Follow Prescribed Methods in Ritual Worship
So the first one ever to observe yajna was Brahma. Prajapatis, Narada’s brothers, were the next to observe yajna. Then the Manus, Rishis, Devatas, Asuras, Pitrs, and humans — they all performed yajnas from time to time.
This much is the importance of yajna. See, as soon as Brahma was born, the first thing he did was to look around for materials to perform yajna. How many of us endeavour to even do a small havan in a lifetime, and we think we are spiritual and religious. Yajna is the means by which Brahma connected with Paramatma. He derived his power to create. He derived the power to be successful in whatever task was entrusted to him. To be successful in whatever endeavour you undertake, the grace of the divinity is essential.
We only know how to complain. We only complain.
I was the topper in the class, still I didn’t get the best job.
I am the best in my job, still I didn’t get the promotion.
I am helping everyone, no one is there to help me.
I am the best, I am not rewarded for my hard work.
Brahma was given the task of creation by Sri Hari himself. But he didn’t presume that ‘I am going to do Sri Hari’s work, so by default I will be successful’. The first thing he did was to worship Sri Hari with yajna.
We are taking too many things of this material world for granted.
You study well, you get a good job.
You work hard, you get well compensated.
You be good to others, they will be good to you.
We take for granted that God is obliged to protect us, help us, ensure justice to us. It is not so. Connect to him, then only it happens. Connect to him the proper way.
Recently I saw a post on WhatsApp — keep a pot of water in your puja room, chant Varuna Gayatri, there will be lots of rains. How? Why? Nobody knows. People wake up in the morning and come out with these crazy ideas. You try doing that, nothing happens, you lose faith.
We are losing faith because of the indiscriminate practice of such things. Only scriptures are genuine. Only knowledge in the scriptures is genuine. Never follow these weird methods. They are baseless, and who knows, may be deliberately created to shake your faith. Follow proper methods of worship, as described in the scriptures.
So Brahma says — this entire creation rests on Vasudeva. He is devoid of attributes like space, time, and action. Still, he assumes all these as his Maya Shakti to create. I act under his command when I create. Rudra acts under his command when he dissolves. And he himself assumes the form Vishnu and commands himself when he sustains the universe.
I am always truthful, honest. My words are always true. My thoughts are always pure. My senses have never crossed their limits and indulged. I am Vedamurthy. My body consists of the Vedas. I am constantly engaged in tapasya. Prajapatis bow before me. I am their lord. Still, I have not been able to understand Sri Hari fully. Lord Shiva has not been able to understand him fully. None of the Devas understand him fully. All of us are so dazzled by the illusory power of the universe that is Sri Hari’s creation, that we have not even been able to understand this universe fully.
Brahma says — now we have the modern yogis and gurus who say they attained realization by doing tapasya for six years, three years, even six months, some at the end of an advanced level course — three weeks. Some had realization in the dream — Maa Kali appeared in the dream and gave all the siddhis and now he can see past, present, and future. Somebody saw Virat Purusha while concentrating on Ajna Chakra.
Brahma says — he practised Ashtanga Yoga, still he could not understand Paramatma. Bhakti only gave him whatever understanding he has about Sri Hari.
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Vishnu Sahasranama
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