"I have not
come to you as a Guru --- I have come to you as your own mother." - Amma
Why do we perform
Ati Rudram Maha Yagñam?
Ati Rudra Maha
Yagñam is being performed for the physical and mental welfare of all the beings
in all the worlds and for universal peace and prosperity.
What is Rudram?
Sri Rudram is the
center of the entire Vedas. Sri Rudram conducts of 11 chapters (anuvakams) each
of Namakam and Chamakam. Namakam extols the divine light of the creator
reflected in creation. Chamakam invokes the grace of the divine for various
material and spiritual benefits, which are in turn offered for universal peace
and well-being. The vibrations of this supreme hymn, Sri Rudram, purify the
individual at all levels including body, mind, and intellect. Purification of
the self leads to realizing the divinity within, as unity of creation and
creator.
What is Ati Rudram?
It is the most
potent and highest offering that involves chanting Namakam for 14,641 times
along with Chamakam for 1,331 times by 12 priests and 121 ritwiks (those well
versed with chanting) over a period of 11 days.
What is Ati Rudra
Maha Yagñam?
It is chanting Ati
Rudram in combination with yajña (sacred fire) and Abhishekam (worship using
holy waters, milk, honey, etc.) Performing these rituals, while chanting,
amplifies the power of the mantras several thousand times.
2014 Program
Schedule
Wednesday : April
30, 2014
*Prayer &
Invocation with Veda Chanting
*Inauguration of Ati
Rudram Maha Yagñam
*Lighting of the
Lamp
*Worship of Ganesha
(Sri Mahaganapathi Pooja)
*Purification Of
The Location & Sacred Fire Ceremony (Punyaha, Raksha Bandhana, Ankurarpana,
Poorvanga Godana, Vastu-Rakshoghna Pooja, & Homa)
*Installation Of
The Lingam (Bimba Shuddhi, Jalaadhivaasa, Ksheeradhivaasa, Dhanyadivasa,
Pushpa-Phaladhivasa, Shaydhivasa)
Thursday : May 1, 2014
6:00am- Aruna
parayana, mahanyasa parayana, kala pooja, and kala homa
Nadeesandhana,
pranaprasthistha
8:00am-
Panchamritha Abhishekam
8:30am- Rudra
parayana & Rudrabhishekam
11:00am-
Agniprasthistha & Agnivibhajana
Rudra homam
12:15pm-
Mahamangalaharati
4:00pm-
Panchamritha Abhishekam
Rudrabhishekam
Rudra kramarchana,
Nitya homam
5:30pm- Sri
Chakrarchana (lalitha sahasranamavali)
6:30pm-Music or
dance offering (swarnanjali or natyanjali)
7:30pm- Aarathi
Friday: May 2-10, 2014
6:00am- Aruna &
Mahanyasa Parayana
8:00am- Panchamritha
Abhishekam
8:30am- Rudra Parayana
& Rudrabhishekam
11:00am- Rudra Homam
12:15pm- Mahamangalaharati
4:00pm- Panchamritha
Abhishekam, Rudrabhishekam
Rudra Kramarchana, Nitya
Homam
5:30pm- Sri
Chakrarchana (Lalitha Sahasranamavali)
6:30pm- Music or
Dance Offering (Swarnanjali Or Natyananjali)
7:30pm- Aarathi
Sunday : May 11, 2014
6:00am- Aruna &
Mahanyasa Parayana
8:00am- Panchamritha
Abhishekam
8:30am- Rudra Parayana
& Rudrabhishekam
11:00am- Rudra Homam
12:15pm- Agni
Samyojana, Jayadi Homam
1:00pm- Poornahuti,
Uttaranga Godanam, Dasadanam
1:15pm- Aarathi
5:00pm- Veda Chanting
Dedication of Yagña
(Yajñaphalasamarpanam)
Honoring Priests and
Ritwiks
The lords had planned this event even before people had thought as
to who is going to be the recipient of his grace. I had gone to visit a friend
(daughter) in California. While she was studying In New jersey and attending
the sai center on occasion would stay with our family and over time became one
of the family members. After completing her studies moved to California for a
job Opportunity and higher studies, where she met her life partner Gurumani
Krishnan. She had invited us for the wedding in India, but due to my health
constraints I could not attend I told her I will surely make up for that and
will make a personal visit and stay with them.
