Ever wondered why Ram and Lakshman went with Rishi Vishwamitra to protect the yagya? The science behind it is very simple. You can easily interact with the positive forces in creation through yagyas. If you take a look at the Vedas, you will find it filled with descriptions of yagyas performed by the rishis of yesteryears to energise the manifested creation. In fact, devs and devis would come to be a part of such yagyas, while asurs and daityas would come to disturb them. Remember, creation is a balance of the two forces — positive and negative.
There exists positive and negative in every aspect of creation. There is no body, place or time period that can be called all positive or all negative. A glowing and radiant body indicates dominance of positive, an ageing and diseased body is a symptom of increased negativity. Similarly, a pollution-free environment is an indicator of positivity while deteriorating surroundings point towards a higher proportion of negativity.
Satyug was the time when devs and devis and rishis and munis would roam about freely on Earth, since the positivity was at its peak. The present times, Kalyug, are times of heightened negativity and so subtler energies like yogis and gurus are rare to find in the body, and devs and devis can only be accessed in their subtle forms by invoking the positive aspect of creation through certain yogic practices and acts of charity and service.
At the beginning of a yagya, a sankalp is made which indicates the purpose for which the yagya is conducted. Then the ahvahan (invocation) of specific devs and devis is done requesting them to bless the yagya. A yagya performed under the sanidhya of a guru, with purity of thought, ingredients and the correct chants, has the effect of changing the environment — weather changes, there is peace and stillness and diseases disappear.
Another special kind of yagya is the agnihotra, which is performed at sunrise and sunset, the prime chant being “idan na mam” (all this is not mine, indicating detachment). The entire yagya is normally completed in a minute or two. It is essential for everyone to perform agnihotra as it gives you fearlessness, longevity and the ability to control the elements.
Yogi Ashwini, the guiding light of Dhyan Foundation, is an authority on yoga, tantra and the Vedic sciences.
