I was in a remote sacred village in South India, sitting in an ancient temple surrounded by the Brahmanas (priests) reciting Vedic hymns and performing fire sacrifice in front of the ancient Deities that have been worshipped for thousands of years.
I sat on the floor, chanting on my Tulasi beads whilst the priest poured the ghee into the fire, making the flames go high and smoke spread around the temple room. Another brahmana recited the mantras with great confidence and at the same time performed mudras (hand gestures) to invoke auspiciousness and make the sacrifice more potent.
To conclude the ceremony, they involved me in the ritual by making me offer flowers, fruits, and grains to the fire. With a few more mantras they completed the sacrifice and we all together offered prostrated obeisances to the fire.
They explained to me later about the benefits and importance of the fire sacrifices. If performed properly, the Lord enters the fire and accepts the offerings of fruits, ghee and mantras that the devotee presents to Him. The Lord in return awards the devotee boons according to the devotees’ desires.
After more than three hours of the ceremony, we took prasadam (blessed food) on the banana leaves. All prasadam was cooked by the Brahmans with the vegetables grown locally and then offered to the presiding Deity. I noticed that even before taking their slippers off to sit for lunch they recited mantras. Of course, before eating there was another set of mantras to be recited and small rituals to be completed. Each step of their daily routine is accompanied by mantras, prayers, and worship.
Later I learned that they have strict rules about travelling, association, and puja (worship procedures). They don’t compromise their sadhana (spiritual practice), puja and the sadhacara (conduct of the devotee). This is how they preserve their tradition over the millenniums.
From an early age, boys are trained to recite the Vedas and perform rituals. By age of twenty-five, they become competent to lead the worship and spiritually guide the community. A few may take to the renounced order of life, whilst the majority choose household life.
Observing the sincerity of this community of Brahmans, I became inspired to tightly embrace my tradition and sincerely apply everything my spiritual teachers taught me.
Caitanya Caritamrita Antya 4.129-130- My dear Sanātana, although you are the deliverer of the entire universe and although even the demigods and great saints are purified by touching you, it is the characteristic of a devotee to observe and protect the Vaiṣṇava etiquette. Maintenance of the Vaiṣṇava etiquette is the ornament of a devotee.
Ananta Gopal Das
21.04.2024
Bhakti Wisdom 