Vedic hymns and chants echoed in Uttaradi Math here, as scholars began the two-day ‘Brihati sahasra maha yagam’ here on Thursday.
The ‘Yagagni,’ or sacred fire, was ignited by churning ‘Arani’ in accordance with Vedic traditions in the morning. Scholars made the holy fire using ‘Arani Manthani’, an instrument similar to a hand drill.
While chanting Vedic hymns, they drilled a wooden shaft. The spinning caused black dust to form near the hole of the soft wood. The black dust with smoulder was transferred onto a tinder of twigs. As soon as flames emanated from the plate of twigs, the environs echoed with the chanting of ‘Narayana’.
Another striking feature was ‘Sahasra Kalasa Sthapana’ or the installation of thousand copper vessels filled with water brought from river Krishna. The Yagam is intended to invoke the blessings of Sri Lakshmi Sametha Srimannarayana.
The Uttaradi Math is performing the yagam on its 10 anniversary. Math manager Kanugovi Vasudevachar, quoting Aitareya Upanishad and Brahmanda purana, said: “ Satavarsha haridhyana phalamapnothi poorushaha, which means recital of 1000 mantras mentioned by sage Viswamitra, was equivalent to uninterrupted worshipping of the lord for 100 years. The yagam would give similar result, he explained.
Sudha pundits, scholars in dwaita philosophy, recited Sriman Nyaya Sudha penned by Jayateerthacharya.
Uttaradi Math Divan Prahladacharya Upadhyaya, chief performer of yagam, scholars, Jayateertha charaya, Prof. Malige Jayateertha (Dharwad University), Krishnacharya Surpura and Pujari Dheerendracharya took part in the yagam.
