Sri Yagam Day 5

The day started off with sevakalam and teertha goshti, after which HH Sri Srimannarayana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji and the devotees proceeded to the Ishti Sala for the Vaibhaveishti. Vaibhaveshti is conducted to repay our debt to our forefathers. Each person is born on this Earth with three debts – deva runa, rushi runa and pithru runa. We live on this Earth, with the help of devathas since we depend on the natural elements for our survival. Thus, we are indebted to them, and need to worship them. Lord Srimannarayana is the root of this creation. If we worship Lord Srimannarayana, the whole multitude of devathas too receive our worship like a tree that receives water for its roots but supplies the nourishment to the entire tree. However, if we worship only some celestials (devathas), it is like watering only some leaves ignoring the rest of the tree. If we worship the source, Srimannarayana, the entire creation is likewise worshipped. Worshipping Lord Srimannarayana clears one of our debts, Deva Runa. Our rishis had taught us and helped us learn customs, traditions, the do’s and don’ts for our sake. They have recommended to us what we should and shouldn’t do. We are indebted to them for teaching us how to live on this Earth. If we follow their words, and spread their messages, publish their works, read the scriptures, observe and teach future generations this knowledge, then our Rishi Runam is cleared. We are indebted to our parental lineage as well, for this body. This is Pithru Runam. To repay this runam, one must beget righteous children, and bring them up to become a part of this Vedic society, so that they take care of the prosperity of passing on our culture to
future generations.

Unless these runas or debts are cleared, we cannot make any progress towards salvation For this purpose, Vaibhava Ishti is recommended. HH initiated the Ishti by giving the mulamanthram and malamathram to the participants. Today, there was no puja, so the participants of the Ishti stayed in the Ishti Sala and did manthra japam. The morning’s events were concluded with purnahuti. The ruthwiks and participants had a photo session with HH, following which devotees and ruthwiks partook the mahaprasadam and retired for the afternoon. But the Hare Rama chanting continued throughout, with batches signing up for specific times. The evening’s program was initiated with Vishnu Sahasra Nama Stothram, and the Mass Prayer. Sri Yagam is dedicated to Sri Mahalakshmi, the universal Mother. She takes care of all her kids, but we rarely realize this. Vedas instruct us to chant the Lord’s name and surrender to Him, and His grace will take care of us. That had been proved time and again. Prayer has immense power. Swamiji along with all the Vedic students had taken a tour on foot through the terrorism infested state of Punjab, chanting the Vedas while they walked. The peace march with the power of prayer had set things right in Punjab. The effects of prayer in Krishna Vasanthotsavam in April 2004 filled the once dry river Krishna with water, in time for the Krishna Pushkarams. Any peace prayer is very powerful when done with sincerity and deep faith. Successful results are sure to follow. Samrudala Ranga Ramanujacharya Swami reiterated in his speech the power of mass prayer. After the discourses two young kids Anirudh and Anvitha children of Sri N.V.Rao and Sumana from California demonstrated their excellent ability of ‘Avadhanam’ of Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Sthothram. When the audience mentioned a number they could recite the sloka and vice versa. They also narrated the slokas till the end skipping any particular number in between. Swamiji praised them for their dedicated training and skill and blessed them that they should succeed in doing more and more programs in the coming years. The spectators gave them a standing ovation. The day’s program concluded with purnahuti and prasadam.