Gita Jayanti Yajna was organized in Shapoorji (which is near Iskcon Newtown, Kolkata) on 15th Dec 2024 in which several devotees participated and offered oblations to the sacrificial fire while reciting the Vedic mantras. It was a divine and purifying experience for each one of us.
Although Gita Jayanti was on 13th Dec, but we decided to have it on weekend, Sunday 15th Dec, so that many devotees can participate.
Why Sankirtan Yajna was started?
Vedic Yajna requires elaborate preparations, so it is not possible to perform daily or even weekly. So, on special occasions like Gita Jayanti, Bhadra Purnima and many times on the day of ekadasi, yajna is performed.
This is the reason that Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, started sankirtan yajna for us. Sankirtan Yajna means congregational chanting of the holy names of Krishna i.e the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.
And this yajna can be done at any time, at any place because there are no hard and fast rules for chanting the names of Krishna. The only requirement is that one should have a desire to chant the names of Krishna.
Yajna part of Vedic culture
However, whenever possible we should perform fire sacrifice as this is part of our Vedic culture and we should always remain rooted to it. If we begin leading our life as per the guidelines of Vedic scriptures, then we will be able to ward of any miseries from our life. This is the reason Lord gave scriptures to us, so that we can lead a happy life by living as per the wisdom words of Vedic books.
When we decided to have Gita Jayanti Yajna, then many devotees were excited and eager to participate. We planned to have it from 11 am onwards. We invited HG Abhiram Gopal Prabhu to perform yajna. Prabhuji is expert in this field as he has got training in Mayapur to perform Vedic sacrifices.
Preparation for Gita Jayanti Yajna
First Yajna kund was prepared using sacred items. Yajna kund was filled with sand, then mango woods were placed on it.
Around the yajna kund, 4 kalash was placed, which was wrapped with sacred thread. Kalash was filled with water till the neck and Ganges water was poured into it. Coconut (Daab with sikha) was placed on top of each kalash along with a towel. Around the yajna kund, many varieties of fruits and flowers were placed.
While the yajna kund was being prepared, some devotees were busy preparing bhoga for the Lord in the kitchen.
Meanwhile devotees were arriving to participate in the yajna. At it was Sunday morning, so devotees were little late to arrive. But as soon as the devotees arrived, the program started.
Yajna starts
First there was short kirtan starting with Jay Radha Madhav followed by Hare Krishna Kirtan.
After the kirtan, devotees chanted one round of Hare Krishna Mahamantra together on beads. It was important to prepare the consciousness and invoke the blessings of Krishna before starting the yajna. The purpose of Gita Jayanti yajna was to get the blessings of Lord Krishna and develop a desire to lead our life as per his teachings which he has given in Bhagavad Gita.
Yajna started with auspicious chanting of Vedic mantras. Devotees including children with rapt attention was hearing the sankrit verses and trying their best to follow it.
Sacrificial fire was lit amidst the chanting of the Vedic mantras. Pure ghee was continuously poured in the yajna kund.
Devotees were asked by Abhiram Gopal Prabhu to offer oblations into the fire. For the yajna some devotees had fasted since morning, this included even children.
Each of the devotee sitting in the yajna was given ingredients to offer in the yajna. Since everyone was not sitting close to fire, so devotees were given two bowls. In one bowl they had the ingredients and an empty bowl in which they were putting the ingredients after saying svaha. Those who were sitting near the yajna kund directly offered homa to the sacrificial fire.
Reciting Bhagavad Gita Verses
We also recited the selected Bhagavad Gita verses during Yajna and offered oblations. First, we all recited the first verse of Bhagavad Gita, then selected verses from Chapter 7 to Chapter 12, and then the last verse of Bhagavad Gita. After reciting each verse devotees offered homa to the sacrificial fire.
And during the purna ahuti, all the ingredients were poured into the sacrificial fire. While performing yajna, one may commit some mistake, so there were mantras (prayascitta homa) to seek forgiveness from the Lord.
At the end of the yajna there was visarjan. In Visarjan, we address the personalities who have been invited for the sacrifice and politely ask them to return to their abodes by requesting them to come back on the next occasion.
Short class, cake cutting & prasadam
After the yajna was completed, we had Hare Krishna kirtan, followed by small talk by HG Anant Bhagavan Prabhu on the importance of having and reading Bhagavad Gita. We had also put up a book table where we had kept Bhagavad Gita in English, Hindi and Bengali Language.
On this special day, there was also birthday of little Tungavidya, daughter of HG Madhusudan Prabhu and HG Rukmini Mataji. A special cake was arranged for birthday. Bhoga items along with cake was first offered to the Lord. Then there was cake cutting and kirtan.
It was getting late, and everyone was hungry too. So, we made sure that prasadam is distributed quickly. Devotees had prepared many items, and everyone relished prasadam to their hearts content.
Wonderful experience
It was a wonderful way to celebrate Gita Jayanti. Hope this yajna will inspire each one of us to read Bhagavad Gita daily or at least on a regular basis. And most importantly, we should start applying the teachings of Bhagavad Gita in our life.
We have a desire to celebrate Gita Jayanti yajna next year too. Let us pray to Lord Krishna and Srila Prabhupada, so that we can celebrate it next year too with great enthusiasm.
Gita Jayanti Yajna Sucipatrah
Below are the list of items/ingredients used during the Gita Jayanti Yajna
- Daab with sikha – 5 (green and clean)
- New cloth (Gamchas) – 5
- Cheri kapor – 1
- Cotton small roll (one can get from medical shop)
- Cow ghee: 2.25 lt
- Mango wood: 10 kg(It should be clean and to be made sure that there is no dust or insects)
- Sand: 1 kg
- Camphor: 100 gms
- Kusha: 3 bundle
- Dhan: 500 gms
- Govindabhog rice: 100 gms
- Turmeric powder: 1 small packet.
- Matchbox/ lighter
- Cardamom/clove/cinnamon/nutmeg/javitri. Small quantity
- Supari: 5 pcs
- Haritaki: 5 pcs
- Katali Banana: 4 pcs
- Good quality pure Chandan powder
- Red mauli thread: 1
- Sindur: 1 box
- Yellow Mustard seeds: 10 gm
- Dhoop (without stick)
- Dhuna (powdered): 50 gms
- Mango Leaves: 7 pcs for ghats and few bunches (as many possible) for the decoration around Kunda
- Seasonal Fruits as many possible
- Durva grass little.
- Tulasi little 1 bundle (to be washed and kept in a bowl)
- Yellow /orange marigold garlands for decoration around the Yajna Kunda : as many possible
- Garlands (Rajani Genda for the ghatas): 5
- Bhagavad Gita should be decorated on an aasan with garlands and flowers.
- Lotus: 2
- Loose Rajani flowers
- Loose flowers like rose, chandramallika (Chrysanthemum) etc
- 1 plate nice bhoga – either Puri, halva plate or plate full of sweets, laddus, savouries etc & with glass of water.
- Banana leaves: 6
- Supari plates medium size 2 each.
- For Yajna Participants (Depends on number of Yajmaan)
- Kush aasan for participantsAachaman patra: 3-4
- Barley 75 gms and Black til 75gms for each yajman.
