Author: bruce

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Somayag 2017 – the Garden

Photos:  – Aaron Kidd and Bharat working in the Goshala garden, where everything grows healthy and abundant and in less time than usual.

Aaron Kidd from Australia shares:      "We planted a larger vegetable garden 3 months prior to the Somayag.
The cherry tomatoes self-plant if they are in a happy environment, where they feel good.      Here they come every year without necessity to plant them. We have a great variety of vegetables and herbs like coriander, which is inter-planted with small eggplants, then Indian gilka (silk squash), bitter gourd, beet roots, a bigger eggplant variety, tomatoes, capsicum, spinach, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, broccoli, various varieties of salad greens, carrots, onions, garlic, beans, celery, cucumbers and some Asian vegetables too, then amaranth, parsley, basil, fenugreek, etc.
        Cauliflower is usually very susceptible to pests and actually difficult to grow organically. We had a great result this year, not only had we big heads of 3 kilos (without the outside leaves), but is has also grown very quickly. It took about 2 and a half month from the time the seedlings were planted.
        It is an amazing garden, everything is so healthy, no pests, no diseases, everything is balanced and with great taste and flavor. We see a great result and it is a good advertising for Homa gardening."

Photo below: Karina Ohme from Chile harvesting a cauliflower for the kitchen.
 The other photos show the abundance in the Maheshwar Goshala garden.

Aaron Kidd continued:
       "We are picking a full bucket of tomatoes every day, sometimes every 2nd day and that since 2 and a half month. And you can see tomatoes are everywhere in all different stages. It is a lot of tomatoes for a fairly small patch of land. That is another great result.
       We are happy that everyone attending the Somayag can eat organically grown Homa vegetables. Instrumental for this have been Bharat, the Tapovan gardener, and Prashant from the Goshala. They have done a lot and deserve all the credit. But it is also a result of 7 years of gardening, the Homa composting, vermiculture, the Homa farming methods of using Agnihtora ash and spraying Homa Biosol, which is showing its results in a rich, nutritious soil.
All these things have helped and we are harvesting the fruits thereof."

Photos on this page: Crops in  Maheshwar Goshala and vermicompost beds. Below: Prashant with his son Sumit who, along with Bharat, is in charge of the Homa garden.
         The future of food on our planet is in our hands! Healthy nutritious food leads to good physical, mental and emotional health and wellbeing. The practice of Homa Therapy leads us to a state of love towards every living being.

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Somayag 2017 – Preparations

Dr. Ulrich Berk and Achal Apte preparing the Kundas for the Somayag; the "Tapovan and Maheshwar boys" as they are affectionately called. Under the guidance of Sanjay Patil, Anne Godfrey, Aaron Kidd, Prem Jogi and Sarvajit, they made Maheshwar shine.    They renovated, painted, modeled, reconstructed, improved, renewed, washed, cleaned, … the buildings and land. They turned into electricians, plumbers, builders, painters, landscapers, farmers, etc.
              If we talk about service, they are the teachers.

Goshala (cow refuge);
With a smile they brought buckets of hot water for showers, heated in big pots on firewood,  to the rooms long before dawn!
       Please receive everyone’s Gratitude, Love and Respect!

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Somayag Series Successfully Completed!

Bruce Johnson, Lisa Powers and the Somayag Committee

For the past ten years, a small group of dedicated people from various countries has held the vision of Shree Vasant Paranjpe of completing a series of seven Maha Somayags on the banks of the Narmada River in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, India, for the healing of our planet. February 12th, 2017 marked the successful completion of the Aptoryam, the seventh and final Somayag in this series. Satsang applauds this achievement, and heartily thanks all who have helped to make this important work possible.

The Somayag releases powerful healing energies into the Earth’s atmosphere and beyond, the effects of which last for up to 100 years. All these Yajnyas are totally non-violent (Ahimsak).

Vedas are the source of all knowledge. Vedas gift us the science of Yajnya (bio-energy) which has the power to heal much of the horrific effects of man’s inhumanity towards his fellow man and towards Nature, which is now reeling from poisons, pollution, violence and violation of every kind.
1. Offerings

What is Somayag?
The ancient science of bio-energy given through Vedas describes certain energy processes which have the power to effect a change in the functioning of PRANA (life-force which pulsates through us and connects us with the cosmos.) These energy processes come under the category of YAJNYA. Somayag is one such Yajnya.

