Yadnya - the way to complete protection

 

 

When we look for a job we consider job security as the most important criteria. We search for organizations that are known as best employers - that have good human resource policies, that assure their employees of the job sustenance even when there is market crisis, essentially, the organizations that offer their employees and the families of employees a sense of financial security. In return organization looks for commitment and dedication from employees to work towards the vision of the organization. Through the commitment alone employee experiences the job security offered by organization.

 

So also they say that to experience the protection of God one has to perform the work of God with commitment, dedication and sincerity. Without a commitment how can we expect God to protect us?

 

The question is what does it mean by working for God. It means participating in continuing the cycle of life – srushtichakra. How to participate in this work? By performing Yadnya.

 

 

What is srushtichakra? They say that all beings were born out of food (anna). When a human being performs Yadnya by making offerings to fire god, those offerings reach Sun god. Pleased by those offerings Sun god causes rain (parjanya). Rain causes crops to fertilize. Crops provide food for human being. By eating food human beings get health and they become a cause for reproduction of human beings again. Those human beings perform Yadnya and cycle goes on. They say that when this cycle is continued all great five elements namely space, air, water, fire, earth and their presiding deities are pleased and they work in favor of human beings. But when this cycle is broken it causes imbalance and human beings start suffering.

 

 

Nowadays practice of yadnya is diminishing. It is the responsibility of every human being to perform yadnya and help in continuing srushtichakra to prevent direst calamities to happen.

 

Shri Saibaba used to visit five homes every day begging alms. He did this to remind people about atithi yadnya. They say that while performing duties in family one commits five sins “Panchasuna”- five sins by the names kandani, chulli, peshani, udakumbhi and maarjani (sins committed by involuntarily killing very minute numerous animals). To compensate these sins for every family man there are five yadnyas prescribed (pancha maha yadnyas), to be performed every day. Rishi yadnya – studying scriptures written by rishis, deva yadnya – instantiating fire and making offerings such as food to fire, pitru yadnya – making offerings to ancestors, atithi¹ yadnya – offering food to sanyasins, bhuta yadnya – making food offerings to animals such as cow. 

 

 

 

Saibaba, a compassionate Guru, made sure that by begging alms in selected homes he saved those families from effects of ‘panchasuna’.

 

 

Fortunate were those whose homes were visited by Shri Saibaba for begging alms. They had a great opportunity of performing atithi yadnya by feeding God himself.

 

One should make every effort to perform and support panch maha yadnyas. For those who cannot perform these yadnyas for any reason, saints have suggested simple yadnya.

 

 

 

At the least, they say, chant the name of god while eating every bite. Just by chanting, the action of eating food becomes yadnya.
 

Atithi - one whose time of arrival (tithi) is unknown or uncertain. Usually sanyasins who visit homes for alms.