OM NAMO BHAGAVATHE RUDRAYAM
- India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, grandmother of legend, and great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only. (Mark Twain)
Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam is a very important form of worship of Lord Siva, the very source of cosmic energy for the entire creation. His Divine form encompasses and extends far beyond all known and unknown galaxies and universes. Lord Siva is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. He is the conqueror of Death and an embodiment of infinite mercy, compassion and love. We who owe our existence to the Divinity are duty bound to think of Him constantly and worship Him gratefully for the welfare of all mankind.
Lord Siva is worshipped traditionally in the form of Linga – resembling the replica of Brahmanda. Abhisheka is the ritual dearest to His heart.
Sage Satapatha in his treatise “Maharnava Karma Vipaka” listed four types of Abhisheka procedures compatible with Vedic and scriptural lore. Those are Rudram, Ekadasa Rudram, Maha Rudram and Ati Rudram – each being more potent than the preceding one. Of these, the most potent form of Ati Rudram involves 14641 Rudrams (Rudram is a combination of Namakam and Chamakam given in Rudradhyayam in the 5th Prapathakam of the 4th Kanda of Krishna Yajur Veda Samhita). Namaka recited once along with recital of Chamaka once constitutes one Rudram. Recital of 11 Namakas along with one Anuvaka of Chamaka at the end of each Namaka, thus completing one Chamaka constitutes Ekadasa Rudram. Recital of 11 Ekadasa Rudrams is Laghu Rudram or Rudraikadasini. Recital of 11 Laghu Rudrams is one Maha Rudram. Recital of 11 Maha Rudrams is one Ati Rudram. Therefore, in Ati Rudram 14641 Rudrams include 14641 Namakams and 1331 Chamakams. Simultaneously with Rudrabhisheka, Rudra Homas are conducted by 121 priests well versed in Vedic rituals in 11 Homa Kundas erected for the purpose. A Linga is being installed especially for the purpose of conducting Rudrabhishekam daily. Side by side the Rudra Parayanas and Rudra Homas, other related rituals such as Sri Sai Gayatri Homas, Lingabhisheka Poojas, Kramarchana Parayanas and Tarpanas will also be performed.
This Maha Yajna is being performed for Loka Kalyana and good of all mankind as well as to ensure universal peace and prosperity.
Prashanti Nilayam Ashram, January 2016