Om Shree Gurubhyo Namaha
Wishing all a happy and blessed New Year! Through this medium I remind myself of certain aspects of our Vedic heritage, our unique culture and share with those interested. As we enter the new year, I remind myself in brief of an aspect of Karma Yoga “How to live”.
Wishing all a happy and blessed New Year! Through this medium I remind myself of certain aspects of our Vedic heritage, our unique culture and share with those interested. As we enter the new year, I remind myself in brief of an aspect of Karma Yoga “How to live”.
Looking back at last year and at our lives, we find that much has been given to us. We have worked, invested our resources etc. to get success but without what has been given, provided and without others’ contribution, could we have accomplished anything? E.g. Can I run a corporation without the army of executives!!
In our tradition, we do not take without giving / contributing in return. Therefore in our culture we have been asked to acknowledge this and do our bit – DUTY towards the 5 segments of Creation from which we continuously receive blessings. Remembering their contribution in our life and contributing in return being our sacred duty, these are called famously in our tradition as the Panch Maha Yagnas.
These are explained very briefly below:
Manushya Yagna: Duty towards mankind
No man is an island. We are dependent on society around for our very life, activites,social interations, security and even basic food. We are receiving continuously from mankind and it is our sacred duty to acknowledge and contribute in our own way regularly to human welfare happiness. Daanam, social service etc. come under this. This is ingrained in our tradition. In earlier days, food was not eaten without first giving…
This is Manushya Yagna – our reverential contribution to mankind, a sacred duty.
Bhuta Yagna – Duty towards plants, animals
Not only mankind, don’t we continuously receive blessing from the other living organisms around us. Just see Animal Planet and National Geographic to see the benefits humans receive from other organisms. Their protection has been our sacred duty in our tradition. This has been represented by keeping a Tulasi plant at home, feeding birds and cows…
Pitr Yagna – Duty towards Parents and ancestors
Matr Devo Bava and Pitr Devo Bhav has always been our tradition. Don’t we owe our existence to our parents / ancestors and all they did for us!! Caring for parents, grand-parents with devotion has been a sacred duty. Not just wishing on birthdays, but devoted caring!
This is symbolized in rituals like Shraadh etc. As part of this Yagna, in our own way let us spend time with and care for our elders, some of whom just want loving attention from us!!
Deva Yagna – Remembering the Giver
This is often taken as the mere ritual of puja.
We look upon the Lord as the very five elements without whom we can’t live, survive. The Lord as the very five elements is blessing us as the Creator and Sustainer. Our reverential contribution to nature and our remembrance of this fact is Deva Yagna. Puja is just a reminder of this fact.
Brahma Yagna or Rishi Yagna
We enjoy this wonderful culture only because of Rishis, Scriptures and our Teachers. Reverential contribution to them, making an effort to at least learn the wonderful teaching of the Scriptures is Brahma Yagna.
These five yagnas are a sacred duty of ours to be performed regularly, consistently according to our means. Otherwise, we just live a life of consuming without contributing. As a Mahatma said – Successful living is when the Balance Sheet of life shows that the contribution part is far greater than the consumption part!! Then we find fulfillment and satisfaction! This is an important part of Karma Yoga.
Have a Happy and fulfilling New Year. Shree Gurubhyo Namaha.
