Sri Yagam Day 4

Swamiji arrived at the yagasala for the aradhana of Perumal by 7 AM. HH along with the 108 ruthwiks and devotees did ‘Sattumurai’. After the theertha goshti, all the ruthwiks started offering oblations at the altars. HH came to the Ishtisala to initiate the devotees with Nrusimha dhyana slokam and Malamanthram for Nrusimheshti. HH elaborated on the importance of Nrusimheshti. People today face many uncontrollable health problems or mental disturbances that normally go undetected by the medical science. Occasionally, some external problems creep in creating disturbances rendering the person incapable of meeting one's goal(s). Manthra protects one who chants it. Chanting the manthra implies surrendering at the lotus feet of Lord forever for His sake alone. That’s what our manthras say. Usually a manthra consists of one or more syllables. When a manthra contains too many words which are mostly adjectives, then it is called the ‘mala manthram’. HH initiated the devotees with the dhyanaslokams and the malamanthram of Narasimha Swami. HH had gone to the pravachanamandap for the collective Lakshmi Nrusimha Puja. There on the dais, as HH explained about the incarnation of Nrusimha, devotees listened with rapt attention and devotion.

He said, “Good people always practice dharma. But hindrances stall their way. The world is habited by many asuras too who cause obstacles and anguish whenever the good people practice dharma. Though Lord neither loves nor hates anyone, He comes down to protect the righteous so that dharma gets reestablished through them.” “Prahlada was a great devotee of Srimannarayana. His father Hiranyakasipu declared himself as the Lord Supreme and forced one and all to accept him such. However, his own son, Prahlada respected him as his father and nothing more than that. Hence he had to face his father’s wrath. So, Lord had to appear as Narasimha Swami. It was not because he wanted to punish Hiranyakasipu but because he wanted to protect Prahlada, his ardent devotee. This is Lord’s uninvited incarnation, he came out of his concern and compassion for his righteous devotee. Hiranyakasipu wanted to see Lord and He showed up at that moment itself and in the very place where Hiranyakasipu wanted to witness him. Narasimha came and killed him as per the boon granted to him. Lord’s greatest attribute is his absolute intolerance towards those who trouble his devotees.”

After the puja, HH and devotees proceeded towards the Ishtisala for purnahuti. During the purnahuti, HH explained the 3 levels that every object has – adi bhouthika (the physical level), adi daivika (the inner level – the soul), the adhyathmika level (the indweller of the soul – antaryami level). That is how the Lord receives our worship through the fire, in the form of the oblations offered. Later, HH blessed the participants of the Nrusimha Ishti with clothes, a dollar coin of Lakshmi Narasimha Swami, and prasadam. The Akhanda Hare Rama Sankeerthana initiated on the first day by Swamiji has been going on wonderfully, 24 hours a day, seven days a week around the clock by the devotees participating here at this historic Sri Yagam. Participants were filled with enthusiasm, and danced, playing cymbals and drums while joyously chanting the divine, sweet name of the Lord.

In the afternoon the JETUSA board meeting was conducted by HH. Later they all addressed the public, and were felicitated by HH on the dais, and everyone returned to the evening’s purnahuti. The ruthwiks and scholars chanting Vedas and scriptures finished off the day’s parayana with a recital of the final portions of the day. With a brief preview of the next day’s events, Swamiji ended the day’s programs. Everyone enjoyed a tasty prasadam, and retired to their respective rooms looking forward to the next day’s programs.