Which we were able
to fulfill this February 7th-9th stayed in their quaint and cozy abode. They were gracious enough in offering their comforts to us and they slept on the floor. On Saturday, February 8th they were going for their sadhana, as they were planning on going
to the Ati Rudram being held in Atlanta for the very first time in the United
States of America. The sadhana consisted of giving up a few things: celibacy for
121 days, alcohol, meat, as well as television. We are to do weekly satsang, singing the glory of
the lords, while practicing silence daily and reciting the Rudram, namakam, chamakam, and devi
stotrams.
As they were going
to the center we joined them, and it was heart rendering to hear them sing with
so much dedication and love. When we returned Vishaka said "Koushik, you must
join us on this trip!!" With no hesitation I booked my ticket and room
accommodations well in advance so that I would definitely be there. Due to my
health conditions I did not do or practice sadhana. I only joined our group from
the tri-state area towards the end; hardly two weeks and I was going to be a volunteer, not a ritwik.
On April 26, 2014 there was a final homam in Pennsylvania to start our trip to Atlanta. The coordinator asked "will you able to participate in this homam as you have not come for any?" I told him that I will definitely be there to be a part of the event. He did not know how to go about the event and
someone in California suggested you invite a senior
citizen and honor
him with vastram and that would be the proper way. This was shared only in the
end after the homam was completed.
Sethu was our
coordinator for the tri-state region, he did not know where is he going to find
this older person, and only a few days ago his father had come from India. He
asked him to join and came with him but did not bring any dhoti due to the
weather, as the homam was being performed outside. The vibrations in this
family's home were very high. They first started with Ganesha prayer followed
by Abhishekam to shiva. I was asked to perform the Abhishekam but I refused as
I get into a trance and did not want to disturb any one. I asked the uncle to
perform as he was much older and said I do not have the dhoti, I said what is
the problem? The host will be happy to give you a new dhoti. Everyone was
convincing of him not performing due to the weather and I was telling him to
come forward. The family gave him a new outfit and a shawl, and he was able to
participate in this homam.
On April 28th, early in the morning, I just began writing Om Sri Sai Ram and a message came from Swami to
all ritwiks "even though all of you are selected for performing in this
auspicious occasion, please do not let this get to your head, you are not the
doer. If you disconnect from this you can receive all the positive
vibrations at any time. Do not let your ego get in. Enjoy the scenery, embrace
all the people, and spread my love with each and every one you meet. I am always
with you, in you, above, behind and around you. Witness my grace on all of you. You are all my
children....., love love, love and only love."
I was to leave on
the 29th to Atlanta in the afternoon and in the morning at 5:30am I got something in the mail mentioning
that the flight had been cancelled due to the weather. In the Atlanta region, a tornado was expected and in the New Jersey area heavy rain and flooding. It was a
test how badly did we want this and how intensely. We all scrambled for an
airline that would allow us to travel for this auspicious occasion. The
compassionate lord opened his arms and made way for me.
The airlines went out
of their way in getting a direct flight available to get me there on time and without
the lords it would have not be possible. One by one we were arriving at the
airport Michigan, California, upstate New York, New Jersey, Seattle and
our shuttle run by only volunteer/ritwik took us to the center were the
function was going to be held and dropped us off as they needed all the help to
get the event off the ground. The night before with heavy rains had damaged all
the effort put into so we had to start all over. More trials and tribulations. Nevertheless, all
the participants pooled together and pulled it off.
On April 30th,
we were scheduled to have invocation with Veda chanting and inauguration of Ati
Rudram Maha Yagñam. The weather was not cooperating and we did not know how
this function was going to happen. Still more flights were being cancelled due
to the weather. Tornado warnings all throughout Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and
Mississippi.
We did not let our
spirits down and chanted Om Nama Shivaya continuously and vigorously. We thoroughly enjoyed heart rendering
bhajans sung by devotees from overseas. The compassionate lord heard our sincere
prayers and cleared the path with good weather to go ahead with the program. Professor
Nanjunda Dixit, the head priest, tied the sacred thread for me even though I was
not a ritwik. He said "the work that you are doing is higher than what I am
doing. Continue the seva and make sure you will be here for all the days." I am sure
the sacred thread is what saved my life several times during the 12 days.
