How does Penance/Yajnas Restore Dharma? | வேள்விகள் எவ்வாறு தர்மத்தை மீட்டெடுக்கின்றன?

In the 25th Velvi discourse, Gurumahan explains the science behind Yajna, the purpose of Gurukulam education, and the truth that the individual and the Universe are never separate.

Restoring Dharma Through Sacred Yajnas

Whenever dharma declines and adharma rises, whenever purity diminishes and impurity increases, whenever the environment becomes polluted, sacred practices such as Velvi, Yajna, and Yaga are performed to restore harmony.
These sacred rituals are not meant only to purify the external environment. More importantly, they are performed to cleanse the impurities that accumulate within the human mind.

The Banana Tree: A Symbol of Selfless Living

A human being is not born to live only for oneself. True human life is lived for the welfare of all. This is why banana trees are placed at auspicious ceremonies. A banana tree does not live for itself. It dedicates its entire existence not only to humanity but to all forms of life. Before it completes its own life cycle, it gives rise to another banana plant to continue its lineage. This is why the banana tree is regarded as a symbol of selfless giving, continuity, and abundance.
If even a plant lives for the benefit of others, should a human being, endowed with the sixth sense, live only for oneself?

The Purpose of True Education

At first, a person lives with self interest, giving importance only to personal needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and comfort. However, after receiving true education in the Gurukulam, one begins to understand the meaning of righteousness, the purpose of human life, the nature of the world, and one's responsibility toward society. True education teaches that to live well, we must enable everyone else to live well, because all life is interconnected and mutually dependent. Human existence is a life of interdependence. An individual becomes a family. Families become a society. Society becomes a nation. Ultimately, the nation expands into the entire world.

You Are Not Separate from the Universe

Therefore, the individual is not separate from the world. The Universe is not separate from the individual. This is the essence of true education.
A truly educated person realizes that one's own existence has expanded to become the entire world. The Universe and the individual are not two separate realities. The moment we begin to see ourselves as separate, divisions arise. The ideas of "you" and "I," discrimination, untouchability, and countless social conflicts are all born from this illusion of separation. You and I are not different.

The Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita

This is the wisdom taught in the Bhagavad Gita. Lord Krishna tells Arjuna, "You and I are not separate. I know this truth, but you do not. Because I know it, I abide as Brahman. Because you do not know it, you experience yourself as an individual soul. But when you realize this truth, you too will become one with Me." Thus, there is no separation between "I" and "you." The One has become the many, yet it remains One. The only barrier is the mind.

Why the Rishis Performed Yajnas

To purify the mind, the sages and great masters of Bharat performed these sacred Yajnas. In the Ramayana, Sage Viswamitra performed Yajna for the peace and well being of the entire world.
A Rishi is one who has realized the Self within and has also realized the same Self in every living being. That is why such enlightened beings performed Yajnas for the happiness and welfare of all life. These are known as external Yajnas.
Just as Asuras attempted to disrupt Viswamitra's Yajna, negative forces always seek to obstruct noble actions. Although Viswamitra possessed the power to remove those forces himself, he remained committed to his primary duty of performing the Yajna rather than engaging in conflict. The responsibility of a sage is to create goodness, not to wage battles against evil.

Rama and Viswamitra: Protecting Dharma Together

To protect the sacred Yajna, Viswamitra sought the help of King Dasaratha. He needed a guardian who would protect righteousness while he remained devoted to the sacred ritual. He chose Lord Rama because Rama was a Mahapurusha who lived not for himself but for the welfare of others. Thus, Lord Rama protected the Yajna, while Sage Viswamitra performed it for the protection and upliftment of the entire world.
Viswamitra's work was spirituality in action. Rama's work was righteous governance.
True governance is the removal of all that is unrighteous, just as a farmer removes weeds so that the crop may flourish.

Let Wisdom Flourish!
Let Peace Prevail!
Let us protect Mother earth!
Let us protect the Universe!

Santhosam

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