AGNIHOTRA, tuned to the biorhythm of sunrise/sunset, is the basic YAJNYA which any person can perform with only a little effort. Agnihotra is to be performed DAILY at sunrise and sunset to keep the Nature’s cycles in harmony.
2. Agnihotra in the Somayag shala.

There are some special Yajnyas (HOMAS) like SOMAYAG, AGNISHTOMA, JYOTISHTOMA which are to be performed based on astronomic conditions. They are performed for purification of the environment, reducing the burden on the mind, making mind full of LOVE. In such Yajnyas chanting of Mantras and offerings to fire goes on for several days.

At the junction of two seasons there is likelihood of epidemic. Hence, several medicinal HOMAS are prescribed with different sets of Mantras. Then there are special HOMAS for bringing rains, for producing a male child or a female child. This forms part of the science of Biogenetics.

Somayag is one such special Yajnya. This normally lasts for six days. An intelligent young person would take about twelve years to learn this technique with proper Mantra chanting. The person has to follow strict disciplines. This Yajnya is called Somayag because juice from the herb Somavalli is used as the main oblation. Soma is known as the king of medicinal herbs. This special Yajnya provides an extra powerful boost of healing energy for the whole world. Countless positive benefits to a person, family and society are mentioned as an outcome of participating in, conducting and supporting Somayag.
3. People from all over the world came to participate in and support the Somayags.

The primary seven Somayags are:
–AGNISHTOMA for the atmosphere
–ATYAGNISHTOMA for water
–JYOTIRUKTHA for food
–SHODASHI for health
–ATIRATRA for longevity of life
–APTORYAM for well-being and prosperity of the whole society
–VAJAPEYA for peace of mind

There are many other Somayags, lasting from 6 days up to 12 years and more.

The beneficial effect of each of these HOMAS lasts for several decades. The atmosphere becomes medicinal, nutritious and disease-free. Somayags yield a qualitative and quantitative improvement in the psyche. By using this supertechnology we can eradicate pollution factors on a large scale.

The fumes emitted from the burning oblations in Yajnya serve as nucleus of clouds and rains. Smoke from the burning medicinal plants helps in the purification of the atmosphere and many disease-bearing germs are neutralized. Thus, a healthy ecosystem is created through Yajnya process.
4. Vibrant, healthy produce grown at the Maheshwar Goshala, where the seven Somayags, plus Agnihotra and Om Tryambakam, have been performed.

The Process of Somayag
The basic procedures of the Maheshwar Somayags are as follows:
1. Bringing the fire from Tretagni Agnihotra.

2. Ishti fire. Ishti means whatever is inside us we offer to God. It is a basic requirement for the other steps of the Somayag.

3. Pravargya for three days. This is preparation for the Soma offering.

4. Soma offering.

5. Wrapping up–final offerings and prayers.

6. Bath in the Narmada River.

The Yajaman
The Yajaman for this Aptoryam Somayag was Dikshit Achal Apte. His father, Haribau Apte, was Yajaman for the first four Somayags held in this series of seven at the Homa Therapy Goshala. His grandfather, Sakha Hari Apte was Yajaman for the unparalleled Somayag which took place in Shivapuri, Akkalkot in 1969 under the auspices of Parama Sadguru Shree Gajanan Maharaj for ushering in of the New Age.

The Yajaman represents the element of fire during a Somayag. Only someone who performs Tretagni Agnihotra regularly can become a Yajaman. He carries this Tretagni fire to the place where Somayag is to be performed and from this Tretagni fire the Somayag is started.
5. Yajaman Achal Apte, center, brings the Tretagni fire to the Somayag. Left, his wife, Bhakti. Right, Kusum Paranjpe, widow of Vasant V. Paranjpe, and Anjali Paranjpe, wife of Abhay Paranjpe, head of Fivefold Path Mission which hosted the Somayag.

The Patni (wife of the Yajaman) is vital to the Somayag. The Yajaman must have a wife, and she is called upon at various points in the Somayag to be present for certain activities and often to touch and bless utensils which are used. The Patni is the only person who is given her own quarters in the Somayag shala.

