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Preserving Nature through Kerala's Athirathram Yajna
The Athirathram Yajna is an ancient 12 day ritual conducted for the preservation of environment at a place near Palakkad in Kerala.
This yajna is performed to purify the environment and restore natural balance. With a 5,000-year history, this elaborate fire ceremony involves priests reciting Vedic hymns and offers immense environmental benefits, creating a positive effect on both the atmosphere and the participants.
BOOK EXCERPT
The Camping Diaries: Kerala’s Athirathram Yajna
Catch a glimpse of the mesmerizing trip highlights!
Ritual Contemplation: Kerala Yajna
Excerpt from the book:
A golden opportunity presented itself to visit a few people associated with the Athirathram yajna that was performed last in the year 2011. Bali, on his way to Kerala for personal work, agreed to help me. Having dug out the old papers, blogs and newspaper articles published at that time, I found details about a few key people, both scientifically and religiously associated with performing the yajna at Panjal in Thrissur district1, Kerala. With a little more research, I got their contact numbers and mail ids. Communication ensued and appointments were fixed.
A Journey to Kochi
Excerpt from the book:
D-day found me travelling towards Cochin/Kochi in December 2019. My first meeting was with Dr Prof VPN Nampoori, alias Namboodiri, who was the main person in charge of conducting scientific experiments at the yajna. He obliged with good grace and fixing a convenient time, I met him at the International School of Photonics2, where he was director, Cochin University of Science and Technology at Kochi.
Athirathram Yajna
Excerpt from the book:
What do the ancient scriptures say about the Athirathram yajna?
This yajna has a 5,000-year-old history. It is conducted by Namboodiri priests from Kerala state. The yajna is said to be done for accumulating enormous environmental benefits. A magnificent and a detailed ritual, it adheres to a strict ascetic tradition. It is a complex fire ceremony performed by one chief priest and 17 assistants called rithviks, who have an in-depth and precise knowledge of all Rig, Yajur and Sama vedic hymns.
The Sacred Ritual
Excerpt from the book:
The ritual is done with the primary intention of purifying the atmosphere and the panchamahabhutas in it, thus restoring the natural balance of the environment. It creates a positive effect in the assembly of people who view the process. The items used are presented in various shaped vessels made from wood or clay. The main altar or fireplace is in the shape of a bird3. All the ingredients essential for the 12-day ritual are kept ready in advance to offer at the fire altar……………
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