PERFORMING THE YAJNA

 

                                                  YAJNA PERFORMING

                     MANY PRELIMINARY STEPS OF A YAJNA ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE ONES YOU DO BEFORE YOU START YOUR JAPA. I AM LISTING THOSE STEPS HERE:

                    1. BATHE

                        IF YOU ARE PERFORMING YOUR YAJNA IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOUR JAPA, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TAKE A BATH. BUT, IF YOU DID JAPA IN THE MORNING BUT ARE DOING YAJNA IN THE EVENING (OR VICE-VERSA) FOR EXAMPLE YOU WILL HAVE TO BATHE BEFORE MAKING FIRE OFFERINGS.

                   2. PUT ON FRESH CLOTHES

                       ONCE AGAIN, IF YOU ARE DOING IT IMMEDIATELY AFTER YOUR JAPA, YOU CAN WEAR THE SAME CLOTHES, OTHERWISE, PUT ON FRESH ONES.

                 3. KEEP A SMALL POT OF WATER IN FRONT OF YOU (OR YOUR RIGHT SIDE) FOR PURIFICATION.

                 4. A SMALL CONTAINER WITH GHEE (CLARIFIED BUTTER) WILL BE REQUIRED. YOU CAN ANY SPOON TO MAKE THE OFFERING IN THE FIRE OR IF YOU WANT TO DO IT THE TRADITIONAL WAY, USE A WOODEN SPOON. THE TWO WOODEN SPOONS ARE CALLED SRUKA AND SRUVA THAT ARE USED TO MAKE GHEE OFFERINGS IN FIRE. KEEP YOUR POT OF GHEE TO YOUR RIGHT.
                

               5. KEEP THE POT WITH THE INGREDIENTS (CHARU) FOR FIRE OFFERINGS IN FRONT OF YOU. INGREDIENTS FOR YAJNA VARY FROM SADHANA TO SADHANA. FOR ALL THE SADHANAS LISTED IN THIS BOOK. I'VE SPECIFIED THE INGREDIENTS NEXT TO THEM.

              6. PURIFY THE SURROUNDINGS (PAVITRIKARANA)

                                             

   

              7. SELF-PURIFICATION (ACHAMANA)

              8. WASH YOUR HANDS (HASTA PRAKSHALANA)

              9. LIGHT THE LAMP (IN ADDITION, YOU CAN ALSO LIGHT INCENSE AT THIS LAMP (IN ADDITION, YOU CAN ALSO LIGHT INCENSE AT THIS STAGE IF YOU LIKE, BUT IT'S OPTIONAL.)

            10. INVOKE GANESHA

            11. SHOW THREE HANDLOCKS FOR GANESHA (GANESHA MUDRA)

            12. CHANT THE VEDIC HYMN OF AUSPICIOUSNESS (SVASTIVACHANA)

            13. MEDITATE ON YOUR GURU (GURU DHYANA)

            14. CHANT YOUR GURU MANTRA (GURU MANTRA JAPA)

            15. MEDITATE ON YOUR DEITY (ISHTA DHYANA)

            16. OFFER OBEISANCE TO ALL SIDDHAS    

                    

            17. PLACE YOUR FIREWOOD IN THE FIREPIT AND LIGHT IT. YOU CAN USE THE SAME MANTRA TO LIGHT THIS AS YOU DO FOR LIGHTING A LAMP. YOU CAN LIGHT CAMPHOR OR A WICK DIPPED IN OIL TO IGNITE THE FIRE. SIMPLY PLACE IT ON ONE OF THE WOODEN CHIPS AT THE BASE AND LIGHT I (CAMPHOR OR WICK IN OIL). START ARRANGING FIREWOOD AROUND IT KEEPING SPACE FOR THE AIR TO FLOW.

           18. ONCE THE FIRE STARTS, YOU ARE READY TO MAKE FIRE OFFERINGS. AN IMPORTANT POINT TO REMEMBER IS THAT EVERY OFFERING MADE IN THE FIRE MUST END WITH THE WORD "SVAHA". THE SANSKRIT WORK SVAHA MEANS TO BURN COMPLETELY AND IT IS USED TO BURN ALL OUR AFFLICTIONS. SVAHA IS THE HINDU TRADITION IS THE ENERGY ASPECT OF FIRE. IT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TAKING THE FIRE OFFERING TO ITS DESTINATION. MAKE THE FOLLOWING OFFERINGS WITH GHEE ALONE. EVERY TIME, YOU SAY "SVAHA" POUR GHEE USING YOUR SPOON (OR WOODEN SPOON). ALL OFFERINGS ARE MADE WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND ONLY.

          19. MAKE THE FOLLOWING OFFERINGS (AHUTI) WITH THE INGREDIENTS (CHARU) OF YAJNA. (NOT GHEE UNLESS THE SOLE INGREDIENT BEING USED IN YAJNA IS GHEE) ALL OFFERINGS ARE ALWAYS MADE WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND IN A YAJNA. THE QUANTITY IN EACH OFFERING IDEALLY SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN A TEASPOON. HOLD IT BETWEEN YOUR THREE FINGERS AND THUMB (KEEPING THE INDEX FINGER AWAY) ANY OFFERINGS AND THUMB (KEEPING THE INDEX FINGER AWAY) ANY OFFERING IN THE FIREPIT SHOULD BE MADE WITH A SENSE OF OFFERING IN THE FIREPIT SHOULD BE MADE WITH A SENSE OF REVERENCE. YOUR PALM SHOULD BE FACING UP WHILE MAKING THE OFFERING.