The Rutvijas (priests)
For every Somayag, four groups of rutvijas are necessary, each well-trained in one of the four Vedas. The training takes at least ten years, and must begin at a young age for the person to be able to master all the mantras. They work as a precision-trained team, chanting for many hours daily and carrying out varied procedures, using an array of special Yajnya implements. They also perform a number of other tasks necessary to the Somayag, such as moving equipment, carrying wood, cleaning implements and helping to build some places needed during the Somayag.
6. Samavedis chanting

The sixteen consist of four chief priests and their assistants.
–The hotri is the reciter of invocations and litanies drawn from the Rigveda. As each phase of the ritual required an invocation, the hotri had a leading or presiding role.
–The adhvaryu is in charge of the physical details of Somayag The adhvaryu has to measure the ground, to build the altar, to prepare the sacrificial vessels, to fetch wood and water, to light the fire, among other duties. Each action is accompanied by mantras, drawn from the Yajurveda.
–The udgatri is a chanter of hymns set to melodies (saman) drawn from the Samaveda. This is a specialized role in the Somayag.
–The brahma is the reciter of hymns from the Atharvaveda and is largely silent, only observing the procedures. His role is to use mantras to ‘heal’ if and when mistakes are made.
7.

Creating Pure Fire Energy
Vedas state that Agni-Tatva (source of fire) is present in Ashwatth (peepal) tree (Ficus religiosa) and Agni is created from two pieces of Ashwatth tree by friction. For Somayag we need pure fire energy, which is created through a special process. The Yajaman brings one block of this special wood which carries the energy of the Tretagni Agnihotra which he performs at home. A wooden stick is pressed into a notch in the block of wood and rotated backwards and forwards by means of a rope wrapped around the stick until friction creates fire. This is quite hard work. One person stands, pressing this stick on the block of wood while the second person turns it rapidly, in a pulley-type fashion, creating the friction. This important procedure of creating “fresh” fire is performed at several points during the Somayag in order to add new energy.
8. Using friction to create fire.

 

9. Churning the Fire

 

10. Waving the Block

 

11. Adding the fresh fire.

Pravargya in Somayag
The Pravargya ritual is an integral component of the Somayag and takes place several times during the six days. While performing the Pravargya ritual, the vessel used is called Mahavir, a three-partitioned earthen pot which is used to boil the cow’s ghee. In Vedas, the procedure for creating and curing the Mahavir earthen pot is prescribed in great detail. Once constructed, the Mahavir is extremely strong–strong enough to sustain the extremely high temperature and pressure of the boiling cow’s ghee. In the process of Pravargya, fresh cow’s ghee is poured into the Mahavir pot and boiled on fire. Simultaneously, Rigveda, Samveda and Yajurveda mantras are chanted in deep solemn voice till the cow’s ghee reaches its boiling point. Boiling time is observed through timely chanting of Mantras. All aspects of the Mantras are very strictly observed, including the lengthened syllable ‘Om’ at the end of every mantra. When the cow’s ghee has reached its boiling point, fresh milk is taken from a cow and a goat at the Yajnya place, and oblation of cow’s milk/goat milk is given to the boiling cow’s ghee. Instantly, with very great intensity, the flame shoots up into the atmosphere about 10 metres.
12. Pravargya
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Aptoryam Somayag 2017 – Daily Schedule

Somayag is a complex ritual, involving a team of 16 Rutviks (priests). Each has his own responsibilities and will chant from one of the four Vedas. Together, all four Vedas will be represented. A number of different processes and tasks are often going on simultaneously. Following is a brief description together with the approximate timings. (Timings are given in IST – Indian Standard Time – which is 5.5 hours ahead of GMT).

6th February

4pm to 6pm

Fire is first generated in the Tretagni Agnihotra altars (3 altars of the Yajaman). Fire is generated by traditional friction method using two-man block and spindle technique. It is known as Agni Mantan.

7th February

9.30am to 1.00pm

Opening ceremony.
Energetic clearing of the Somayag shala.
Team of priests is gathered.
Fire is transferred from Tretagni altars to the Somayag altars.

5.00pm to 7.30pm

Consecration (Diksha).