The
power of all mantras. Thursday, May 1st, is the official start of the program. All
ritwiks had received their Dikisha vastram and were ready to start. I volunteered to
give water to all the men. After completing that I went to the other side to help fill all of the plates with homam items and I was short of 6 plates. When I went to get a plate a lady, in front of everyone, began shouting at me and said "you have to ask for my permission to take things!!" She then went on and told another ritwik "do not involve him. Do it yourself!" I could have said
something but chose to just walk away. I came in front of her time and time again when I would volunteer to clean the hall after each evening program. I would
stay until 1:30am cleaning and someone or the other would be dropped off at the
hotel.
After several days
again I saw the shuttle bus stop and pick up at a resident. It happened to
be the same woman from the other day. This time she was silent and did not say anything with her head kept down. A man came up to me and
asked me "are you a ritwik?" I clearly answered "no i am not." He then asked me if I was a chanter and again I answered "no". He finally asked me if I was a volunteer and I replied with "yes I am." He shortly follow up with "can you help out in the kitchen?". Now originally I had signed up for cleaning bathrooms, keeping shoes in an organized manner, followed by kitchen seva. Keeping the bathrooms in order was already being taken care of. The shoes/slippers were placed outside. I was now left with kitchen duty. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the men and women, joking around, and sampling all the varieties of food as we had full
reins of the provisions. After completing our duties, on occasion, we would peek
into the yajna shala and hear the thunderous chanting of the Vedas.
I felt like going
and sitting in front of the energized lingam, so after my duties I went and sat
and slipped into a very deep meditative state. I had tears rolling down my cheeks with no control and
fell on top of the homa kundam. People who were not aware of my situation
thought it was a medical problem and began running frantically to find a physician. They even went and told Karunanamayi and she said hold onto his feet. When Sekhar heard it was Koushik he told everyone "stay away and do not disturb him. He is
with Swami!!" I did not want anyone
touching me, especially when I am in a trance, as it disturbs the energy. My
presence was now known to all as to who I am and had full rein to move about without
anyone questioning or stopping me.
The next day an
American woman stopped by the kitchen and said I do not who you are but you
came in my dream with a clear box and inside there were a lot of snakes. Who are
you? I casually replied “SHIVA”.
On Tuesday, May 6th, at 5:30AM, I get a text from a friend saying that his friend’s wife was going to be in
surgery, she needed help, and to pray that she will be just fine. I could have replied O.K.
but instead replied "do not worry. I will be there in the surgical room with her holding
her hand." I told him to BELIEVE IN ME. The very next day I call him to follow up. He says she's doing fine and that as she was laying in the surgical room, just as he was told the day before, she felt someone holding her hand.
I was waiting in
the hotel lobby for the shuttle and arrived very early and volunteered to make
sure we could accommodate as many as possible. I kept the front seat open in case someone handicapped needed to sit there, but then a man opened the door and took the seat. I told it was for
someone else and he replied I am as important as the next. I did not want to go
head to head first thing in the morning. I got everyone seated only to find out I was
the only one left. I asked the person in the front "sir could you move up a
little bit so I can get in as I have to go to work?" He said "I am going to get
down and you can get in." I replied with "Sir, I am much taller than you and my legs
will not fit in that cramped space." He remarked "I am smarter than you that you cannot trick me." Again, I
did not want to start the day in that negative manner. Later in the day, in full public view, catching everyone's attention in plain sight, he suddenly felt the need to prostrate!! With this kind of ego, where does he
plan on going?
As I came out of my hotel room, there were two ladies standing on either side of the pillars and immediately started chanting Sai Suprabatham. What did they see that made them chant so spontaneously? When they were singing, it made me very dizzy and had asked them to stop although it was sung very melodiously.
I went to work in
the kitchen and the energy in the ashram yajnam was very high in the morning. As I was working, I was carrying a large pot of hot boiling water when someone called out to me. I completely forgot I had something in my hands. The whole vat of scalding hot water fell on arm and hand. I was burned very badly. I applied what was
available as an aid to alleviate the constant annoying pain.
