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Somayaga 2014
The spiritual event of 2014 Kozhikode 13 to 19th February 2014
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INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................. 3 WHAT IS YAGA? ................................................................................................................................................ 3 NOW, WHAT IS SOMAYAGA? ......................................................................................................................... 3 WHY WE CONDUCT SOMAYAGAM? ............................................................................................................. 4 SCIENTIFIC ASPECTS ...................................................................................................................................... 5 HOW AND WHEN DID YAGA START?............................................................................................................ 5 THE MAIN PROCEDURES OF SOMAYAGA .................................................................................................. 6 WHAT YOU SHOULD DO?................................................................................................................................ 7 HOW TO PARTICIPATE .................................................................................................................................... 7 HOW TO SUPPORT ........................................................................................................................................... 8 HOW TO SPREAD THE WORD ........................................................................................................................ 8 BUY KALASA ..................................................................................................................................................... 9 GIVE ANNADANA .............................................................................................................................................. 9 DONATE ............................................................................................................................................................ 10 VISIT SOMAYAGA 2014 .................................................................................................................................. 10
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Introduction
Before getting into step by step instructions on how to benefit from Somayaga, let us take a look at a concise introduction to Somayaga. Some of you already know about Somayaga, and know about the personal, family and community benefits of participating in Somayaga. If you have downloaded this eBook to find out how to participate and benefit from Somayaga 2014, just scroll down to the section How to Participate
What is Yaga?
Before we talk about Somayaga, lets talk about Yaga in general. In short yaga is a ritual of offerings. Yaga is the science given through Vedas for the purification of the soul and the atmosphere through the agency of fire. This is one of the most ancient body of knowledge known to humankind. This science is also presented now as HOMA therapy. In Hinduism, yaja or yagam, is a ritual of offerings accompanied by chanting of Vedic mantras derived from the practices of Vedic times. Yajna is an ancient ritual of offering and sublimating the havana smagri (herbal preparations) in the fire. The meaning of the word yajna is derived from the Sanskrit verb yaj, which has a three-fold meaning of worship of deities (devapujana), unity (sagatikaraa) and charity (dna). An essential element is the ritual fire the divine Agni into which oblations are poured, as everything that is offered into the fire is believed to reach God.
Somayaga is a highly spiritual and effective ritual performed as prescribed in the Vedas. This lasts for six days. SOMA juice is used as the main oblation hence the name SomaYaga. Remember that Soma is known as the king of medicinal herbs. An intelligent person who is willing to follow strict disciplines would take about twelve years to learn this technique with proper Mantra chanting. This special Yajnya provides an
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extra powerful boost of Healing Energy for the persons who participate and also to the whole world.
Indra is the main deity of the Somayaga. Somayaga is conducted to please Lord Indra. Indra is generally thought of as the lord of rain only. However, Indra is also the lord of the mind, an endless force. Indra is the lord of fertility. Yes, and also the lord of rain bearing clouds. He is the divine principle which imparts the virility in the medicines. Hence, for obtaining happiness or bliss, it is essential that we please Indra and gain the blessings of the divine force of the Yaga. Somyaga imparts vitality to all medicines, it is considered as a process which bestows good for the whole world. Many believe that Somayaga is conducted for propitiating the rain gods. Nowhere has it been mentioned that Somayaga has been prescribed for inviting the rains. There are other Yagas meant for making rains happen in the form of ParjjanyaYagnam, VrishtiYagnam etc. However, amongst the fruits of Somayaga is one called Suvrishti. That is necessary amounts of rain pouring at the right time when they are required. Our acharyas believe that Somayaga has the power to stop excess as well as deficient rains. This special Yaga provides an extra powerful boost of Healing Energy for the whole world. The atmosphere becomes medicinal, nutritious and disease-free. Somayagas yield a qualitative and quantitative improvement in the psyche. There are seven types of Somayagas: AGNISHTOMA for the atmosphere ATYAGNISHTOMA for water JYOTI RUKTHA for food SHODASHI for health ATIRATRA for longevity of life APTORYAM for well-being and prosperity of the whole society VAJAPAYEE for peace of mind
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Scientific Aspects
Apart from the spiritual aspects of Somayaga, it has many scientific ones: 1. The effect "collective consciousness the chanting of mantras, the extraction of soma juice, the oblations and the presence of people gathered. Sufficient strength makes the random sequence of the world, predictable on that day. 2. Positive change for the better. Attitudinal surveys indicated a positive change for the better. It showed that people attended Ygas for spiritual reasons and that their lives are affected by spiritual activities like Ygas. 3. Environmental effects. Analysis of the homa ash showed no bacteria or bacterial activity even when there were counts of air-borne bacteria at various distances. 4. Yaga has positive effects on agriculture and human health. The yagna seems to have accelerated the process of seed germination and also the microbial presence in air, water and soil in and around the region of the fire ritual.