                20. NOW YOU ARE READY TO MAKE OFFERINGS WITH GAYATRI MANTRA. AN IMPORTANT PRACTICAL ASPECT TO MENTION HERE IS COUNTING. SINCE NOW YOU ARE MAKING OFFERINGS WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO THE COUNTING WITH BEADS. IN THAT CASE, YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS TO CHOOSE FROM. YOU CAN CHOOSE WHICHEVER ONE YOU ARE COMFORTABLE WITH.

                 ( A). USE COUNTING BEADS. YOU CAN KEEP LOOSE BEADS OR PEBBLES ON THE SIDE AND MOVE A PEBBLE WITH YOUR LEFT HAND EVERY TIME YOU MAKE AN OFFERING WITH YOUR RIGHT ONE.

                 (B). SIMPLY SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES YOU TO CHANT YOUR MANTRA USING A TIMER. ADD 20% TIME TO IT CATER FOR SLOW CHANTING AT TIMES. FOR EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY YOU HAVE TO MAKE 100 OFFERINGS. IF IT TAKES YOU 10 SECONDS TO CHANT YOUR MANTRA. IT'LL TAKE YOU 1000 SECONDS TO CHANT IT 100 TIMES. ADDING 20% WILL MAKE IT 1200 SECONDS OR 20 MINUTES. WHEN YOU COME TO THIS STEP, SET ASIDE 20 MINUTES TO MAKE FIRE OFFERINGS WITH YOUR MANTRA. IT IS OKAY OF OFFER A BIT MORE THAN REQUIRED SO DON'T BE WORRIED IF YOU ARE OVERDOING IT. THE MAIN THING IS TO NOT DO IT LESS THAN THE MINIMUM NUMBER REQUIRED.

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                     IF AT ANY TIME, YOU FEEL THE FIRE IS EBBING IN THE PIT, POUR MORE GHEE AND /OR PLACE MORE FIREWOOD. WHENEVER YOU POUR MORE GHEE, DO IT WITH YOUR MAIN MANTRA AND DON'T FORGET TO ADD "OM SVAHA" IN THE END.

              21. NOW MAKE THE FOLLOWING FIVE OFFERINGS AGAIN WITH GHEE.

              22. MAKE THE OFFERINGS BY PLACING THE DRY COCONUT (FILLED WITH YAJNA INGREDIENTS AND A BIT OF GHEE) IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIREPIT. DO THIS CAREFULLY AS THERE CAN BE A FIRE HAZARD. CHANT THE FOLLOWING MANTRA WHILE YOU DO THE FINAL OFFERING (PURNA-AHUTI).

                

                                     * OM PURNAMADAH PURNAMIDAM PURNAT PURNAMUDACYATE PURNASYA PURNAMADAYA PURNAMEVAVASISYATE

                                    * OM SANTIH SANTIH SANTIH.

                                    

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DEVELOPE SELF CONFIDENCE

         

              ONCE SEEING IS BETTER, THAN A HUNDRED TIMES TELLING

                  THE NERVES THAT LEAD FROM THE EYE TO THE BRAIN ARE MANY TIMES LARGER THAN THOSE LEADING FROM THE EAR, AND SCIENCE TELLS US THAT WE GIVE TWENTY-FIVE TIMES AS MUCH ATTENTION TO EYE SUGGESTIONS AS WE DO TO EAT SUGGESTIONS. 

                 ONE SEEIING, SAYS AN OLD JAPANESE PROVERB, IS BETTER THAN A HUNDRED TIMES TELLING ABOUT.

                  SO, IF YOU WISH TO BE CLEAR, PICTURE, VISUALIZE YOUR IDEAS. THAT WAS THE PLAN OF THE LATE JOHN H.PATTERSON, PRESIDENT OF THE WELL-KNOWN NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY. HE WROTE AN ARTICLE FOR SYSTEM MAGAZINE, OUTLINING THE METHODS HE USED IN SPEAKING TO HIS WORKMEN AND HIS SALES FORCES:

                  I HOLD THAT ONE CANNOT RELY ON SPEECH ALONE TO MAKE HIMSELF UNDERSTOOD OR TO GAIN AND HOLD ATTENTION . A DRAMATIC SUPPLEMENT IS NEEDED. IT IS BETTER TO SUPPLEMENT WHENEVER POSSIBLE WITH PICTURES WHICH SHOW THE RIGHT AND THE WRONG WAY, DIAGRAMS ARE MORE CONVINCING THAN MERE WORDS, AND PICTURES ARE MORE CONVINCING THAN DIAGRAMS. THE IDEAL PRESENTATION OF A SUBJECT IS ONE IN WHICH EVERY SUB DIVISION IS PICTURED AND IN WHICH THE WORDS ARE USED ONLY TO CONNECT THEM. I EARLY FOUND THAN IN DEALING WITH MEN, A PICTURE WAS WORTH MORE THAN ANYTHING I COULD SAY.

             LITTLE GROTESQUE DRAWINGS ARE WONDERFULLY EFFECTIVE... I HAVE A WHOLE SYSTEM OF CARTOONING OR "CHART TALKS". A CIRCLE WITH A DOLLAR MARK MEANS A PIECE OF MONEY. A BAG MARKED WITH A DOLLAR IS A LOT OF MONEY. MANY GOOD EFFECTS CAN BE HAD WITH MOON FACES. DRAW A CIRCLE, PUT IN A FEW DASHES FOR THE EYES, NOSE, MOUTH, AND EARS. TWISTING THESE LINES GIVES THE EXPRESSIONS. THE OUT-OF-DATE MAN HAS THE CORNER OF HIS MOUTH DOWN, THE CHIPPER, UP-TO-DATE FELLOW HAS THE CURVES UP. THE DRAWINGS ARE HOMELY, BUT THE MOST EFFECTIVE CORTOONISTS ARE NOT THE MEN WHO MAKE THE PRETTIEST PICTURES. THE THING IS TO EXPRESS THE IDEA AND THE CONTRAST.

