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Written by Swami Chandrashekarendra
Saraswati |
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Briefly told, a yajna is making an oblation to a deity in the fire with
the
chanting of mantras. In a sense the mantras themselves constitute the
form of the deities invoked. In another sense, the mantras, like the
materials placed in the fire, are the sustanence of the celestials
invoked.
They enhance their powers and serve more than one purpose. We pay
taxes to the government. However, the various imposts - professional
tax,
land tax, motor vehicles tax, and so on - are collected by different
offices.
There are also different stamp papers for the same. Similarly, for each
karma or religious work there is an individual deity, a separate mantra,
a
particular material, etc, but the ultimate goal of all these is
dedication to
the Supreme God. We know that different departments are meant for the
same government. Similarly, we must realise that the sacrifices
performed for the various deities have behind them one goal, the
Paramatman.
The king or president is not personally acquainted with us who pay the
taxes. But Paramesvara, the Supreme Monarch, knows each one of us
better than we know ourselves. He also knows whether we pay the taxes
properly, the taxes called sacrifices. Paramesvara cannot be decieved.
As mentioned before, for each sacrifice there are three essential
requirements: the mantra, the material for oblation, and the deity to be
invoked, the three bringing together speech, hand [body] and mind. |
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