us hope more and more devotee-scientists in the West contribute and bring Vedic Wisdom its due credit.

Om namo bhagavate vAsudevAya ~

brahman
01 July 2011, 05:16 AM
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-v4BuJqm6_DU/Tg2dBQr4xvI/AAAAAAAAAE0/4CkK-bCgPFs/YAJMAN%252520PICTURES%252520copy.jpg



My pranams to the yajman, and all the yajmans that have conducted yajnas previously for this wonderful gift of mankind. Also I extend my gratitude to all the pundits who participated and assisted to make this event a great success.

The yajna at Panjal was celebrated in a noble way for a noble cause. When the yajna is understood as a link to access the Divine, which is its very essence, the rite seems to develop and follow an ambiguous pattern. When the ambiguity is gradually cleared, to experience the whole system of the ritual that is presented in a clear and effective manner, it requires one to ideally value it from different angles. To integrate these observations and create a lucid description still remains impossible.

Exact information on all vital and unimportant aspects of the yajna, seen through the eyes is being adequately posted in several blogs and articles, which are commendable. But, primarily, my aim is to explain what I experienced. I knew my mind was in harmony with the various phases of the ritual and the ritual became fully remarkable for me.

While we are enlightened on the divine experiences of the yajna, we are equally confronted with instances where the yajnas were reduced to follow cruel and horrible forms in the past. For fulfillment of worldly desires the priests performed the rituals, grabbed the power from the just and righteous rulers, ousted them and were sent for hermitage. This contributed to deterioration in the administration of the land, which encouraged many an invasion. This insulted the real intention of the yagas and the core of the yajna got softened.

In course of time, it is so inevitable that the orderly purpose of the ritual suffers severely in such manners, as all these errors were human. Human attributes had distorted the vision of the ritual. These were warnings and anticipating such errors, the officials at Panjal were concerned about an efficient conduct of the same. For no other reason was the kalpa praayaschitham performes towards the end of every complex ritual. Such a precaution for a 12 day ritual supervised by learned pundits who mastered the ceremonies for more than a year, serves ample justification for the disorders that might have affected rituals that succeeded years.

Contrary to all these concerns, the Panjal Athiraathram affirms strongly the essence of yajna. The ritual thought to have lost its sheer essence was vigorously revived. It preserved the deeper truths of the ritual.

The spiritual peace that was acquired at Panjal surpassed all the modern scientific methodologies employed there and so did it surpass everyone’s expectation. All I could tell you is this- my insights are my encounters with the ritual. Each one of you could make this your personal spiritual experience. Await more and more yajnas in Kerala or elsewhere, participate and enjoy the love it offers.





(continued.../)

brahman
01 July 2011, 05:32 AM
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6ejP7CM_0zI/Tg2hy6TC90I/AAAAAAAAAE4/FbnHPxI8ess/LOGO%252520ATHIRATHRAM%252520LS%252520HDF.jpg


What differentiates yagna from other similar pujas?

‘All this is not for me.’ इदम् न मम ‘Idam na Mama’ this concept makes the difference.
This spirit of total dedication, complete surrender, and supreme selflessness is that which is expressed by the term ‘Na Mama.’ It is performed to bring peace, re-awaken harmony, foster love and make happiness prevail in this world. It never celebrates material benefit or reputation of the performer. The sacrifice thus acknowledges its core of लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवंतु ‘loka samsta sukhino bhavantu.’

I may refer yagna or yagam as a doorway to peace. It attains peace because it culminates in the unification of yajman ,homa ingredients and its end result into the Ultimate Brahman.

Yagna is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘yaj’ which means sacrifice (my POV).


Who then sacrifices?

With a large number of people in attendance, the yajman and his wife initiates the yagna, the ultimate sacrifice, committing his entire life to the ritual. With a number of universal values to implement, the yajman offers oblations into the sacrificial fire or ‘agni’. He carries this ‘agni’ home, keeps it burning at his house until this divine energy has been transferred to one of their funeral pyre. There is no mission or greater sacrifice than sacrificing one’s whole life to keep this fire ablaze.


Why is ‘agni’ preserved?

All who attend and leave the ritual preserves agni in their hearts, in the realm of faith. Those who have a veil upon their hearts do not see the light. The numinous power of the mantras chanted here has strengthened the fire. The yajman has sincerely transferred our portion of this divine blaze, to fill all our hearts that have had abundant faith. For all humanity, the yajman preserves another portion of agni at his home, just in its true, steady, and physical form. For all humanity, he lets the light shine in their hearts, celebrating the ‘aura’ or blaze or tejas(of the Ultimate Brahman). He thus preserves the agni at home, as a faithful instrument and driving force for a huge transformation.This agni remains an indwelling energy in us, an infusing divine energy that changes every one of us to a new being, culminating in self-realisation.

A new and glorious way has opened through the Athiraathram.


What is athirathram?

An oblation conducted overnight, it is termed athirathram. Athirathram involves the consumption of ‘Soma’ and falls under the category ‘Soma Yagna’. Haviryajna represents all non-Soma sacrifices.

This can be conducted using or without using a ‘chithi’ or the altar of fire. But, Kerala follows the oldest Vedic ritual by constructing altar or ‘chithi’ for the yagashala , signifying the changing seasons.

We remain incapable to completely comprehend the intricacy of the recitations, chants and rituals. So, I sincerely don’t feel a grand description would be befitting here, nonetheless one earnestly partakes in it. All intellectual explanation not backed by direct experience would only misguide. All procedures that apply to the rituals are detailed in the Kalpa-Sutra, it assures continuity of these age old rituals in its original form, anywhere.


These are questions I asked to myself and When I write this, I wish each one of you could reach Panjal in 2013, and heighten the energy field of love, harmony and peace.


Back from Panjal, I attempted many a time to sit and write and share with you what I experienced, but could not make it happen. The thoughts repeatedly took me to a distinct realm, encountering the divine glow again and again.




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brahman
01 July 2011, 05:42 AM
My dear Members,

Many thanks for your extended participation(viewership) that helped this thread find a place in the official website of the ritual, among media giants like THE HINDU, Washington Post, CNN, Times of India and so on..

Click and scroll down to read (http://athirathram2011.com/new-releases.html)

I express my thanks to Trust Varthathe for their commendable initiative.

HDF deserves appreciation for offering a platform to share and discuss noble thoughts on this sacred ritual.
We hope this serves a guiding force to many more events to come. Jai Hind




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brahman
26 February 2012, 02:50 AM
http://www.olappamannamana.com/images/frits%20staal.jpg


Frits Staal, an influential Indologist, 1930- 2012


Staal, known simply as ‘Frits’ to the world, ranged widely across many fields.He was a wonder.

He conducted the Agnicayana before most of us were born, explored areas of philosophy and rituals and religious studies, served a number of institutions in the position of a professor, travelled actively across spiritual places meeting personalities and Vedic scholars of the higher order.

To me, he was not an enlightened guru ,but his studies and publications exemplify his scholarly imagination on Vedic studies. As a generous teacher, charming genius and scholar, Staal is an inspiration to anyone who seek the wisdom of karma kanda. His range of interests in Vedic studies is enough to guide any westerner or Indian without a traditional teacher, to the depths of the sacred Vedas to a higher extend.

Respects.


Visit Frits (http://www.fritsstaalberkeley.com/)


Books (http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_st?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AFrits+Staal&ie=UTF8)


Altar of Fire -1975 : Dr. Frits Staal (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R130ogJ4JqI&feature=channel)(Video)