Balivaishwa Yagna
Balivaiswa has been considered important ever since the ancient days when the procedures of yagna came into being. Param pujya Gurudev Pt. ShriRam Sharma Acharya propagated Balivaiswa along with yagna. This is a simple process but very effective.
The five ahutis in Balivaiswa have been described as Panchamahayagna by Param Pujya Gurudev. One should understand why the prefix of ‘Maha’ has been given by Gurudev for such a simple process. Offering ahutis to Brahma, Devata and Rishi mentioned in Pachamaha yagnas is not to appease them by offering food. Instead, we should strive to imbibe the noble qualities that are symbolized by these Divine beings. We should invest our time and resources in developing the divine qualities.
1. Brahma Yagna : Inspires us towards Brahma Jnana or Atma Jnana. It symbolizes the give-take processes between the Jeevatma (Individual) and Paramatma (Almighty) .
2. Deva Yagna: The objective of Deva yagna is to accelerate the process of evolving from animal instincts towards human beings. One should mould their Guna (characteristics)-karma (actions)-swabhava (inherent nature) according to Divine principles. Purity and generosity should be imbibed.
3. Rishi Yagna: The main principle behind Rishi yagna is to uplift the downtrodden. This involves the penance to enhance nobility and good-naturedness. One should derive inspiration from the ancient rishis and sages and imbibe their noble ideals.
4. Nara Yagna: The meaning of Nara yagna is to create an atmosphere in the society which reflects the glory of human nature. One should maintain the dignity of human life and abide by the rules set for a man’s behavior. He should strive to evolve from human to Divine state (Nara to narayana). He should live like a global citizen and develop an all-encompassing nature towards other beings.
5. Bhoota Yagna: The emotion behind Bhoota yagna is to extend one’s sympathy and feelings towards other lower beings as well. One should strive for even maintaining the flora and fauna inhabiting this planet.
The first morsel of cooked food should be offered to fire along with jaggery and ghee with the following mantras being chanted
Om bhur bhuvah swah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayat | swaha idam brahmane idam na mama||
Om bhur bhuvah swah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayat | swaha idam devebhyah idam na mama||
Om bhur bhuvah swah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayat | swaha idam rishibhyah idam na mama||
Om bhur bhuvah swah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayat | swaha idam narebhyah idam na mama||
Om bhur bhuvah swah tat savitur varenyam bhargo devasya dhimahi dhiyo yo nah prachodayat | swaha idam bhutebhyah idam na mama||
Pranagnihotra Yagna
Vedic scriptures describe our body to comprise of five tatvas, namely prithvi, jala, agni, vayu and akasha (Earth, water, fire, air and space). Hence body is also known by the name Panchabhautik sharer. The air that we breathe (pranayama with 7 vyahrutis) in conjunction with the food that is partaken with the mantra of swaha transforms into divine energy and creates favorable conditions for upasana, sadhana and aradhana of the sadhaks. When we eat food with this awareness and with this procedure, it becomes yagna. Mudras or the positions of fingers play an important role when we eat food in this manner. When we eat food with the associated mudras, the food is accepted by the respective divine energies who will in return bestow us with complete health.
1st step – Bhushuddhi : cleanse the area where you plan to eat food by sprinkling water along with chanting of Gayatri mantra.
2nd step – Dehashuddi: Clean your hands and legs before you eat. Perform moolabandha 7 times before commencing eating. This will help easy digestion of food.
1. Prana Ahuti
Mudra – Join the thumb, index and middle fingers
Take few grains of rice with ghee with your hand in the above mudra.
Meditate on: Color – Golden color; Rishi- Kshudagni; Devata – Sun; Chandas – Gayatri
Chant ‘Om pranaya swaha’ and put the rice in your mouth (preferably without touching the lips. Utter ‘idam aadi devaya na mama’. Lord savita accepts this ahuti and bestows us varchas. Our body will get tuned for doing Gayatri mantra japa. Good appetite is created. Anahata (Heart) chakra is activated.
2. Apana Ahuti
Mudra – Join the thumb, middle and ring fingers
Take few grains of rice with ghee with your hand in the above mudra.
Meditate on: Color – milky white; Rishi- Shraddhagni; Devata – Soma; Chandas – Ushnik
Chant ‘Om apanaya swaha’ and put the rice in your mouth (preferably without touching the lips. Utter ‘idam somaya na mama’. Lord Soma or Moon accepts this ahuti. When pranashakti merges with Moon, we should feel that it is getting transformed into peace and health. Mooladhara (Base) chakra is activated.
3. Vyana Ahuti
Mudra – Join the thumb, ring and little fingers
Take few grains of rice with ghee with your hand in the above mudra.
Meditate on: Color – Lotus color; Rishi- Hutashanagni; Devata – agni; Chandas – Anushtup
Chant ‘Om vyanaya swaha’ and put the rice in your mouth (preferably without touching the lips. Utter ‘idam agnaye na mama’. The food received in Vyana mudra influences the Swadhistana chakra. The energy flows from navel to the toe and protects us from any diseases related to these body parts.
4. Udana Ahuti
Mudra – Join the thumb, little and index fingers
Take few grains of rice with ghee with your hand in the above mudra.
Meditate on: Color – Arudra; Rishi- Agni; Devata – Vayu; Chandas – Brihati
Chant ‘Om udanaya swaha’ and put the rice in your mouth (preferably without touching the lips. Utter ‘idam vayuve na mama’. This mudra affects vishuddhi chakra. The food along with mantra shakti works from throat to head upwards and gives good voice.
5. Samana Ahuti
Mudra – Join the tips of all the five fingers
Take few grains of rice with ghee with your hand in the above mudra.
Meditate on: Color – Red; Rishi- Agni; Devata – Parjanya; Chandas – Pankti
Chant ‘Om samanaya swaha’ and put the rice in your mouth (preferably without touching the lips. Utter ‘idam parjanyaya na mama’. This ahuti activates the manipuraka chakra because of which the entire region from the heart to navel remains healthy. This also ensures good breathing process.
By following the rules given above and eating food as per the procedure given ensures that you enjoy a healthy and peaceful life. This procedure targeted for your spiritual progress also transforms you into Divine Man. This is what has been described as the true Brahmanism by Param Pujya Gurudev.
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