To help me forget the pain
I went to the yajna shala to meditate. I usually go for meditation only after I have completed the work in the kitchen but that day it was completed in the very beginning itself. I walked on the
runway. I had no care of who was watching or observing me. What better way to properly enter as I saw only Swami sitting on the altar with both hands up blessing everyone.
I was in the first row
under swami's feet, followed by the priest, and then the ritwik. With a nod to the priest I sat and closed my eyes for hours. I have no idea as to what was going on around me. I had tears rolling down my face uncontrollably as I was in the deep meditative state of mind. The public was stunned that someone
who had been burnt so badly throughout his entire arm has no feeling whatsoever. He must be so blessed that without even planning anything he can be with the Lord just like that. People wanted to touch me and
get blessings. At some point even fruits and flowers were offered at my feet by Sekhar; the organizer
of the event. People, still in amazement, kept saying "how blessed you are! Just with the thought of The Lord you melt in his arms." Many wanted to hear the experience but it was only for a
few to hear as there was a message for them.
Arun, along with Sekhar, were also participants from
California. Arun's mother and a friend came after
lunch to meet near the kitchen to hear some divine experiences. The following
day when they were coming her friend slipped and sprained her knee. She remained in great spirit and did not panic. The ambulance was
called for Arun’s mother. "Koushik we came to see you so you have to heal her with your
energy!!" I gave her my word that she will be O.K. and return back by 8pm. When I
saw Arun, I inquired the well-being of Sita aunty and he replied that she did in fact return by 8pm as mentioned to him earlier.
The word spread so fast that the ladies came to the kitchen to drink coffee to Karunamayi. In the evening an announcement came that "no one, other than the kitchen
staff, is allowed to be back there!" In an interview with the California group
with karunamayi she asked “why did you go near the kitchen when everything is
available in the dining hall?" The lady answered "we went to see Koushik as he has
many divine experiences." The next morning Sekhar came to the kitchen and asked "Koushik, do you mind if I hug you and kiss you?" I said no and he did just that. Gurumani
would hug me everyday and say I love you. I met him only a few months ago but there was such a connection of the heart. That day, when I went to the yagna shala to sit, Amma Karunamayi was giving a speech: "shiva is here amongst us, he does not
want to see me but I have seen him and today he is in pant and shirt" Hearing
that, I hit the floor with full force, fell on a harmonium, a mic stand, and
had lacerated the body. Blood was
coming out and yet again I felt nothing. Doctors wanted to treat the wound immediately but I
did not want anyone to touch me. Eventually I came out of the trance. Arun pleaded "Koushik, for my
sake, please see a physician who is here and is willing to help in covering the
wound."
On Sunday, the last day, they were honoring all the priests’, ritwiks, and all of the
volunteers. I came and sat at my usual spot and drifted off into deep meditation.
I saw swami standing in front of me and then on the altar. The garland started
to fall from his picture, the lingam, das avatar, and flowers falling from all. I was in Kailasam and could see the snow-capped mountains with the light hitting it just shimmering and glistening. What a beautiful sight! To be in the presence of the beloved lord; thank you for showering your abundant grace on this soul. Swami
graced the occasion. I Am There For All
My Devotees.
I heard people
giving me the title of a "LIVING SAINT, a SIDDHAR, and SIDDHA PURUSHA to this physical body calling Koushik.
Swami, am I even capable of receiving all these titles as I am merely your servant? Professor Nanjunda
Dixit tied the raksha for me even though I was just volunteering. He said, “your
work is more important than chanting. Working tirelessly in the kitchen and
feeding so many people.” A friend said,
"Koushik they are honoring all the kitchen staff. Go and get your award!”
I told him the energy is too high I can hardly stand, but listening to his
words I stumbled and fell on the divine mother’s feet in a deep meditative state.
All the water from the abhishekam and a handful of akshata (rice) on top of my head. The words "nana get up...nana get up brought the function to the
end."
Jai Sai Ram, Jai Karunamayi.
Thank you for everyone's unconditional
love.
Sai Ram. Love All Serve All.
