Each morning at 7:45 am I’m driven to the Ashram where the Pandits have begun their day of prayer. The atmosphere at the Ashram is quiet, peaceful, with an undercurrent of immense power. These people converse with the Forces of Nature every day in a respectful, measured and life enhancing way. Nature supports them and smiles on them. I am lucky to get some of this! I participate in a Rudri Puja to Shiva and then a Durga Puja to the Mother Divine each morning.
Shiva Puja at the Vedic Life Foundation
The orange altar to the right contains a Shiva Lingam handed down through Pandit Dixit’s family for 1500 years. It is covered with flowers in this image. This picture is near the end of the daily morning Shiva Puja. You can see fire being offered from the Pandit’s right hand on the right side of the picture. They light camphor in a small brass holder to offer to the Force of Nature.
I had an epiphany a couple of days ago and realized that I could show more respect to the Devas. I went out and purchased a Kharta and pyjamas, a long shirt and pants. Shaunak Sharma pointed out that my kharta matches the Chandan Tilak, gold strip on my forehead. The Red Tilak is placed on the forehead at the beginning of every Puja. The Chandan tilak is only placed during a Shiva Puja.
The kharta and white pants are much cooler than my jeans and t-shirt! And I feel much better at the ceremonies being a bit more dressed up. Imagine going to a Sunday Church service at home in jeans and a t-shirt. I now wear more appropriate clothing.
I wore shorts to the Puja as well as into the office. Later, at the office, I was working away, feeling quite comfy since I was dressed the way I dress for hot weather in the USA. (It’s only been in the high 80’s during the day here and a little humid. So it’s not as extreme as some areas) One of my new friends in the office came over and with his eyes slightly downcast said, ‘Only the homeless wear shorts here.’ That floored me and got me thinking about how I fit in, or not. I’d been trying to get out and get some decent clothes since I’d arrived. That comment made the shopping trip even more urgent.
The next evening, Sri Ajay and Sri Gautam, Pandit Dixit’s executive secretaries seen in one of the first posts in the blog took me downtown. We entered a shop run by a Sikh, brightly lit, well organized, instantly waited on. I left with this gold kharta and also a white one in about 10 minutes. Problem solved!
Chuck Hunner at the entrance to the New Yagya Hall
Just behind me in this image is the following scene:
Chanting yagyas at the Vedic Life Foundation
The gold cloth on this Pandit’s right hand is called a ‘pocket’. His hand is inside this little bag where he keeps his mala, his strand of 108 beads. He moves along the necklace, one-bead-at-a-time as he chants each mantra. The pocket is said to keep the mantra in the beads and prevent the energy from dissipating.
Starting each day with a Puja to the specific Deva to which the yagyas are being chanted attracts his/her attention. It brings their positive influence to the ceremony. There are so many common sense, logical reasons behind the way yagyas are performed. The Puja at the beginning of the day may be oversimplified by saying that one is knocking on the door of the Deva. When the Deva comes to the door, you praise them and offer them respect and sweet, beautiful things. This predisposes the Deva to stay with you. Then the conversation with the Deva begins in earnest by chanting the mantra to them.
As the Deva stays with you, you begin to vibrate at a different frequency, a higher frequency more in harmony with the Deva. I remember when I was younger and I hung out with a bad crowd. I began to resonate with the way that they were vibrating. I became difficult to be around. Then, I began to hang out with a different crowd, one where everybody meditated and treated themselves well. I became like them. I began to resonate at that more life building, coherent frequency. My life just got better and better. Hanging out with the Devatas is like that. Things just get better and better.
It wasn’t always easy to improve. At the beginning of some yagyas, often obvious stress will be released. This trip I caught a cold shortly after arriving. I’ve had all sorts of challenges with the air conditioner where I’m staying! I’ve felt quite emotional at times as my old karma is burnt by the yagyas. I know for a fact that things are getting better for me because of the yagyas. So I’m patient, knowing that good things are happening for me. It is all part of the process of transforming my old self into a new being.
Enough of my ramble for today. Thanks for visiting and reading. I’m always happy to answer any questions you may have.