                 THE BIG BAG AND THE LITTLE BAG OF MONEY, SIDE BY SIDE, ARE THE NATURAL HEADS FOR THE RIGHT WAY AS OPPOSED TO THE WRONG WAY, THE ONE BRINGS MUCH MONEY, THE OTHER LITTLE MONEY. IF YOU SKETCH THESE RAPIDLY AS YOU TALK, THERE IS NO DANGER OF PEOPLE'S LETTING THEIR MINDS WANDER, THEY ARE BOUND TO LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND THUS TO GO WITH YOU THROUGH THE SUCCESSIVE STAGES TO THE POINT YOU WANT TO MAKE. AND AGAIN, THE FUNNY FIGURES PUT PEOPLE IN GOOD HUMOUR.

                I USED TO EMPLOY AN ATTIST TO HAND AROUND IN THE SHOPS WITH ME AND QUIETLY MAKE SKETCHES OF THINGS THAT WERE NOT BEING DONE RIGHT. THEN THE SKETCH WERE MADE INTO DRAWINGS AND I CALLED THE MEN TOGETHER AND SHOWED THEM EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE DOING. WHEN I HEARD OF THE STEREOPTICON I IMMEDIATELY BOUGHT ONE AND PROJECTED THE DRAWINGS ON THE SCREEN, WHICH OF COURSE, MADE THEM EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE THAN ON PAPER. THEN CAME THE MOVING PICTURE. I THINK THAT I HAD ONE OF THE FIRST MACHINES EVER MADE AND NOW WE HAVE A BIG DEPARTMENT WITH MANY MOTION PICTURE FILMS MORE THAN 60,000 COLOURED STEREOPTICON SLIDES.

             NOT EVERY SUBJECT OR OCCASION, OF COURSE, LENDS ITSELF TO EXHIBITS AND DRAWINGS, BUT LET US USE THEM WHEN WE CAN, THEY ATTRACT ATTENTION, STIMULATE INTEREST AND OFTEN MAKE OUR MEANING DOUBLY CLEAR.

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THE ARRAGEMENT OF POTS (PATRASADANA)

 

                                                                 PATRASADANA

                 PATRA MEANS A VESSEL OR A RECEPTACLE AND ASADANA MEANS TO LAY OUT SOMETHING. PATRASADANA IS THE PRECISE PROCESS OF LAYING OUT VARIOUS POTS OR VESSELS USED IN YOUR PUJA. TOGETHER, THEY ARE CALLED PANCHA-PATRA - FIVE VESSELS USED FOR VARIOUS THINGS AND SIXTH IS A SAUCER-LIKE SMALL PLATE YOU USE TO PUT ASIDE YOUR OFFERINGS. THESE ARE USUALLY SMALL POTS, EACH ONE CONTAINING NO MORE THAN 100 ML OF WATER. IN ADDITION TO THIS, A SPOON (ACHAMANI) IS USED TO TAKE WATER FROM THESE POTS AND TO PUT THEM IN THE SAUCER OR YOUR HAND DEPENDING ON THE RITUAL YOU ARE PERFORMING.

                                    1. WATER FOR PURIFICATION (ACHAMANA)

                THIS VESSEL CONTAINS THE WATER YOU USE FOR YOUR CONSUMPTION THROUGHOUT THE PUJAZ. WHEN PERFORMING ACHAMANA, TAKE A BIT OF WATER IN YOUR RIGHT PALM USING THE SPOON. GENERALLY, ACHAMANA IS DONE FOR PURIFICATION AND CAN BE DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT SADHANAS. FOR THE FOUR SADHANAS LISTED IN THIS CHAPTER, I'VE CLEARLY WRITTEN WHEREVER YOU NEED TO PERFORM ACHAMANA. OTHER THAN DRINKING, AT THE BEGINNING OF ANY PUJA, A BIT OF WATER IS TAKEN FROM THIS POT AND SPRINKLED IN THE AIR TO PURIFY THE ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGIES AROUND YOU.

                                     2. PLAIN WATER FOR OFFERING (ARGHYA)

                 FROM THIS VESSEL, YOU OFFER WATER TO THE DEITY OF THE MANTRA AND HIS/HER COMPANION ENERGIES. WHEN OFFERING ARGHYA, YOU TAKE A BIT OF WATER FROM THE ARGHYA POT AND PUT IT IN THE SMALL SAUCER/PLATE TO COLLECT THIS WATER. YOU CAN USE THE SAME SPOON TO OFFER WATER THAT YOU USED TO OFFE ACHAMANA OR YOU CAN KEEP A SEPERATE SPOON FOR THIS.

                              3. FRAGRANT WATER FOR OFFERING (SUGANDHITA ARGHYA)

                 AS PART OF THE 5,10 OR 16 OFFERINGS, FRAGRANT WATER MAY BE OFFERED FO THE DEITY. IF ANY PARTICULAR SADHANA REQUIRES A SPECIAL KIND OF FRAGRANCE, I'VE LISTED IT THERE. IF NOTHING IS SPECIFIED, YOU CAN MAKE THE WATER FRAGRANT BY KEEPING A FEW PETALS OF A ROSE IN IT. OR BY MIXING IT WITH SANDALWOOD PASTE. YOU CAN ALSO PUT A DROP OF ANY ALL-NATURAL EXTRACT OF ANY FRAGRANT SUBSTANCE LIKE FLOWERS, ETC.

