Media Release
Udupi, Jan 7: A month long Ayut Chandi Mahayaag begins at Shri Mahalasa Narayani Devi Kshetra at Harikhandige about 22 kms from Udupi here on Friday January 7.
The Mahayaag, which is being held at the initiatives of priests and vaidiks from Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra belonging to different maths, will end with a Mahapoornahuti on February 6.
According to Guruji Suresh J Pai, the Dharmadarshi of Shri Mahalasa Narayani Devi Kshetra, the aim of the Mahayaag is to bring in social unification and promotion of friendship. "By birth everyone of us carry the obligation of repaying the five types of rin or debt, namely Pitru rin, Dev rin, Rishi rin, Bhoot rin and Manushya rin. Considering it as the primary and bounden obligation, one should pay in the direction of repaying such debts," says Guruji.
"Human birth is the highest and finest gift presented to us by God. Along with that, God has also graced us with health, wealth, education and logevity. Besides, God is taking care of us by providing rain,
crop, light, air, etc. It is impossible to repay God for the generosity that He has bestowed upon us," he said.
"Even then, we shall try our best to repay Him through means of yajna, japa, tapa, worship and changing His name and make our life meaningful and worthy," Guruji says.
For this, the yajna system of worshiping God, which is in prevalence since the vedic period, is way to frucify one's volitions and attempt to repay our debts to God.
Conference
During the course of the month-long yajna, a two-day conference of vaidiks and priests is also being held at the Devi Kshetra, in which hundreds of priests and vaidiks and other spiritual leaders are expected to attend.
Among the topics to be discussed at the conference beginning on January 30 are 'role of temples in creating awareness about dharma', 'role of priests in preserving sanskar', 'the necessity of yajna and
yaaga', 'the future of the vaidik community', 'problems and challenges of the vaidik community' and the 'role of priests in promoting unity in society'.
This will be followed by 'Dharmika Sabha', wherein senior priests will be felicitated.
Padubidri Devadas Sharma, Kota Ramdas Bhat, Karkala Ravindra Bhat, H. Prabhakara Bhat, Chempi Ranganatha Bhat, Kallianpura Ramachandra Bhat and Basrur Panduranga Acharya, are the advisory committee members for the conference.
During the conference, a directory of temples and priests from Karnataka, Goa and Maharashta will also be released.
Devi Kshetra
Devi Shri Mahalasa Narayani Kshetra at Harikhandige, a rural hamlet about 21 kms east of Udupi town, is unique in its own way. Firstly, when you enter the main gate, it would appear as if you are entering a
resort: Yes, a spiritual resort.
Apart from the main temple of Shri Mahalasa Narayani, other temples in the complex are that of Shri Ganapati, Shri Ishwar, Shri Hanuman, Navagraha and Naaga, besides an impressive dome-shaped Datta Peetha, the temple of Shri Gurudatta that houses the holy padukas of the Lord.
The aim of this Devi Kshetra, which has already become a centre for pilgrimage for devotees from all over, is the enlightenment of our society through spiritual awakening, cutting all barriers of caste, sect, region, language, etc.
An entirely social aspect of this temple is that Guruji who has authored the famous book, Shri Mahalasa Narayani Charitra, in English, Kannada and Marathi has also arranged for the education of poor children of the area with the opening of a high school. From time to time, free medical camps are also held free of cost. Vocational training like tailoring is also imparted to unemployed girls.
Summer camps are held each year to impart traditional religious and spiritual education to children, who can then independently perform poojas at their homes.