become the offering. Knowledge becomes the homa. The act of putting firewood into the sacred fire becomes the food for the morning as well as evening. The mornings, midday and evenings become the Savanam. Days, months, quarters, years etc. become arhanayagas. Death becomes Avabrith snanam. In this way, Agnihotra becomes a process which transcends the cycle of life and death.
ball of fire can be seen to be made during this ritual. The pravargyam is said to be the head of the Yagna deity according to the ShroutaGranthas. The upasath happens to be the rest of the body of the Yagna deity from the neck down. SubrahmanyaAahvanam :(The advent of Subrahmanya). Indra is Subrahmanya. Indra is invited with Samaveda. Vedeekaranam:Preparation of the dais for Somayaga. Sadonirmmanam:Audience formation, sitting arrangement for the Rithwiks AgnishomeeyaYagaarambham :The start of the Yagna with fire and offering to the gods representing the fiery world. One of the results of this procedure is the abundance of food. VasatiVareegrahanam: Providing Somaraja with water. Praatah, Madyadina and TriteeyaSavanam :It is a process in which the 12 shastras and stotras are used. Rig is the weapon and samagana is the stotra. AvabhritaSnaanam : The bathing process of the master, the wife and the rithviks. Udayaneeyeshti :The start of the end of the Yagna. VediUposhanam :The offering of the Yagnashala to fire. The end of the Yagna with the complete offering of the Yagnashala to the fire and its complete engulfing in flames. Now that we have a better understanding of Yagam and its background, lets talk about how Somayga can help you.
knowledge to all, Kozhikode has become the hotbed and cradle of Vedic activities. It is a traditional belief that those who participate in this Yagna in even a mental or visualising way would be blessed with good fortune by the devtas. Opportunity is provided to the general public, philanthropists and all those interested in promoting universal peace through the Yaga. You are encouraged to participate and sponsor the programs. What to do: 1. Daily Chanting during the Somayaga, renowned scholars in Vedas and Sastras chant the potent Maha Sukthas and divine Mantras of Rig, Yajur and Sama Vedas and perform rites in utter devotion and concentration in accordance with the prescriptions of the Thantric system with an unselfish mind. So, you can participate by chanting these mantras yourself. 2. Spread the word. 3. Donate books to those coming to the Somayaga event in Kozhikode. 4. Provide Annadana. 5. Buy Kalasa for yourself. 6. Attend the Somayaga event in Kozhikode if you can.
How to Support
We must revive the Vedic traditions wherever we live in our respective circle of relatives, friends, and acquaintances. We must encourage such initiatives taken by anyone even if we do not know that person. We must teach as much as we know to others and motivate them to learn more and more. We must attend as many Yajnyas or Ygas and make it a success. We must understand the benefits and spread the word. Support Somayaga by donating and by buying products through the Somayaga website http://www.somayga.com. The biggest support would be by participating online, spreading the word about Somayaga, and by directly visiting Somayaga 2014 at Kozhikode, Kerala.
3. Share the Somayaga details in social media like Facebook, Twitter etc.
Buy Kalasa
Participate in Somayaga 2014 by buying Kalasa in your name (please also provide Birth star). The Kalasa would be done on your behalf along with the Somayaga. You can visit http://www.somayaga.com/kalasa to buy Kalasa.
Kalasha, or Kalasha pot", is a pot with a large base and small mouth, large enough to hold a coconut. Holding the kalasham and uttering divine mantras, a pradakshina is done around the Yagashala and the offering is finally made to the Yaga Deva. The ancient seers affirm that this offering dispels the sufferings due to poverty, increases the potential to work, enhances brain power, alleviates the fear of ill-health and prosperity.
Give Annadana
You can provide Annadana to the devotees attending the Yaga. There are 100s of thousands of people attending the Somayaga 2014. We need support from you to give them Free food. This is a great deed, which in itself is rewarding. You can visit http://www.somayaga.com/annadana to buy Annadana. Annadanam Samam Danam Trilokeshu Na Vidhathe These are the verses from the Vedas, meaning Annadanam is supreme and incomparable to any charity. Food is the basic requirement for all humans. Thus according to Vedas, one who does annadanam to devotees attains heaven (Punya Loka) in this Universe (Brahmanda) itself. Gaja turaga Sahasram Gokulam koti danam Kanaka Rajatha patram Methini sagarantham
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Upaya kula vishuttam Koti kanya pradanam Nahi nahi bahu danam Annadanam samanam There is no greater merit in this world than feeding the hungry. Donating 1000 elephants, donating 10 million cows, donating any number of vessels of silver and gold, donating the entire land till sea, helping in the marriage of 10 million women all this is never ever equal to Annadanam, the feeding of the hungry and needy. Even the Gods appreciate the deed of regular annadanam. Annadanam improves strength and sharpness of brain, and divinity to both the donor and receiver. Numerous devotees have offered generously for Annadhanam scheme. If you are interested you are welcome to contribute.
Donate
Your support could be by Donating to the event. This would help the effective and efficient functioning of Somayaga 2014. You donation also helps online campaigns to spread the word. Visit http://www.somayaga.com/donate to Donate and support Somayaga 2014.
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