Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao
Chief Coordinator
Athirathram-2012 Steering Committee
The stage is almost all set to perform the World's oldest surviving 4000-year old fascinating Vedic ritual, “Athirathram-2012”, as per the Vedic ritual hierarchy, for the first time in Andhra Pradesh from April 21 to May 2, 2012 this year, at Etpaka near Bhadrachalam. Athirathram refers to “building up of the fireplace and performed overnight”. According to Kerala Namboodiri Brahmins, who alone have kept this alive, it is considered to be one of the most complex and greatest rituals.
Vedic rituals have come down to human beings in two broad types-the Grhya and the Srauta. The former is concerned with rites of an individual such as the Upanayana or Marriage. The later on the other hand, is solemn and exalted, show casing in oral tradition the great learning of the Sruti literature, comprising, in other words, the three Vedas-Rig, Yajur and Sama and their ancillary texts. The Grhya system is still in existence almost all over India, whereas, the Srauta type has survived in only few isolated pockets of Brahman groups. In Valmiki Ramayana’s Balakanda there is a reference to Athirathram in fourteenth Sarga (Chapter) said to have been performed by King Dasaratha.
The Namboodiri Brahmans of Kerala have been keeping alive traditions of the Srauta rituals. Agni to the Namboodiris, lasting twelve days, is a great spectacle and display of learning. The ritual is the basic feature of the civilization and religions of India. Ritual activity is essentially physical and is therefore primarily related to the body unlike thinking or believing, which are mainly connected with the mind. Athirathram ritual emerged around the 10th century BC, and was practiced until the 6th century BC. In post-Vedic times, there were various revivals of the practice, under the Gupta and Chola Empire. By the 11th Century, the ritual was kept alive only by the Namboodiri Brahmans of Kerala. There is interesting information available both from “Brahma Vaivartha Purana” and from Telugu Literary Volumes published by Madras Government, that, Namboodiri Brahmins migrated from Andhra Pradesh to Kerala. After Satavahanas, the most popular emperors were Kadambas dynasty. Mayoora Sharma, one of the Kings of that Dynasty ruled the Kerala Area for some time. He took some of the Andhra Brahmin families from his native Coastal Andhra forming part of Konaseema in East Godavari District to Kerala who came to be known as Namboodiris. Adi Shankara too belongs to Namboodiri sect of Brahmins.
Long considered extinct, the ceremonies require several months of preparation and rehearsals. This performance was in a way revived by the Indologist Dr. Frits Staal of the University of California who passed away recently at an advanced age and by Robert Gardner, with support from several international agencies. Frits Staal was responsible for organizing and recording the ritual.
Seventeen priests are required for performing the ‘Agni’. The course of time is 12 days. The First day begins with the Yajamana and his priests entering the ritual enclosure carrying three sacred fires in pots. The main ritual vessel is prepared from clay. A symbolic animal sacrifice would be performed for Vayu. After selection of five chief priests fire is produced by friction. This is followed by tying a turban around the head of Yajamana. He is protected by a golden breast plate, is given a staff and closes his fists and deprived of speaking (except for recitations), from bathing etc. The Yajamana picks up the main ritual vessel filled with fire, and takes three steps with it.
On the Second day another ritual pot, also made of clay is prepared. A sacrificial pole is made on the Third day. On the Fourth day among others, the Indra God is invited to attend the ritual. From Fifth day to Seventh day, layers of the altar are laid on each day. On the Eighth day the fifth layer is laid. On the Ninth day, the implements used in the process are putdown on the new altar in the shape of a man. The ceremonies from Tenth day up to the dawn of twelfth day will continue throughout and on the twelfth day the Yajamana and his wife take “Avabhratha bath”. The Yajamana installs three fires on his home after returning. He performs morning and evening Agnihothra for the rest of his life. The major offerings to the sacrificial fire are Somarasa, the juice of Somalatha, an herbal plant plus dozens of other herbs.
Each day, the rituals vary. The major offerings to the sacrificial fire are Somarasa, the juice of Somalatha, an herbal plant plus dozens of other herbs. The fire is created by rubbing two pieces of wood, as detailed in ancient Vedic scriptures. No modern prop is used.