8th February

7.00am to 1.00pm

Somavalli herb is ‘purchased.’
Soma is welcomed with an Ishti (type of fire ceremony).
Rutviks (priests) pledge to complete the Somayag harmoniously.
Implements for Pravargya are consecrated.
First Pravargya
(In Pravargya a mixture of cow’s milk and goat’s milk is offered onto a specially prepared pot of boiling cow’s ghee. This produces a flame up to 30 feet high).

4.30pm to 7.30pm

Pravargya.
Soma is freshened by each priest in turn.
Pravargya

9th February

9.00am to 12.00pm

Pravargya
Quiet Mantras.
Soma is freshened.

4.30pm to 7.30pm

Pravargya.
Soma is freshened.

Somavalli

10th February

7.00am to 1.30pm

Pravargyas continue.

5.00pm to 9.00pm

Procession to Mahavedi.
Pravargyas continue.

11th February

6.00am to 1.00pm

Offering of Soma into the Uttarvedi.
Everyone has the opportunity to help crush the juice from the Soma.

5.00pm to 1.00am

Offering of Soma into the Uttarvedi.

12th February

4.00am to 7.00am

Rutviks chant, without break, 1,000 Mantras.

9.30am to 12.30pm

Rutviks make offerings to atone for any mistakes they may have made in carrying out their duties in the Somayag.
Final offerings are made.

1.00pm to 2.30pm

Procession down to the river.
Various implements used in the Somayag are thrown into the river.
Everyone takes bath in river.

Yajaman douses participants with water from the Narmada.

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Somayag 2017 Preparation Starts

Dear Fellow International Agnihotris and Friends of Somayag,

Today in Maheshwar Goshala the Somayag Committee have come together to organize the calender for all preparation work required before the beginning of this most auspicious Somayag, the last of the seven Maha Somayags which were inspired by our beloved Shree Vasant.

Many of you have participated in previous Somayags. For the next three months, we have organized a program of work to be carried out in preparation for this great occasion.
Our wish is that despite limitations on the numbers of local and international visitors who can be accommodated here in the Goshala itself, everyone should be able to experience this auspicious and blessed culmination of the preceding six Mahayajynas which have already been completed on this sacred land.
We are requesting help in raising the necessary funds to cover the main costs involved both in preparations and also those costs involved in actually organizing and carrying out such an event so all are happy. Costs include repairs, painting, upgrading certain facilities, replanting the organic food garden, and completing all the details which need attention to ensure comfort and ease during your time spent here.
Any amount will be helpful and funds are required as soon as possible so the work can begin.

If you can assist please follow the relevant link below. (Monies raised in USA can be sent direct to Fivefold Path, Inc., USA.)
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Invitation to Somayag 2017

Dear friends,
We are pleased to announce that the last and final Somayag in the series of seven Somayags inspired by Shree Vasant Paranjpe, will be held at the Homa Therapy Goshala, Maheshwar, India February 7-12, 2017.

For the past ten years, a small group of people from various countries has kept this vision of conducting a series of seven Maha Somayags on the banks of the River Narmada in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh State, for the healing of our planet.
To date six of these Somayags have been completed successfully.

The beneficial effects of each of these Somayags last for several decades. The atmosphere becomes medicinal, nutritious and disease free.

Somayags yield great benefits to the psyche. They are, of course, part of the Science of Yajnya, of which daily sunrise/sunset Agnihotra is the core practice for the common person.

This is an opportunity for all of us to come together again for a cause mightier than all of us together, an opportunity to contribute ourselves to a Higher Goal; no matter how small our individual efforts may be. By coming together in a united effort, we can achieve more than the sum of our parts.

Supporting and attending, if possible, such a Somayag helps us realize that it is the journey together which gives us great joy and enhanced meaning to our lives. In those moments together we understand and learn more about life.
This 7th Somayag is known as Aptoryam. This Somayag is to help all our families and all living beings in good health as well as to purify our environment and thus help all the planet to regain good health again.

On a more subtle level Aptoryam Somayag is for purification and strengthening our sense organs – and as it is the sense organs through which we perceive the World, if these sense organs are pure and strong, we will be able to achieve Equanimity of Mind and Ultimate Peace. So this particular Somayag will help to unite all humanity.

Let us come together and celebrate this time with each other in Unity and Harmony.