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Shri Datta Swami

Posted on: 20 Nov 2019

               

Is it not necessary to conduct fire-sacrifices for getting rain?

It is told in the Gita that clouds are formed due to the fire-sacrifices performed (Yajñāt bhavati parjanya). So, is it not necessary to perform these fire-sacrifices for getting rains?

Swami replied: O Learned and Devoted Servants of God! The word yajña comes from the root word ‘yaj’, which means worshipping God through practical sacrifice and prayers. This root word does not convey the sense of burning ghee in the physical fire, as is commonly done. In fact, such burning of ghee has been bitterly criticized by Kapila and Krishna. The only way to worship God is by worshipping the contemporary Human Incarnation. Worship includes practical sacrifice and service, along with theoretical devotion, which is expressed in the form of singing prayers. The practical sacrifice is known as karma yoga or karma kāṇḍa. Hence, the alternative word for yajña is karma. Karma means work or service and in this context, it refers to the work of making practical offerings to God. About 80% of the Veda only deals with this practical sacrifice. The yajña is always associated with the practical sacrifice of food cooked with plenty of ghee. Food containing plenty of ghee is considered to be the richest or best food. Due to the abundance of ghee, such food is simply referred to as ghee. It is a figure of speech (synecdoche). Such food is to be offered into the hunger-fire of the Satguru, who is the Human Incarnation of God. This hunger-fire is known as the vaiśvānara agni. Thus, feeding the Satguru with the best food containg plenty of ghee is the real yajña. This offering of food must also be followed by an offering of money (dakṣiṇā). If one avoids this practical offering of money to the Satguru, the yajña is said to have died (Adakṣiṇā hato yajñaḥ).

All these points basically mean that we must revere God-in-human-form, who is present before our eyes, through worship, devotion, practical service and sacrifice. The practical service and sacrifice stand as the proof of our theoretical devotion. A firm belief in the human form of God can only be obtained through spiritual knowledge, which involves sharp analysis of the scriptures (jñāna yoga). When God-in-human-form, who is also known as Satguru or Brahma, is satisfied, all the angels present in Him also get satisfied (Yāvatīrvai...—Veda). Indra, the main angel causes the clouds to rain. He does so when the Satguru is worshipped in the manner described above. This is the real form of yajña, which alone can cause rains. Burning ghee in the physical fire is against the fundamental concept of the Veda which says that food shall not be destroyed or wasted (Annaṃ na paricakṣīta). This act of burning ghee, which is against the Veda, is also against the author of the Veda, who is God Himself. Instead of pleasing Him, it annoys Him and pollutes the environment. Instead of bringing rains, it stops rains! The false interpretation of yajña as the burning of ghee and food in the physical fire was the invention of the stupid middle-age priests, who used to blindly recite the Veda, without understanding its meaning. But they have impressed this wrong concept on the minds of the public very strongly. As a result, it will take a lot of time for the public to believe the real interpretation of yajña, as described above.

| Shri Dattaswami | Yajna Vaishvaanara karma kaanda Dakshina Adakshina hato yajnah Yaavatiirvai Annam na parichakshiita Jnana

 
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