BRAHMAYAJNAM

We are a part of the ancient Veda Vriksham (The Vedic tree) and also identified that we owe our existence to the “Devatas” (Gods), the “Rishis” (Seers/Sages) who were the first to be created by Gods on earth and then the “Pitrus” (our Ancestors) from whom we are born. So our progeny is linked with all 3 of them. The Dharma Shastras (The Vedic Book on Code of Conduct) mention clearly that we owe our existence to them, so we are indebted to them for our existence (debt = Rina or Rinum in Sanskrit). We must repay this debt as long as we are alive as per Shastras. It is logical, for example I bought a house taking loan from a bank, without this loan I wouldn’t have been able to purchase the house, so in return I have to repay the debt, through EMI (Principal + Interest) monthly to the bank. Similarly how are we going to repay the debt to the “Devatas” , “Rishis” and the “Pitrus” without whom we simply wouldn’t exist ? Like the house wouldn’t exist for us, without the loan from the bank. The Dharma Shastras mention the way to pay back to them, so that they in their Sukshma form (present as a powerful energy field) bless us with positivity and progress.

1. DEVA RINUM (The debt we owe unto Gods)

Yes indeed the “Gods” created our ancestors and sustained this earth with their divine power. So the way we pay back to them and reduce our debt is by doing daily Poojas (Worship) to them. Numerous Pooja Vidhis (Propriation/Worship procedures) are there laid down by Vedas right from few minutes to many years of continuous worship with “Upacharas” (Offerings). The time duration for the Pooja does not matter, what matters is the Bhakti (Salvation and Devotion) and Shraddha (Faith). One such method of pleasing the Gods during Pooja is called “Shodasha Upacharas” (The 16 Offerings). I briefly enumerate them.

1. Dhyanam (Meditate on them)

2. Avahanam (Invite them to occupy the idol you have)

3. Padyam (offering water to wash their feet)

4. Arghyam (offering water for washing hands)

5. Aachamanam (offering water to drink)

6. Madhuparkam (offering honey and milk to drink)

7. Snanam (offering water for their bath-Abhisekam is done here)

8. Vastram (offering fresh set of clothes to them)

9. Alankaranam (decorating them with ornaments/flower garland)

10. Gandham (offering them sandalwood paste/kumkum)

11. Pushpam (offering them fragrant flowers)

12. Doopam (offering them incense sticks)

13. Deepam (lighting a ghee lamp)

14. Naivedyam ( offering food cooked for them)

15. Tamboolam (offering betel leaves and nuts)

16. Karpoora Neerajanam (lighting and showing Camphor)

Subsequently we take their blessing by chanting Mantra Pushpam and Namaskaram (Prostration) and Kshama Prarthana (seeking pardon for mistakes in chanting mantras) . You could see some of these, we do for our guests. Similarly when we invite the Devatas in the Pooja as our guests with full Bhakti, they in their “Sukshma Swaroopa” occupy the idol to which we pray and accept all our offerings and bless us in return. Right from 5, 12, 16, 32 upto 64 Upacharas have been mentioned in scriptures. Ultimately, I reiterate that it’s the Bhakti not the length of the Pooja that these divine beings judge. By doing “Deva Pooja” you reduce the “Deva Rina”, however small the Pooja might be, it is essential for each one to do it.

2. RISHI RINA (The debt we owe unto the Sages)

The divine Sages the Sapta Rishis (the first 7 divine Sages who inhabited Bharata/India) with whom we relate our Gotra (lineage) as written in my earlier article have been instrumental in our existence. We can pay back the debt owed by us to them by learning “The Vedas”. These Rishis called the “Mantra Drishtaraha” (Seers of Vedic Mantras) perceived the Vedic Text from ”Brahma”. The Vedic texts are divided into 4 parts.

a) RIG VEDA (The Veda which sings praises of Gods)

b) YAJUR VEDA (The Veda which tells us what rites and how to perform rights like the Yagna (Fire Sacrifice to please the Gods)

c) SAMA VEDA (The Veda which is Sung and not chanted like other Vedas is to please the Gods when they arrive at the Yaga shala (Fire Sacrifice to accept our offerings). Like we want to hear music when we want to be in good mood. Sama Veda pleases/entertains the Gods.

d) ATHARVA VEDA ( The Veda which deals with diseases, medicines and incantations for cure of various illness)

Using these 4 texts, our ancestors have been singing praises, offering food, pleasing the Gods and in return they grant us boons we ask for. Today people speak about inheritance of property, gold, jewellery, money, land. But for a follower of “Sanatana Dharma” the actual inheritance, the oldest inheritance is the Vedas, which our Rishis/Sages have left for us. If we don’t learn and preserve them who will ? By learning and chanting Vedas daily you pay back the Rishi Rina (debt owed unto the Rishi), thus preserving what our forefathers lived for, the protection of Vedas and Sanatana Dharma.

3. PITRU RINA – (the debt we owe unto the ancestors/forefathers)

Our ancestors right from our Father, Grand father, Great Grand father and so on have been important for our existence today. The way we can pay back the debt we owe unto them is by doing Shrardha / Tarpana (Oblations to the ancestors/ forefathers / manes). The procedures for “Shrardha” (performed once a year for our deceased forefathers) and Tarpana ( to be performed at least every Amavasay/no moon night/dark night) is a compulsory ritual for all practitioners of “Sanatana/Hindu Dharma” for their deceased parents. In the Annual Shrardha ritual we offer rice balls in fire with appropriate Mantras which names which goes to them in “Pitru Loka” the “World of Ancestors” we they live as food. And during Tarpana we offer water and Til (black Sesame seeds) which become water and food in their world. This is how we pay back the Pitru Rina. As per the boon granted by Yama (God of death) our ancestors can curse us with lack of progeny, hurdle in our personal and professional work, illness if we don’t do these rituals. Our Father have taken care of us from when we were an infant, in all aspects, from food to clothing, shelter etc. Now it is our chance through Shrardha and Tarpana to satisfy them in their after- life by doing these procedures. As stipulated by Shastras we need to do these rituals until our death. I personally have seen people suffering in many aspects, by not doing these Karmas/ rituals, and once they act on this advice within weeks I have seen their hurdles/problems melting away like ice in the hot Sun.

Students at “Veda Ghosham” are not only taught mantras but to practice these principles of Sanatana Dharma and people who have started practicing it have experienced dramatic changes in their life. I urge the young people not to live a life of debt and misery with problems. Pay back the 3 debts you owe to Devatas, Rishis and the Pitrus respectively and you will experience an immense change in your life.