Oldest Vedic Ritual “Athirathram” to be held in April 2011 : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

Oldest Vedic Ritual “Athirathram” to be held in April 2011

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

The World's oldest surviving 4000-year old fascinating Vedic ritual, “Athirathram” will be performed as per the Vedic ritual hierarchy, after a gap of 35 years in April this year, in Panjal village of Kerala State. Athirathram refers to 'building up of the fireplace and performed overnight'. According to Dr Sivakaran Namboothiri, member of Varthathe, A Kerala-based Trust organizing Athirathram, it is considered to be one of the most complex and greatest rituals.

The official website on Athirathram described that, the 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.

The Namboodiri Brahmans of Kerala have been keeping alive traditions of the Srauta rituals. Agni to the Nambudiris, lasting twelve days, is a great spectacle and display of learning. The ritual is the basic feature of the civilization and religions of India. It is difficult to find out the extent of its influence on Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism which are the religions originated in 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.

In 1975 the 12-day ritual was performed at Panjal by Namboodiri Brahmins of Kerala. Long considered extinct and never witnessed by outsiders, the ceremonies require several months of preparation and rehearsals. This performance was instigated by the Indologist Dr. Frits Staal of the University of California and by Robert Gardner, with support from several international agencies. The two Vedic Scholars primarily responsible for the 1975 performance were Brahmasree Muttathukattu Mammunnu Itti Ravi (undisputed master of the Jaiminiya Samaveda) and Brahmasree Cherumukku Vaidikan Vallabhan Somayajipad or CV (occupies a central position in the ritual realm of the Rig-Veda and Yajurveda). Frits Staal who is currently Emeritus Professor of Philosophy and South and Southeast Asian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley succeeded in preserving this ritual. He was responsible for organizing and recording the ritual in detail with the help of grants and donations from Harvard, the Smithsonian Institution, The Rock Foundation and others.

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. The measurements of the Mahavedi and of the bird-shaped offering altar are laid out. On the Fourth day among others, the Indra God is invited to attend the ritual. Seeds are sown in the plowed ground and the main ritual vessel of the first day is buried. Construction of the bird shaped altar is started. From Fifth day to Seventh day, after the morning activity, subsequent layers of the altar are laid on each day. The evening activity follows.

On the Eighth day in addition to the normal ritual of the day, the fifth layer is laid. Then the Yajamana wishes the bricks to turn into cows. Offerings are made to Rudra. On the Ninth day, the implements used in the process are putdown on the new altar in the shape of a man .The Agni from new domestic altar is installed on the new offering altar. Long continuous oblation of ghee is made followed by other oblation and offerings. The hall of recitation is made .The symbolic animal sacrifice is performed.

The ceremonies from Tenth day up to the dawn of twelfth day will continue throughout out the next two days and nights. On the tenth day some priests including Yajamana crawl in snake like procession on to altar for offering. Numerous rites are performed simultaneously. Fires are installed in hearths in the recital hall also. Symbolically eleven animals are sacrificed. On the twelfth day the Yajamana and his wife take “Avabhratha bath” followed by a symbolic sacrifice of goat. The Yajamana installs three fires on his home after returning to the home. He perform morning and evening Agnihothra for the rest of his life.

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.

Athirathram is now being revived through a grand public event by “Varthathe Trust” formed by a group of like-minded individuals from India and abroad, cutting across different professions such as financial services (banking), advertising and law. Preparations are currently on for Athirathram. The Trust is based in Ottapalam, Palakkad district, Kerala. The Trust 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 is planned in Panjal from April 4-15, 2011. The training and rehearsals for the ritual are on-going. The Yajamana of the 2011 Panjal Agni will be “Putillattu Ramanajan Somayaji”. The ritual will be performed just as it was done 4000 years ago, with wooden vessels and bricks. No use of metal will be made. 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.

Panjal in Kerala is getting ready to host Athirathram. Preparations for the Panjal Athirathram 2011 began after obtaining consent from Lord Dakshinamurthy of the Shukapuram Temple. The deity's blessings were sought by reciting Shlokas and prayers. The Yajurveda and Samaveda practices that precede Athirathram have already begun at Panjal. 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. Panjal is in close proximity to the Edappal Shukapuram Temple, regarded the epicenter of all Yaga rituals.

Can anyone confidently confirm that ritual has been 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, for instance, it rained!

Writing about Athirathram, Prof Staal mentioned that, “temples, cathedrals, and skyscrapers were built and fell into decay, languages and religions came 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!” Staal, now over 77 years old, along with a large team from Harvard is expected to travel to Kerala and observe the performance of the 'Athirathram' in April at Panjal. More details on Athirathram can be found at http://www.athirathram2011.com (End)