                                            4. WATER FOR LIBATIONS (TARPANA)

                  WATER FROM THIS POT IS USED FOR OFFERING LIBERATIONS TO THE DEITY, OTHER ENERGIES AND ANCESTORS. THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO DO LIBATIONS DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE LIBERATION AND YOUR SADHANA, BUT THE SIMPLEST WAY IS TO CHANT THE MANTRA FOR LIBERATION, TAKE A BIT OF WATER USING THE SPOON (YOU CAN USE THE SAME SPOON AS ACHAMANA) AND PUT IT BACK IN THE LIBERATION POT.

                                                5. WATER FOR WASHING (PADYAM)

                EVERY TIME AN ASPIRANT DOES ACHAMANA (DRINK WATER FOR PURIFICATION ) HE'S SUPPOSED TO WASH HIS HANDS. THIS IS DONE USING WATER FROM THIS POT, USUALLY USING A DIFFERENT SPOON AND NOT THE SAME ONE AS FOR ACHAMANA. A BIT OF WATER IS TAKEN IN YOUR RIGHT HAND AND THE SPOON IS PUT BACK IN THE POT. BOTH HANDS ARE THEN RUBBED ON YOUR LEFT SIDE USING THIS LITTLE WATER FOR PURIFICATION. WATER FROM THIS POT IS ALSO USED TO OFFER PADYAM TO THE DEITY WHILE MAKING 10 OR 16 OFFERINGS. TAKE A BIT OF WATER FROM THIS POT USING A SPOON AND PUT IT IN THE PLATE NEXT TO YOU.

             THE SIXTH IS A SAUCER. IT'S A LITTLE PLATE USED TO COLLECT WATER. PLEASE SEE THE DIAGRAM BELOW TO UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTUAL INJUNCTIONS ON HOW TO LAY OT THESE POTS .

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HOW TO MAKE FIRE OFFERINGS (YAJNA)

 

                                                                          YAJNA

                    THE ONE WHO IS THE ESSENCE OF THE THREE LOKAS AND THREE STATES OF  MIND, NATURE AND EXISTENCE, THAT ONE WHO LIGHTS UP OUR PATH AND IS THE ETERNAL FATHER, HIS VERY NATURE IS YAJNA. HE ALONE IS THE ENJOYER OF ALL YAJNAS. HE, THE LORD OF YAJNAS, REPRESENTS THE VEDIC INJUCTIONS OF FIRE OFFERINGS AND ALL LIMBS OF YAJNAS, HE BESTOWS THE REWARDS OF SUCH YAJNA.

                 HE, THE RULER OF YAJNAS, IS THE ONE PERFORMING FIRE OFFERINGS (THROUGH ME FOR, HE'S ONE WITHOUT A SECOND, HE ALONE EXISTS). THE SOLE ENJOYER AND THE ONLY RECIPIENT OF ALL OFFERINGS MADE IN THAT FIREPIT. HE, THE FINAL OFFERING, FULFILLS ALL YAJNAS AND REMAINS THE GREATEST MYTICAL REALIZATION OF A YAJNA. HE'S SUSTENCE (FOOD) AND THE ENJOYER OF SUCH SUSTENANCE.

                  (VISHNU SAHASRANAMAM, 104, 105, OWN TRANSLATION.)

                 IF THERE'S ONE THING WITHOUT WHICH NO RELIGIOUS RITE IS EVER PERFORMED IN SANTANA DHARMA (COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE HINDU RELIGION), THAT WILL BE THE USE OF FIRE. WHETHER THAT FIRE IS IN THE FORM OF A LAMP OF OFFERINGS IN A FIREPIT OR EVEN LIBRATIONS (ARGHYAM), TO THE GREATEST FIREBALL, THE SUN, OFTEN THE PRESENCE OF FIRE MARKS THE BEGINNING AND END OF LIFE. THE FIRE OF PASSION IS THE SEED OF OUR BODY,  THE IN A MOTHER'S WOMB SUSTAINS US, THE FIRE OF OUR DESIRES PROPELS US, THE FIRE IN OUR BELLIES DEGESTS OUR FOOD, THE FIRE IN OUR BODIES AGES US AND ULTIMATELY, IT IS TO FIRE THAT WE ARE GIVEN AT THE TIME OF CREMATION.

                THEREFORE, A YAJNA NOT ONLY REPRESENTS FIRE OFFERINGS MADE IN A FIREPIT, BUT AN EXPRESSION OF GRATITUDE TOWARDS ALL THINGS THAT GOVERN OUR LIVES. IN SANATANA DHARMA, THERE ARE FIVE TYPES OF YAJNA:

                1. OFFERINGS TO ALL LIVING BEINGS (BHUTA-YAJNA): THIS INVOLVES FEEDING BIRDS AND ANIMALS, PLANTING TREES, WATERING PLANTS AND MINDFUL USAGE OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

               2.     CHARITY AND MUTUAL RESPECT (MANUSHYA-YAJNA). TO RESPECTFULLY RECEIVE A GUEST, TO RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE'S SPACE, EXISTENCE AND FREEDOM, TO HELP OTHERS TO THE BEST OF ONE'S ABILITIES IS MANUSHYA-YAJNA.

              3.      OFFERINGS TO OUR ANCESTORS (PITR-YAJNA): THIS INVOLVES DONATING FOOD, MONEY, CLOTHES AND SO ON IN THE MEMORY OF OUR ANCESTORS TO THANK THEM. AFTER ALL, EVEN IF THEY LEFT NO MATERIAL LEGACY FOR SOMEONE, THEIR SEED IS THE REASON WHY WE ARE HERE.

