Yajna or simply Mahamantra?

Jaganath Swami ki Jaii.. Nitai Gaurangga ki Jai ... Jagatguru Srila Prabhupada ki Jai.

Hare Krsna to all devotees.

We had organised fire sacrifice ritual by a nice Iskcon pujari for my dad's 1st death anniversary. We had few relatives around and some chanting.

As for the second year, I couldnt get leave frm my job and my older brother too was outstation & could not get things organised properly so the prayers for my dad was held in a simple manner in the Iskcon temple itself. We had placed his picture and the mala offered to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was garlanded around it. Then kirtan ,,, prasadam was offered to Lord and placed before my dad. We did not perform the regular yajna and the putra too was not around.

My mom felt this was incomplete and also that the fire sacrifice was very important but I was adviced by certain senior prabhu that this way of prayers is the best for the soul.

Im not doubtful, but with my imperfect senses, I just need more assurance or better understanding of whats the best for my dad's soul. I would love to hear from devotees who have good knowledge of this.

May all benefit from this little realizations.

Jai Jaganath.

Hare krishna Mata ji

Dandvat pranam

according to Bhagvad Geeta : - Chapter 9 Verse 16

aham kratur aham yajnah svadhaham aham ausadham
mantro 'ham aham evajyam ,aham agnir aham hutam

Meaning :-- But it is I who am the ritual, I the sacrifice, the offering to the ancestors, the healing herb, the transcendental chant. I am the butter and the fire and the offering.

Verse: 24

aham hi sarva-yajnanam ,bhokta ca prabhur eva ca
na tu mam abhijananti ,tattvenatas cyavanti te

Meaning:- I am the only enjoyer and the only object of sacrifice. Those who do not recognize My true transcendental nature fall down.

So lord Kirshna is all things

One who take shelter of krishna he can quit from all sins.......

in Bhagvad Geeta 18.66..... sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja

aham tvam sarva-papebhyo ,moksayisyami ma sucah

May lord krishna bless your father soul, and try to assure your mom that everything action is krishna there is all thing complete when we surrender in lotus of feet krishna .

also try to do all routine yajnah for completion of devotion.

The follower of karmakanda is supposed to gradually realize

that pious fruitive works, being material, give only unimportant

fruits. He should then perform his duties free of self interest.

This will purify his heart and help him to see the need for

chanting the holy name. A purified heart strives for self

realization and is naturally repelled by material activities.

Thus the real success of karma kanda, when performed without

material motivation, is attraction for the chanting the holy name

of the Lord. Pious results that a brahmana could not accrue

anywhere in the entire universe are easily obtained by chanting

Krsna's name. The supreme position of the chanting of the holy

name cannot be diminished by the envious statements of stubborn

karmis and jnanis."

Sankirtana Yagna is the prescribed Yagna for Kali yuga.

Replies

Man April 11, 2011 at 10:40pm

Jai Shri Krishna..

Dear Mataji, Dandavat Pranam. It so nice to read that your dad had a Vaishnava way of prayers. I'm sure he's in the company of SP being guided by him in Bhakti of the Lord in Goloka Vrindavana.
NitaiGaur Premanande January 15, 2011 at 8:43am

Dandavats,

In this age of Kali chanting the holy name, is the only way to go back to Godhead. Ritualistic activities were prescribed for other yugas. Sacrifice ritual by Iskcon devotee is the best. And the lord listens to the devotees who prays for other devotees welfare. Krsna is there in our heart. He knows that you did what you thought was best for your father. We are all under his shelter. We should always try to get closer to him, and understanding this material nature by totalling surrendering to him. Krsna is taking care of your fathers soul, cause ur a devotee of Krsna and ur praying to him for it. Chanting his name, having prasad, reading about Krsna changes your destiny, cause its spiritual and material things or requirements are taken care by Krsna.Your father is in right place. Krsnas devotees never perish, so continue with your devotion without worry.

Hare Krsna
Volunteer

Shravn Prabhu January 10, 2011 at 6:48am

Hare Krishna mataji,

Srila Prabhupada has said that in Kali yuga, the yagna method is Sankirtana.

I suggest you perform Sankirtan Yagna for your father.

If you are concerned about karma kanda and performing rites to your father,

you can get some brahmanas to perform some of the vedic ceremonies. In Kali, I seriously

doubt, if these are still performed properly anymore.

