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October - December 2021

Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Recent outstanding initiatives – 5

Viswa Santi Maha Yagnas

VISWA Santi Maha Yagnas are a novel initiative of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham as an attempt to revive Vedic traditions in the distant corners of the country and establish the spirit of faith in Sanatana Dharma and unity among its adherents. The first Viswa Santi Maha Yajna was performed at Mata Sri Vaishno Devi Shrine and in Jammu from October 28 to November 2, 2010 by the efforts of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham as well as Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams. The second Maha Yajna was performed at Jyeshta Mata Mandir, Srinagar, Kashmir. The Third Yagna was done at Mata Khir Bhavani Mandir in Srinagar, J&K from 1 to 9 October 2011. The fourth Yagna was performed at Ganga Sagar and Siliguri from 5-8 June 2012. Details of some of the more recent Viswa Santi Maha Yagnas are given below.

20.  Viswa Santi Maha Yagna in Gangtok, Sikkim

Viswa Santi Maha Yagna was performed at Sri Kanchaneshwar Mahadev Shiva Panchayatan Mandir, Ranipool, Gangtok, Sikkim from 10 August to 13 August 2017. Sata Chandi and Ekadasha Rudra Japa Homam was performed by the Vaidikas for Loka Kshema

21.  Viswa Santi Maha Yagna in Arunachal Pradesh

Viswa Santi Maha Yagnya, Veda Sammelan & Rudra Japam were performed at Arunachal Pradesh during 5-9 March 2014. About 100 Vaidikas from Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Orissa participated. The Vedic scholars camped at the Purva Tirupati Balaji Mandir, Guwahati (Mandir erected at the initiative of Kanchi Srimatham), and visited the Kamakhya Mandir in Guwahati. The team left for Itanagar by bus by about 8.30 pm and reached the place of camp – the Art of Living Ashram at Itanagar, next morning. On 5 March 2014, the programme commenced with Sankalpam, followed by Go Puja. Ganapati Homam and Avahanti Japa-Homam were performed in the morning. Veda Parayanam, Rudra Japam and Namasankeertanam were performed at the AoL Ashram. Scholars chanted Rigveda, Shukla Yajurveda, Krishna Yajurveda, three branches of Samaveda (Kauthuma , Jaimineeya & Ranayaneeya) & Atharvana Veda. Totakashtakam, Swastivachanam, Vishnusahasranama & Sri Rudram were recited. The evening programme was held in Hanuman Mandir, in the Ganga Area in Itanagar. The Vaidikas performed Veda Parayanam and Rudra Japam. Sri V.G. Subramanya Ghanapatigal gave a spiritual discourse. The Bhagvatars led by Sri Papanasam Ramani Bhagvatar performed S eeta K alyanam and Namasankeertanam. A formal inauguration of the Veda Sammelan Programme was done by Prof. Roop Kishore Shastri, Secretary of the Maharshi Sandipani Rashtriya Ved Vidya Pratishthan, Ujjain. On 6 March 2014, Sudarshana Japa Homam and Navagraha Japa Homam were done in the morning, along with Veda Parayanam and Sri Rudra Japam. The evening session was held at Kalakshetra in Itanagar. After the evening session of Veda Parayanam, a cultural programme was held in which students from the Kalakshetra gave a Bharatnatyam performance. The evening programme concluded with Namasankeertanam and Radha Kalyanam. On 7 March, the evening programme was held at Shiv Mandir at Naharlagun. Veda parayanam and Namasankeertanam were performed, followed by Arti at the Shiva Sannadhi, and other Sannadhis of Ganesha, Durga, Hanuman and Lakshmi Narayan. On 8 March 2014, the team left for Ziro at about 4 a.m. and reached the the Siddeswar Nath mandir in the Kardo Forests (in Lower Subansiri District in Arunachal Pradesh) after a long and arduous 6 hour journey through the ghats. The Shiva Lingam at Ziro was discovered in the first fortnight of July 2004 by a wood cutter. Puja was performed to the Shiva Lingam, to the chanting of Veda Parayanam, Rudra Japam and Namasankeertanam. A large number of local residents participated, and received prasad. On Sunday 9 March 2014 , Suryanamaskaaram was performed according to the different Veda Shakhas, and the Veda Sammelan and Viswa Santi Yagna at Arunachal Pradesh concluded. On 10 March 2014, the group of participating Vedic pandits witnessed the Abhishekam performed to Balaji at the Purva Tirupati Balaji Mandir in Guwahati early in the morning, and chanted Veda Mantras. Namasankeertanam was also performed. After Arti, the team visited the Sankardev Netrayala in Guwahati- a Centre of Excellence in Eye Care in the North-East (set up by Kanchi Srimatham out of deep concern for eye care for people of North east), and a few other important landmarks in Guwahati. In the afternoon, the group visited the Umananda temple, located on an island in the Brahmaputra river. After reaching mainland, the “Brahmaputra Arti” was performed for the first time in Guwahati (see http://kamakoti.org/kamakoti/ news/2014/Brahmaputra%20Arti.html for full report).