              4.       OFFERINGS TO GODS (DEVA-YAJNA): BY MAKING WATER AND FIRE OFFERINGS, WE PERFORM DEVA-YAJNA. THIS TYPE OF YAJNA ALONG WITH THE ONE BELOW IS OUR PRIMARY FOCUS PRESENTLY.

               5.      OFFERING TO THE UNIVERSE (BRAHMA-YAJNA): THIS IS DONE BY CHANTING VEDIC MANTRAS. THEREFORE, IN MANTRA YOGA NO FIRE OFERRINGS ARE MADE WITHOUT ASSOCIATING A MANTRA WITH THEM. FOR ON THE PATH OF MANTRA SADHANA, SOUND (MANIFEST OR SILENCE) IS OUR FIRST CONNECTION WITH THE DIVINE ENERGY.

                   THAT WHICH HELPS US REALIZE THE TRUTH (JNA) OF NOW, THE PRESENT MOMENT (YA), IS YAJNA. OUR LIFE IS A SERIES OF PRESENT MOMENTS.

                 THE YAJNA THAT HAS FIRE OFFERINGS IS ALSO CALLED HOMAM OR AGNIHOTRA. IT CAN BE AS ELABORATE AS EASILY LASTING EIGHT HOURS OR MORE, OR IT CAN BE CONCISE ENOUGH TO BE WRAPPED UP WITHIN  15-20 MINUTES. WHAT KIND OF YAJNA YOU DO DEPENDS ENTIRELY ON THE NATURE AND PURPOSE OF YOUR SADHANA. IN THIS CHAPTER, AS FAR AS MANTRA YOGA IS CONCERNED, TO MAKE EFFECTIVE FIRE OFFERINGS, I PRESENT TO YOU THE SHORT BUT SUFFICIENT STEPS OF A YAJNA.

                                  INGREDIENTS REQUIRED FOR FIRE OFFERINGS

•           BRICKS AND SAND IF YOU ARE MAKING YOUR OWN ELEVATED                                 PLATFORM  (VEDI).
•           AN OIL LAMP. INCENSE IS OPTIONAL.
•          GHEE (OR ANY SPECIFIC OIL AS PRESCRIBED IN THE SADHANA)
•          ANY SPOON OR WOODEN SPOONS TO MAKE OFFERINGS OF GHEE.
•          A SMALL WATER POT. (YAJNA INGREDIENTS ARE DIFFERENT FOR VARIOUS SADHANAS. ONCE AGAIN, FOR THE SADHANAS LISTED IN THIS BOOK. I'VE SPECIFIED THE INGREDIENTS.)
•          FIREWOOD (SMALL STICKS USUALLY SUFFICE UNLESS YOU ARE DOING A LARGE YAJNA).
• 
  

                          

•          A DRY COCONUT. THIS IS USED IN THE END TO OFFER THE LAST OBLATION (AHUTI). THE COCONUT IS PUNCTURED (IF IT'S WITH SKIN) OF CUT AT THE TOP (IF IT'S WITHOUT SKIN) AND A BIT OF GHEE AND YAJNA INGREDIENTS ARE PUT IN THAT (THE LID IS PUT BACK ON THE TOP IF IT'S WITHOUT SKIN).
•          A BUCKET OF WATER (I'VE DONE THOUSANDS OF YAJNAS IN MY LIFE AND NEVER NEEDED TO DOUSE THE FIRE. BUT, IF YOU ARE STARTING OUT, YOU MAY WANT TO KEEP A BUCKET OF WATER CLOSE BY IN CASE OF ANY FIRE HAZARD.)

                   A FIREPIT OF 2 FT X 2FT X 2FT OR EVEN 1.5 FT X 1.5 FT X 1.5 FT IS USUALLY ENOUGH. IF YOU CAN'T DIG A PIT OR SOURCE A FIREPIT FROM THE MARKET, YOU CAN BUILD YOUR OWN PLATFORM, A SLIGHTLY ELEVATED PIECE OF GROUND (VEDI). 

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SADHANA STEPS

 

                                   THE COMPREHENSIVE METHOD

                    1. CHANT THE FOLLOWING MANTRA WHILE PUTTING THE FIRST MUG OF WATER ON YOU (OR WHEN YOU STEP INTO THE SHOWER, IF YOU ARE TAKING A SHOWER) 

            

•      GAMGA CA YAMUNE CAIVA
•      GODAVARI SARASVATI
•      NARMADE SIMDHU KAVERI
•      JALESMINA SAMNIDHIMA KURU                

                   I INVOKE THE HOLY PRESENCE OF GANGA, YAMUNA, GODAVARI, SARASWATI, NARMADA, SINDHU AND KAVERI IN THIS WATER.

                2. PUT ON FRESH CLOTHES

 

                3. ENTER THE SANCTUM SANCTORUM OR OPEN YOUR ALTAR

                 GENTLY TAP ON THE FLOOR WITH YOUR LEFT HEEL AND SAY OUT LOUD, "OM HRIM ASTRAYA PHAT!"

                 4. PURIFICATION

                   ONCE INSIDE THE PUJA GRIHA, YOU BEGIN BY PURIFYING YOURSELF AND THE ENERGIES AROUND YOU. USE YOUR LEFT HAND TO TAKE A BIT OF WATER USING THE SPOON IN YOUR VESSEL AND PUT IT IN THE RIGHT ONE. CHANT THE FOLLOWING MANTRA:

• OM APAVITRAH PAVITRO VA
• SARVAVASTHAM GATO API VA
• YAH SMARET PUNDARIKAKSAM
• SA BAHYA ABHYANTARAM SUCIH

                    SPRINKLE THE WATER IN YOUR HAND ABOVE AND AROUND YOU.