Vedic Scholar Brahmasree Naduvam Narayanan Somayaji would be primarily responsible for the Athirathram-2012 and will be the “Yajamana” along with his wife Savitri Pathanadi. Two other Ghanapathis and Vedic Scholars Brahmasree Krishnan Namboodiri and Brahmasree Kadaloor Sri Das Namboodiri, would occupy central positions in the ritual realm of the Rig-Veda and Yajurveda. Both of them as well as the Yajamana have already been initiated in to the Holy penance required for the Athiarhram-2012 for the last six months.
62 Year old Brahmasree Hari Haranatha Sarma who performed 16 Somayagas to his credit along with son, also a Vedic Pundit Raja Sekhara Sarma, after witnessing the Panjal Athirathram-2011 and impressed by the whole process decided to perform the same in Andhra Pradesh through his organization “the Samatha Lok Seva Samithi”. This would be the 17th Yagnam to be performed by them. A Steering Committee with Sri P. V. R. K. Prasad (Ret IAS) and former Executive Officer, TTD as Chairman and persons of eminence from different walks of life like former Prasarabharati Chairman Sri KS Sharma, former TTD Executive Officers Sri P. Krishnayya and Sri MVS Prasad, DG Prisons Dr CN Gopinath Reddy, Senior IAS Officer Sri CVSK Sharma, former MD AP Forest Development Corporation, BJP Leader Sri NVSS Prabhakara Rao, former DGP Sri Roddam Prabhakara Rao, Members of Parliament Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, Vundavalli Arun Kumar and Balaram Naik etc has been formed to organize the Athirathram-2012. Help and assistance from State Government, TTD, Singareni Collieries, ITC Bhadrachalam, and Public Sector Undertakings is being sought to meet the huge expenditure expected to be incurred. The efforts are encouraging. The Steering Committee has been formed to serve the society at large by imparting and disseminating ancient Indian scientific and philosophical knowledge towards attaining unity, peace, prosperity and ultimate wisdom.
Athirathram Steering Committee Meeting
Athirathram is planned in Bhadrachalam from April 21, 2012 to May 2, 2012. The training and rehearsals for the ritual are on-going. The ritual will be performed just as it was done 4000 years ago, with wooden vessels and bricks made from Kerala forest products. No use of metal will be made. All the main priests come from Kerala and all of them are Namboodiri Brahmins. The Yajamana or the main conductor of Athirathram has gone through rigorous preparation prescribed for performance of Athirathram. The Adhvaryam of the Yajurveda in the ritual and the heaviest load will be borne by the Kapra family, the Hautram of the Rig-Veda is led by the Naras family and the Audgatram of the Samaveda in the ritual by Tottam.
Bhadrachalam is getting ready to host Athirathram. Preparations began on the sixty acres of Land donated for the purpose by Sree Sitaramachandra Swami Temple Trust Board Chairman Kuricheti Panduranga Rao. The Yajurveda and Samaveda practices that precede Athirathram have already begun. Traditional craftsmen are busy making the innumerable clay and wooden utensils that will be utilized during the ritual. The choice of the venue is also in accordance with geographic and vaastu principles.
Bhoomipooja
Can anyone confidently confirm that ritual would be conducted precisely in accordance with the Vedas? "Spotting of a solitary eagle flying in the sky above the Yagnashala and a heavy downpour are indications that the gods are pleased with the ritual," says a Namboodiri who believes strongly in the Athirathram. In 1975 and in 2011, for instance, it happened!
Scientific research has proved the impact of Vedic chanting and Yaga on agriculture and its implications on micro organisms. Athirathram is held for universal harmony, peace and spiritual enlightenment. This will bring peace, tranquility and ecological balance besides all-round development in the state. This Holy Ritual is attributed to the definite impact on the thinking processes of the individuals, who participate in the Yaagam and those who reside in that Rajya (State) bestowing positive thoughts, bringing about harmony amongst people, while contributing to their overall prosperity and well being.
Writing about Athirathram, Prof Staal mentioned that, “temples, cathedrals, and skyscrapers were built and fell into decay, languages and religions have come and went, and innumerable wars were fought, the Vedas and their ritual continued to be transmitted by word of mouth, from teacher to pupil, and from father to son. What a triumph of human spirit over the limitations of matter and the physical body!”
All that what we are all supposed to do is to participate in the Holy Ritual Athirathram-2012 which is being performed during our life time and extend a helping hand if we can!
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