22.  Viswa Santi Maha Yagna at Manipur

Veda Parayanam in the nine different Veda Sakhas as well as Chandi

Parayanam were held on 16 and 17 February 2013. As part of the Shanmata Devata Yagna, Sudarshana and Dhanvantri Homam were performed on Saturday, 16 Feb. 2013. On Sunday the 17th – Ratha Saptami Day, Surya Namaskaram was performed in the morning according to the different Veda Sakhas. This was followed by Navagraha Homam. On both days, Go Puja was performed. A large number of devotees participated and performed Sankalpa. Stotra Parayanam was performed on both days. The Bhagavata team led by Papanasam Sri Ramani Bhagavathar rendered Sri Gita Govindam – Jayadeva Ashtapathy on Saturday, 16th. On Sunday, Sri Radha Kalyanam was performed in a grand manner and with devotional fervour.

23.  Viswa Santi Maha Yagna at Kathmandu, Nepal

Viswa Santi Maha Yagna was performed at Bankali Dharmashala, Hans Mandap, Near Pashupatinath Mandir, Kathmandu, Nepal in 2012 from 25 November to 2 December. This was the sixth in a series of Viswa Santi Maha Yagnas performed in several places. Thirty ritwiks and parayandars from various places in India as well as local scholars from Nepal performed havans and parayan. The Pashupatinath Area Development Trust had made extensive arrangements for carrying out the Yagna and a beautiful and grand Yagna Shala was prepared on the grounds adjoining the Hansmandap near Sri Pashupatinath temple.

Chaturveda Parayanam (Rig, Yajur, Sama and AtharvanaVeda), Laghu Nyasam and Ekadasha Rudra Parayanam along with Durga Sapta Shati, Ramayana, Bhagavata, Devi Bhagavatha and Ramacharitmanas Parayan were performed every day from 8 to 11.30 am and again from 3 to 6 pm. A team of ritwiks from Gokarna and Chennai performed Rig Veda Samhita Havan every day from 8 am to 12.30 pm on all days. Another group of ritwiks from Tamilnadu performed Kamyartha Homams starting with Ganapati Homam from 8 am to 9 am everyday with different dravyas and Avahanti Homam. In addition to this, based on the significance of each day, different pujas and parayans were done as follows:

On 25 November, being Sunday, Tri Veda Surya Namaskar was performed in the morning. Tulasi Vivaha was performed as i t was Brindavana Dwadashi. In the evening, Pradosha Puja was performed at the holy Pashupatinath Mandir with Mahanyasa Purvaka Rudra Abhisheka. On 26 November, Monday, Maharudram and Parthiva Shiva Linga Puja were performed from 8 am onwards. In the evening, Dipa Puja was performed on the auspicious occasion of Bharani Dipa. In the South, the Tiruvannamalai Deepam in Tamilnadu is lit on this day and devotees from far and wide travel to the holy temple town of Tiruvannamalai to have darshan of this Deepam. Last year, a team of pilgrims from Nepal had visited Kanchipuram in November and it happened to be the Bharani Dipa day. Sri Swamigal had immediately directed them to be taken to Tiruvannamalai, enabling them to have darshan of the Deepam.

This year, a bigger group of devotees in Nepal was lucky to witness t he performance of Dipa puja right in Kathmandu.

On 27 November, Tuesday, Subrahmanya Japa & Homam was performed in the morning and Varahi Japa & Homam was performed in the evening. On 28 November, Wednesday, Chandi Havan & Srividya Homam were performed to invoke the blessings of Devi. The Guhyeshwari temple in Kathmandu, located close to the Pashupatinath Mandir, is one of the Shakti Peethas.

Discourses: Brahmasri Mullaivasal Krishnamurthy Sastrigal delivered special lectures on various topics including the significance of Samskrit and Sanatana Dharma in the evenings from 25 to 28 November 2012.

