Agnihotra.-Daily
Havan.
After Arya
Prathinidhi Sabha
came to Toronto to
participate in the Annual week long Maha Gayatri Yajna organized by Arya Samaj
Markham.
After every Yajna
in his lectures Achaya Ji spoke about the values of performing the daily Havan.
Here are some of
the excerpt from his discourses. This
articles also contains some of the excerpts from other sources
like “Canadian
Hindu Link” and Dr. Ravi Srivastav from Arya Samaj
The
"Agnihotra" or the "Daily Havan" as it is more popularly known
has been a very strong part of the "Dharma" that we preach and
follow. "Dharma" is simply fulfilling our own responsibilities
towards ourselves, our families, our communities -and our environment.
Yajnas
or agnihotram are considered by swami Dayanand as one of essential daily five
duties of Aryans.
Like water, air and sun, God also created fire for the benefit of all of
us. We cannot live without fire that gives us heat. Since fire destroys the
impurities of everything, it symbolizes purity. Hindus consider fire sacred. No
major Hindu rituals are performed without a Fire Ceremony called Havan or
Yajna. Little is known about the physical properties of fire and the elements
used in a Havan, and even less is known about the positive environmental
effects of performing a Havan. From ancient times, Vedas & Vedic sciences
have made significant contributions to the world civilization, culture and
knowledge in all areas of human pursuits. These contributions are mostly
unknown to the wider world and are often un-acknowledged. This is a
"ritual" followed since the Vedic Age, and the current science has
proven that our Rishis and Maharishis knew long ago about the effects of Havans!
Today’s polluted environment is the biggest challenge being faced by the world.
It is threatening the very survival not only of the human race but the entire
living world. The western world has in recent times become truly concerned
about our environment which has become increasingly polluted over the years.
Our Rishis and Maharishis have since the early Vedic Age advised us of the
purification process involved in an Agnihotra.
Wise men worship God through various Yajnas. These Yajnas have been their
duties since ancient times. Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram and Yogiraj Shri
Krishna performed Agnihotra daily, even during the most difficult times in
their lives, and our Rishis and others have been performing Agnihotra well
before those times. Maharishi Dayanand Saraswati heralded the spiritual
renascence in modern times. Science of Agnihotra which was at its peak during
the Vedic Age and the knowledge of which is still available in our scriptures. He
revived the ancient approach to Vedic concepts. Among other things he reintroduced
Yajnas to be performed by every human being every day. Agnihotra is one of the
five duties / Yajnas (pancamahayajna) to be performed by every householder
twice a day. It has been an integral part of the Vedic Culture and it is also
known by the names of Deva Yajna, Havana and Homa. All the 16 Sanskaras
including marriage ceremony start with Agnihotra. Since we all continuing to
pollute the environment today, scientists and many politicians and special
interest groups agree that we must take action and work hard to rid our
environment of centuries of pollution.
The items used in performing Havan such as Samagree a special mixture of
medicinal herbs, roots, dry fruits, wood and ghee are offered as oblation into
the Havan Kund fire have proven to have
positive environmental effects. It follows that if more people perform
Agnihotra two times a day, it can arguably have a greater influence in
purifying the environment.
Best way to keep the environment pollution free is to perform Havana. Various
gasses produced during Havana decompose the poisonous gasses liberating free
oxygen and other useful products acting like disinfectants. Performance of
daily Yajna by all the members of the family especially the younger generation
sitting together every morning and evening cannot be over emphasized. This is
an activity with multiple benefits. We not only purify the air but also remove
the impurities of our mind and body. This process also helps in maintaining the
unity and harmony in the family and the community. In Saam Veda about 114
Mantras speak about the importance of Havana. Yajur Veda says that the Havana
is the most important, necessary and useful deed. The Vedas say that Yajna or
yagna and Gayatri Mantra are the only ways of attaining Moksha or Salvation or
Self-realization. All four Vedas have innumerable mantras related to Yajna. The
word Yajna is derived from the root “Yaj”. The word “Yaj” has three
connotations as mentioned in the Yajur Veda mantra as
“Yajudevapujasangatikaranadaaneyshu”...
The
Havan or Yajna is not considered as worship of visible fire. It is only a
symbolic act, Havan symbolizes the three D’s—Discipline, Devotion and
Dedication.which reminds us the various virtuous
concepts like iddm nan mmam –nothing for self all for society, that
everything we have belongs to God and must be used for the benefits of the
whole society.
"An
act performed with the motive of welfare for the whole society and in which the
performer becomes a part of that society is called a yajna" No Havan is
considered complete until some Donation or (Daan) is given.
Daan is communicating, imparting and sharing of knowledge with other
similar acts of charity and benevolence, liberality and gifts, financial and
otherwise... Daan is Prevalent in nature.
Daan involves many disciplines. If the disciplines are not observed,
then the Daan becomes merely donation.
While giving Daan we should keep the following points in mind.
1. Give as much as we
can. It is not merely giving money or material possessions.
It could be a flower or even a smile. IT IS NOT HOW MUCH WE GIVE BUT HOW WE GIVE that really matters. SO WE SHOULD GIVE ANYTHING BUT GIVE IT WITH
OUR HERATS.
2. Daan should not be
given for name or fame. Charity without publicity and fanfare is considered the
highest form of charity.
3. While giving
Daan we should not feel that we are obliging the other person. If we give Daan,
keeping the abovementioned factors in mind, then we will be blessed with Peace,
Bliss and Tranquilty. Agnihotra and Daan, the first two aspects of the
Five-fold path, give the push to our minds in the right direction and our
ability to choose between right and wrong, good or bad improves. This will lead
us towards the path of Moksha or Self-realization. Human life becomes enhanced
throughYajna.
Om shantih, shantih,
shantih.
Courtesy
Kewal
Ahluwalia.