BG4.26

Today’s [19^th October, 2007] lecture is from a spot in Kamya vanam called Bhojan sthali. This is the place where Sri Krishna used to sit and take His food. This spot is quite interior and so many might not be aware of this. The impressions of the leaves in which Sri Krishna and Sri Balarama took food are on a rock. Mud tumblers in which they drank milk are also there. Above this place is the rock on which Sri Krishna used to take rest. Here He used to have dessert. He liked kheer or payasam or in Sri Vishnava sampradayam, thirukannamudhu. It seems as He drank this payasam, some overflowed from His mouth and fell into a pond below called Kshirasagaram. Now we will see the 25^th sloka. He explains now on various branches in Karma yoga. We can choose that which suits us and practice it. The final result for all these is the same that is atman sakshatkaram. The 25^th sloka:

daivam evapare yajnam
yoginah paryupasate
brahmagnav apare yajnam
yajnenaivopajuhvati

"Some yogis enthusiastically worship God by offering different poojas , and some others offer havis in the fire of the Supreme Brahman."

Here two types of Karma yogis are described. Apare = some other, yogina = [karma] yogis, daivam = performing poojas to God, paryupasathe = enthusiastically do. Here yajna means pooja. This is the first category. Apare = yet other, brahmgnau = in the fire of bramham, yagnam = havis or the materials to be offered , yajnena = using ladles etc., juhvati = perform yagna. This is the second category. In the first category, some Karma yogis perform pooja with enthusiasm. Performing pooja has been the tradition in Hindu families since long. Poojas are nine according to Prahlada, when he was questioned by his father as to what he learnt in the school. Those are: shravanam [listening to God’s glories], keerthanam [singing in praise of the Lord], vishno smaranam [meditating on Lord Vishnu], pada sevanam [serving at His feet], archanam [uttering His names and offering fresh flowers], vandanam [falling at His feet], dasyam [considering as His servant and serving], sakhyam [to be friendly with God] and atma nivedanam [we should realize our atman is His and so surrender to God]. Hiranyakasipu got angry and questioned his son as to who was behind teaching these, and the son replied, “ He is the same who makes you to utter these words”. He says Sri Narayana is the only shastha [Leader] for all. Sri Krishna tells this only here. The pooja rules are as simple as one would get ready daily. Poojas can be performed to salagrama or pictures or idols. The actual method has to be learnt from elders in the family or from an Acharya, but certain basic things will be mentioned here. Pooja has to be performed daily, but as an exception, we can skip due to unavoidable reasons. He is to be woken up in the morning, chanting suprabhatam. By opening the box or small mantap in which the salagrama or idol is kept, we have to gently clap the hands thrice. We may sing angan ma gyalatharasar of Thiruppavai here. Then we have to pray that though we are unqualified to perform pooja, He should with grace accept our pooja. We have to then act as if brushing His teeth, cleaning His tongue and bathe Him. In Vallabhacharya sampradaya, they take several hours to do all these services to the Lord and fondly address Him as Thakurji. All these are done till He is made to sleep. He should be decorated with good dress and ornaments. We can then sing all sthothras and pasurams. Then we have to offer the food cooked. After resting Him on His bed we have to pray to forgive for all the deficiencies in the pooja [sloka: upacharathe…kshamasva purushottama]. After this only we can take the offered food for our use. This way daily pooja has to be performed. In the second category, in the sacred fire the karta offers ghee, milk, etc., using ladles. Here a word of caution. Only yagnas performed by those who have learnt the Vedas thoroughly and conversant with the rules, are in this category.