On 29 November, Thursday, Dhanvantri Homam, Sudarshana Homam and Dakshinamurthy Japam and Homam were performed. On 30 November, Friday, Srisukta Japam and Homam were performed. A significant event that was held on that day was the 108 Suvasini and 108 Kanya Pujas. 108 Suvasinis and 108 Kanyas from Nepal participated. New clothes, sweets and gifts were given to all Suvasinis and Kanyas. The children eagerly chanted ‘Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara’ and ‘Kanchi Sankara Nepala Sankara’. It was indeed a glorious sight to see these pujas being performed on a grand scale in Kathmandu.

This was followed by Go Puja. Quite close to the Havan Venue is located a Goshala which has close to 230 cows and calves. In fact, the area itself is called Goushala. The entire team of Pandits and devotees went to the Goshala and performed Go Puja. Each of the cows and calves were garlanded and adorned with vastras. The workers of the Goshala were also honoured. On 1 December, Saturday, Bhairava Japa & Homa and Brahmachari Puja were performed. Inside the Pashupathinath Temple are located more than 550 Shiva Lingas. As ordained by Swamigal, Pujas were performed to the Shiva Lingas and vastrams were offered to each of the Lingas. Puja was also performed at the Adi Sankara Shrine inside Pashupatinath temple.

On 2 December, Sunday, Triveda Surya Namaskara and Navagraha Japa was performed from 8 am onwards. A large number of Nepalis, young and old, participated in the Surya Namskar prayers. The Pashupatinath Area Development Trust in a brief function honoured the scholars with Shawl, Rudraksha mala and the prasad of Pashupatinath Mandir. Members and volunteers of the Pashupatinath Area Development Trust who worked with enthusiasm to enable the successful performance of the Yagna programme were honoured on behalf of Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham.

Evening Programme: From 25 November to 2 December everyday in the evening, Vishnu Sahasranama, Rudra Kramarchana, Sahasranamarchana and Chaturveda-Purana-Sangeeta- Avadharaya were performed followed by

Deeparadhana. Cultural programmes were performed by local artists. A large number of devotees from Nepal and India participated in the above programmes and received blessings. Specially printed booklets carrying important stotras to be recited every day and other messages were distributed to the devotees, along with blessed Mantrakshata, Kumkum and raksha threads. The entire programme was performed with spiritual fervour and the participating ritwiks, unmindful of the extreme cold (with temperatures dropping close to 2 degrees in the night) and the long and arduous road journey to Kathmandu and back, observed all the anushtanams and completed the various parayanams and homams, with the benign grace of the Acharyas.

24. Viswa Santi Maha Yagna at Leh, Ladakh

 We all chant

ग गे च यमुने चैव गोदावरी सर वती ।

नम दे िस धु कावेरी जलेऽि मन् सि  धं कु ॥

Gange cha Yamune Chaiva Godavari Sarasvati

Narmade  Sindhu  Kaveri  Jalesmin Sannidhim Kuru

Leh is in the Northern-most part of India. The Holy river Sindhu flows in this region. It is from the River Sindhu that India got its name. It is the cradle of Indian civilization. This ancient river is integral to our identity as a nation. There are seven Mokshapuris, fifty-one Shakti Peeths and twelve Jyotir Linga Kshetras in our sacred land. Similarly, there are seven holy rivers as indicated in the Prarthana above, namely- Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Cauvery. There are several references to these holy rivers in the Vedas.

A Viswa Santi Yagna and Veda Sammelan were organized on the banks of the holy Sindhu river in Leh, Ladakh, in the State of Jammu & Kashmir. The programme commenced on 16 July 2012 – an auspicious day on which the Dakshinayana Punya Kaal began. Vedic scholars performed the Sindhu Snaan and for the first time, SINDHU HARATI was performed on the lines of the Ganga Harati which is performed on the banks of the river Ganga. Rig and Yajur Veda Parayan was performed in two sessions everyday – in the morning and in the evening. Havans were performed following the Parayan. In the evening, spiritual discourses were delivered by scholars. On the 20th, the programme concluded with Poornahuti and Vidwat Sambhavana (honouring the participating scholars). The Maharshi Sandipini Rashtriya Veda Vidya Prathishthan, Ujjain, co-sponsored the Veda Sammelan.

“Sindhu: Syandansheelodakatma Devata”

 Viswa Santhi Maha Yagnas have since been performed at Jabalpur in M.P. and several other places.