Sankirtana Yagna is strongly prescribed in Kali. Talk to someone who is performing Sankirtana everyday, if not everyday at least once a week. Hope I was helpful.

Shravan
- Raghupati Raghav Das > Shravn Prabhu January 13, 2011 at 3:25pm
  
  Hare krishna Mata ji
  
  Dandvat pranam
  
  according to Bhagvad Geeta : - Chapter 9 Verse 16
  
  aham kratur aham yajnah svadhaham aham ausadham
  mantro 'ham aham evajyam ,aham agnir aham hutam
  
  Meaning :-- But it is I who am the ritual, I the sacrifice, the offering to the ancestors, the healing herb, the transcendental chant. I am the butter and the fire and the offering.
  
  Verse: 24
  
  aham hi sarva-yajnanam ,bhokta ca prabhur eva ca
  na tu mam abhijananti ,tattvenatas cyavanti te
  
  Meaning:- I am the only enjoyer and the only object of sacrifice. Those who do not recognize My true transcendental nature fall down.
  
  So lord Kirshna is all things
  
  One who take shelter of krishna he can quit from all sins.......
  
  in Bhagvad Geeta 18.66..... sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja
  
  aham tvam sarva-papebhyo ,moksayisyami ma sucah
  
  May lord krishna bless your father soul, and try to assure your mom that everything action is krishna there is all thing complete when we surrender in lotus of feet krishna .
  
  also try to do all routine yajnah for completion of devotion.
  - Volunteer
    Shravn Prabhu > Raghupati Raghav Das January 14, 2011 at 1:54pm
    
    One of the 10 Namaparada:
    
    #8) To equate chanting of the holy name with auspicious
    
    ritualistic activities recommended in the karmakanda
    
    sections of the Vedas.
    
    From Harinama Chintamani:
    
    "
    
    The follower of karmakanda is supposed to gradually realize
    
    that pious fruitive works, being material, give only unimportant
    
    fruits. He should then perform his duties free of self interest.
    
    This will purify his heart and help him to see the need for
    
    chanting the holy name. A purified heart strives for self
    
    realization and is naturally repelled by material activities.
    
    Thus the real success of karma kanda, when performed without
    
    material motivation, is attraction for the chanting the holy name
    
    of the Lord. Pious results that a brahmana could not accrue
    
    anywhere in the entire universe are easily obtained by chanting
    
    Krsna's name. The supreme position of the chanting of the holy
    
    name cannot be diminished by the envious statements of stubborn
    
    karmis and jnanis."
    
    Sankirtana Yagna is the prescribed Yagna for Kali yuga.
manmath kumar nayak January 10, 2011 at 2:13am

I do not have any knowledge regarding this but I will describe my own experience. I lost my father when I was sixteen years old and lost my mother when I was twenty three years old(By the by I am now seventy years old). I always felt and still now feel I had the best parents. When my father became sick I started reading Srimad Bhagabat Gita spontaneously and derived great strength at the time of great tragedy.To make the story short of my journey of life I started Mahamantra Japa regularly around 1986 again spontaneously .With great blessing my spiritual jouney blended with my gratitude for my great parents .My little bit association with Iskcon and Swami Prabhupada's teaching of Mahamantra Japa by Lord Sri Chaitanya's mercy started filling my heart.Gradually I started feeling the best method for serving my parents which I had no chance to serve in the mundane sense as if was given to me by Grace only. I personally do not under- estimate other effective methods in spiritual journey.Rather I think all of them as stepping stones to love of God.But a very direct method for that destination which also expresses my love for my parents also is simple Srabana,Kirtana and Smarana of Lord Sri Krishna.This is Mahayagna in this age and I can do all other sadhanas only to support this.My parents will be pleased by this.I do believe.
- Volunteer
  
  Sarvopama dasa ACBSP > manmath kumar nayak January 15, 2011 at 9:15pm
  
  I have full faith in your very nice response here, Manmath Kumar Nayak. I have no doubt you are providing the best possible seva for your mother and father. No amount of prayaschita can even begin to approach the effective qualities of this kind of devotional service.
  - manmath kumar nayak > Sarvopama dasa ACBSP April 11, 2011 at 10:04pm
    
    I am indebted for your encouragement in this matter. My faith has been strengthened.

This reply was deleted.