A call for Soma Yagas

Periyava Thunai

My esteemed Appa Sri. T.P. Sreeraman and my Chitappa Sri T.P. Gopalakrishnan participated in many Soma Yagams and were directly involved in the 1990 Athirathram at Kundur and in 2004 Apthoryagam at Mulangunathukavu, both in Kerala. 

 

Maha Periyava gave Appa two duties when Appa visted Periyava after his retirement in April, 1988. One was to take care of my grandfather and the second was to work on the rejuvenation of Yagams in Kerala. Appa thus became an instrument of Periyava in this lofty endeavour and devoted his energies completely to this. My Chitappa was like Lakshmana to Rama, accompanying Appa and assisting Appa in every way he could. Together, they went to Sengalipuram, Koneru Rajapuram and other villages in TamilNadu which in the early 1990s saw many yagams. 

In the software and manufacturing world, we have Lean, Six Sigma, TQM, ISI and other standards which layout processes and methods for measuring quality. When it came to our daily life and prayers, we had a similar methodology which I will call padhati - be it for the different stages of life -birth, upanayanam, marriage, death and sradham and many such. For every Puja there were well laid out guidelines and steps for optimum results - efficiency and efficacy. We didn't have to re-invent the wheel, the well laid down process was there to guide us.

Soma Yagam is one such Vedic pathathi or method to invoke blessings for the world welfare. While the chantings, prayers & Bhajans have increased, there has been a decrease in this padhathi or tradition. Soma Yagams are elaborate many day fire rituals to invoke blessings for world welfare. The documented scientific results are many - be it increase in agricultural yield, lowering of pollution, increased health and wealth to quote some. From 1990 until 2013-2014, there was at least one Yagam in the Southern states - be it Karnataka/Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra. And we saw the results with the direct increase in  material prosperity of our lives in these states. Since then, as far as I know, and I hope I am wrong, there has been no Soma Yaga. 

Many families these days do Annadanam at various ashrams as an alternative to the Shradham ritual. While Annadanam is a highly held principle, Shradham/Tharpanam is the recommended way for honouring our ancestors. A doctor does not give aspirin to many as an alternative to treat the heart problem of a single patient. 

While chanting is important, conduct of Soma Yagams and other rituals like Athi Rudram, Chandi homams in the prescribed manner are the only way to uphold the Sanatana Dharma, avoid the many natural and man-made calamities we have been witnessing and other societal issues like conversion at one go. I pray to my Gurunathar, Sri Maha Periyava to bless us to see at least one Yagam per year in our country for world welfare. 

I remember reading somewhere Periyava's solution to the Kashmir issue - establishing one Veda Patashala and having regular Rudram parayanam there morning and evening, and then adding one more Patashala and slowly covering the area. Periyava said this will resolve the issue. Today with the extra threat of China, I can only pray that this solution from the epitome of wisdom, Sri Maha Periyava will be implemented.

There is a surge in many Periyava groups & Forums on whatsapp, facebook etc and chanting of  Periyava's name many times, 24 hour Gayatri chanting , Sahasranamams, bhajans, annadanams, Seva, miracles sharing, experience sharing and many such activities.  I am yet to come across a call for Soma Yagam from these groups, though! Soma Yagam which was so dear to Periyava, yet! 

I hope these Forums will take up the cause of Soma Yagams, which were very dear to our Periyava and one of the best ways to remember and serve Periyava truly. 

This is the best antidote to Corona and many other issues.

And without these Vedic rituals, we will become yet another fanatic religion, if we haven't already! Which is why all spiritual Gurus, especially of the past stressed the need for the protection of cows and Vedas and made it their mission!

Periyava Thunai.