                5. SELF-PURIFICATION (ACHAMANA)

                   WATER IS CONSECRATED AND DRUNK THREE TIMES WHILE PERFORMING ACHAMANA. IT'S DONE THREE TIMES TO PURIFY YOU AT THE EMOTIONAL, MENTAL AND PHYSICAL LEVEL. TO PURIFY YOU IN YOUR WAKING, SLEEPING AND DREAMING STATE. TO PURIFY THE THREE MODES OF MATERIAL NATURE, THAT IS, GOODNESS, PASSION AND IGNORANCE.  TO INFUSE YOU WITH KNOWLEDGE, EXISTENCE AND BLISS (SAT-CHIT-ANAND). TO IGNITE YOUR POTENTIAL, KINETIC AND CREATIVE ENERGIES.

                   WITH YOUR LEFT HAND, USING THE SPOON AGAIN, PUT SOME WATER IN YOUR RIGHT HAND AND SAY THE FOLLOWING MANTRA:

•                                   OM KESHVAYA NAKAH

                DRINK THE WATER.

                PUT ONE MORE SPOON AND SAY THE FOLLOWING MANTRA:

•                                   OM MADHAVAYA NAMAH

                     DRINK THE WATER.

                     ONE MORE SPOON THE SAY THE FOLLOWING MANTRA:

•                         OM NARAYANAYA NAMAHA

                        DRINK THE HOLY WATER.

                  5B. PRAKSHALANA

 

                   

                  ONCE YOU HAVE DONE THE ACHAMAN THREE TIMES, TAKE SOME MORE WATER IN YOUR RIGHT HAND (A SPOONFUL IS USUALLY ENOUGH) AND SYMBOLICALLY WASH BOTH YOUR HANDS WHILE SAYING THE FOLLOWING MANTRA:

•                     OM PUNDARIKAKSHAYA NAMAH

                6. LIGHT THE LAMP

               YOU CAN SIMPLY USE YOUR GURU MANTRA WHILE LIGHTING THE LAMP OR CHANT THE FOLLOWING MANTRA:

   

• OM AGNI JYOTIR JYOTIR AGNIH SVAHA
• SURYO JYOTI JYOTIR SURYAH SVAHA
• AGNIR VARCHO JYOTIR VARCHAH SVAHA
• SURYO VARCHO JYOTIR VARCHAH SVAHA
• JYOTI SURYAH SURYO JYOTIH SVAHA

                

                   (MAY THE DIVINE ENERGY BRING THE POWER OF AGNI IN THIS LAMP. THE LIGHT OF THIS LAMP IS AGNI, AND AGNI IS THIS LAMP... SVAHA, LET ALL AFFLICTIONS BURN)

                                  7. INVOKE GANESHA (GANESHA DHYANA)

                 YOU CAN  PRAY TO LORD GANESHA EITHER BY ANY MANTRA  YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW OR BY FOLDING YOUR HANDS AND RECITING ANY OR BOTH THE MANTRA GIVEN BELOW:

                             VAKRATUNDA MAHAKAYA SURYAKOTI SAMAPRABHA

                             NIRVIGHNAM KURU ME DEVA SARVAKARYESU SARVADA.

                                      TRANSLATION

                  ( O LORD GANESHA OF CURVED TRUNK, MAGNIFICENT BODY EXUDING THE RADIANCE OF COUNTLESS SUNS, PLEASE BE BY MY SIDE AND HELP ME COMPLETE MY TASK.)

                 8. HANDLOCKS FOR GANESHA (GANESHA MUDRA)

                                          SHOW THE THREE MUDRAS OF GANESHA.

                                                 👀 FIRST MUDRA OF GANESHA:

           (A) BRING YOUR LEFT HAND CLOSER TO YOUR CHEST WITH THE BACK OF YOUR HAND FACING YOUR CHEST.

           (B) CURL YOUR LEFT HAND A LITTEL AND GRAB IT WITH  YOUR RIGHT HAND TO FORM THE MUDRA BELOW.

                                                👀  SECOND MUDRA OF GANESHA : 

          (A) TUCK THE INDEX AND RING FINGERS OF YOUR LEFT HAND IN YOUR RIGHT FIST

          (B) LET THE MIDDLE FINGER OF YOUR LEFT HAND REMAIN OUTSIDE TO FORM THE TRUNK OF GANESHA.

          (C) SLIGHTLY PROTRUDE THE THUMB AND LITTLE FINGER OF YOUR LEFT HAND TO FORM THE EARS OF GANESHA.

            

                                           👀   THIRD MUDRA OF GANESHA:

                IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE SECOND MUDRA, JUST THAT GANESHA IS MADE WITH THE RIGHT HAND.

              (A) TUCK THE INDEX AND RING FINGERS OF YOUR RIGHT HAND IN YOUR LEFT FIST.

              (B) LET THE MIDDLE FINGER OF YOUR RIGHT HAND REMAIN OUTSIDE TO FORM THE TRUNK OF GANESHA.

             (C) SLIGHTLY PROTRUDE THE THUMB AND LITTLE FINGER OF YOUR RIGHT HAND TO FORM THE EARS OF GANESHA PER.

                                                                             ❤❤❤

                             

FIVE PRINCIPLE OF SUCCESS

 

                                             PRINCIPLE TO GET SUCCESS

                               

                      HILL : AM I TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE FIVE PRINCIPLES OF DEFINITENESS OF PURPOSE. THE MASTER MIND, ATTRACTIVE PERSONALITY, APPLIED FAITH, AND GOING THE EXTRA MILE, ARE SUFFICIENT TO INSURE ONE'S SUCCESS?

                     CARNEGIE : NO, ONE CANNOT DEPEND UPON THESE FIVE PRINCIPLES ALONE. THERE ARE TWELVE OTHER PRINCIPLES OF ACHIEVEMENT WHICH I HAVE NOT YET MENTIONED, AND YOU WILL OBSERVE, WHEN I EXPLAIN THEM, THAT THEY PROVIDE CONTIBUTORY KNOWLEDGE NEEDED IN THE ATTAINMENT OF SUCCESS THAT ONE NOT ACQUIRE FROM THE FIVE PRINCIPLES I HAVE ALREADY NAMED.

                                                                        👀👀

                   THE FIVE PRINCIPLES ARE SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE A MAN TO ESTABLISH A DEFINITE GOAL IN LIFE AND DETERMINE APPROXIMATELY THE AMOUNT OF WEALTH HE INTENDS TO ACCUMULATE, WHAT HE UNTENDS TO GIVE IN RETURN FOR THAT WEALTH, AND SO RELATE HIMSELF TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT THEY WILL NOT PLACE UNNECCESSARY OBSTACLES IN HIS WAY, BUT ONE HAS A CONSIDEDRABLE DISTANCE TO TRAVEL BEYOND THIS POINT BEFORE HE ATTAINS ENDURING SUCCES BY WRITING HIS OWN PRICE TAG, AS THE MASTER OF THE ENTIRE SEVENTEEN PRINCIPLES MAY DO.

                   HILL : DO YOU MEAN TO SAY THAT THERE ARE DEFINITE RULES OF PROCEDURE THROUGH WHICH A PERSON MAY LITERALLY WRITE HIS OWN PRICE TAG AND BE SURE OF GETTING IT? SURELY I MUST HAVE MISUNDERSTOOD YOU, BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF SUCH RULES DO EXIST S THERE WOULD NOT BE SO MANY POVERTY-STRICKEN PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY IN VIEW OF THE FACT, THAT WE, IN AMERICA, ARE SURROUNDED WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF EVERY FORM OF WEALTH, AND GIFTED WITH THE FREEDOM OF INITIATIVE TO CHOOSEN OUR OWN OCCUPATION AND LIVE OUR OWN LIVES AS WE CHOOSE.

                 CARNEGIE : YES, YOU UNDERSTAND ME CORRECTLY, AND I WILL DESCRIBE THE PARTICULAR RULE OF SUCCESS WHICH WILL, IF PROPERLY APPLIED, ENABLE OF PERSON LITERALLY TO WRITE HIS OWN PRICE TAG, WITH MORE THAN AN AVERAGE CHANCE OF GETTING THAT WHICH HE DESIRES.

                 MOREOVER, THIS RULES IS SO POTENT THAT IT PRACTICALLY INSURES ONE AGAINST SERIOUS, OPPOSITION FROM THOSE WHO PURCHASE HIS SERVICES. AS I HAVE ALREADY STATED, THIS RULE IS KNOW AS THE HABIT OF GOING THE EXTRA MILE , WHICH MEAS THE HABIT OF DOING MORE THAN ONE IS PAID TO DO. YOU WILL OBSERVE THAT I HAVE  INJECTED AN IMPORTANT WORD INTO THE DESCRIPTION OF THIS RULE, THE WORLD HABIT!

                       BECAUSE  THE APPLICATION IF THE RULE BEGINES TO BRING BACK APPRECIABLE RESULTS IT MUST BECOME A HABIT, AND IT MUST BE APPLIED AT ALL TIMES, IN ALL POSSIBLE WAYS. IT MEANS THAT ONE MUST RENDER THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF SERVICE OF WHICH HE IS CAPABLE, AND HE MUST RENDER IT IN A FRIENDLY, HARMONIOUS MENTAL MANNER. MOREOVER, HE MUST DO THIS REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF THE IMMEDIATE COMPENSATION HE RECEIVES, EVEN IF HE RECEIVES NO IMMEDIATE COMPENSATION WHATSOVER.

                     HILL : BUT, MR.CARNEGIE, MOST OF THE PEOPLE I KNOW, THOSE WHO WORK FOR WAGES OR A SALARY, CLAIM THAT THEY ARE ALREADY DOING MORE WORK THAN THAT FOR WHICH THEY ARE PAID. IF THIS IS TRUE, WHY AREN'T THEY DOING A BETTER JOB OF INFLUENCING THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE IN THEIR BEHALF THAN THEY APPEAR TO BE DOING? WHY AREN'T THEY RICH, AS YOU ARE?

                                                                      👀👀

                  CARNEGIE : THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION IS SIMPLE ENOUGH, BUT IT HAS MANY ANGLES I SHALL HAVE TO EXPLAIN BEFORE YOU'LL UNDERSTAND IT. IN THE FIRST PLACE, IF YOU WILL ACCURATELY ANALYSE THOSE WHO WORK FOR WAGES YOU WILL LEARN THAT NINETY-EIGHT OUR OR EVERY HUNDRED HAVE NO DEFINITE MAJOR PURPOSE GREATER THAN THAT OF WORKING FOR A DAILY WAGE. THEREFORE NO MATTER HOW MUCH WORK THEY DO, OR HOW WILL THEY DO IT, THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE WILL TURN ON PAST THEM WITHOUT PROVIDING MORE THAN A BARE LIVING, BECAUSE THEY NEITHER EXPECT NOR DEMAND MORE! PONDER OVER THIS TRUTH FOR A MOMENT  AND YOU WILL BE BETTER PREPARED TO FOLLOW THE LOGIC I WILL PRESENT IN THE REMAINDER OF THIS LESSON.

                       THE MAJOR DIFFERENCE BETWEEEN THOSE WHO ACCEPT LIMITATION OF DAILY WAGES SUFFICIENT ONLY FOR A BARE LIVING, AND  MYSELF, IN THIS, I DEMAND RICHES IN DEFINITE TERMS. I HAVE A DEFINITE PLAN FOR ACQUIRING RICHES, I AM ENGAGED IN CARRYING OUT MY PLACE, AND I AM GIVING AN EQUIVALENT, IN USEFUL SERVICE, OF THE VALUE OF THOSE RICHES I DEMAND, WHILE THE OTHERS HAVE NO SUCH  PLAN OR PURPOSE.

                       LIFE IS PRAYING ME OFF ON MY OWN TERMS. IT IS DOING PRECISELY THE SAME THING FOR THE MAN WHO ASKS NO MORE THAN DAILY WAGES. YOU SEE, THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE FOLLOWS THE MENTAL BLUEPRINT THAT A MAN SETS UP IN HIS OWN MIND, AND IT BRINGS BACK TO HIM, IN PHYSICAL OR FINANCIAL MEASURE, AS EXACT EQUIVALENT OF THAT BLUEPRINT.

                       UNLESS YOU GRASP THE FULL MEANING OF THIS STATEMENT OF TRUTH YOU WILL MISS THE IMPORTANT PORTION OF THIS LESSON. THERE IS A LAW OF YOU COMPRENSATION THROUGH THE OPERATION OF WHICH A MAN  MAY ESTABLISH HIS OWN RELATIONSHIOP WITH LIFE, INCLUDING THE MATERIAL POSSESIONS HE ACCUMULATES.  THERE IS NO ESCAPE FROM THE ACCEPTANCE OF THE REALITY OF THIS LAW, FOR IT IS NOT A MAN-MADE LAW.

                     HILL : I CAN UNDERSTAND YOUR VIEWPOINT, MR.CARNEGIE, STATING THE MATTER IN ANOTHER WAY, MAY WE NOT SAY THAT EVERY MAN IS WHERE HE IS AND WHAT HE IS BECAUSE OF THE USE HE MAKES OF HIS OWN MIND?

                  CARNEGIE : YOU HAVE STATED THE IDEA CORRECTLY. THE MAJOR DIFFICULTY OF MOST MEN WHO GO THROUGH LIFE POVERTY-STRICKEN IS THAT THEY NEITHER RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF THEIR OWN MINDS NOR MAKES ANY ATTEMPT WITH HIS HANDS SELDOM BRINGS MORE THAN A MERE LIVING. THAT WHICH A MAN CAN ACCOMPLISH THROUGH THE USE OF HIS MIND MAY GIVE HIM WHATEVER HE ASKS OF LIFE.

                      NOW LET US GET ON WITH OUR ANALYSIS OF THE PRINCIPLE OF GOING THE EXTRA MILE. I AM GOING TO EXPLAIN SOME OF THE MORE PRACTICAL ADVANTAGES OF THIS PRINCIPLE. I CALL THEM PRACTICAL BECAUSE THEY ARE BENEFITS OF WHICH ANYONE MAY AVAIL HIMSELF, WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF OTHERS.

                                                                     

                                                                      👀👀

                 THE HABIT AIDS ONE IS DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING THE RIGHT "MENTAL ATTITUDE"  TOWARD OTHERS, THEREBY SERVING AS AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF GAINING FRIENDLY COOPERATION.

              IT HELPS ONE TO PROFIT BY THE LAW OF CONTRAST, SINCE OBVIOUSLY A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE FOLLOW THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF THIS PRINCIPLE, BY DOING JUST AS LITTLE WORK AS THEY CAN GET BY WITH, AND THAT IS ABOUT ALL THEY ARE GETTING, JUST GETTING BY!

                 IT CREATE A CONTINUOUS MARKET FOR ONE'S SERVICES. MOREOVER, IT INSURES ONE A CHOICE OF JOBS AND WORKING CONDITIONS AT THE TOP OF THE SCALE OF WAGES OR OTHER FORMS OF COMPENSATION.

              IT ATTRACTS OPPORTUNITIES WHICH ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO THOSE WHO RENDER AS LITTLE SERVICE AS POSSIBLE, AND THEREBY SERVES AS AN EFFECTIVE MEDIUM FOR SELF-PROMOTION FROM WAGE EARNING TO BUSINESS OWNERSHIP.

              UNDER SOME CIRMCUMSTANCES IT ENABLES ONE TO BECOME INDISPENSABLE IN HIS JOB, THEREBY PAVING THE WAY FOR HIM TO NAME HIS OWN COMPENSATION.

              IT AIDS ONE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SELF-RELIANCE.

                          MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL ITS BENEFITS, IT GIVES ONE THE ADVANTAGE OF THE LAW OF INCREASING RETURNS THROUGH WHICH HE WILL EVENTUALLY RECEIVE  COMPENSATION FAR BEYONG THE ACTUAL MARKET VALUE OF THE SERVICE HE RENDERS. THEREFORE, THE HABIT OF DOING MORE THAN ONE IS PAID FOR IS A SOUND BUSINESS PRINCIPLE, EVEN IF IT IS USED PURELY AS A MEASURE OF EXPEDIENCY, TO PROMOTE ONE'S PERSONAL INTERESTS ADVANTAGEOUSLY.

                   THE HABIT OF DOING MORE THAN ONE IS PAID FOR IS ONE THAN AN INDIVIDUAL MAY PRACTICE WITHOUT ASKING THE PERMISSION OF OTHERS, THEREFORE, IT IS UNDER ONE'S OWN CONTROL. MANY OTHER BENEFICAL HABITS CAN BE PRACTICED ONLY THROUGH THE CONSENT AND COOPERATION OF OTHER PEOPLE..

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