Piscataway, NJ (I.J. News Service) - Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation and the Sringeri Sadhana Center have organized an Athi Rudra Maha Yagyam to be conducted for the first time outside Bharat. It will be held from August 22 to September 1 at the Sringeri Sadhana Center in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
The Athi Rudra Maha Yagya is one of the highest forms of community worship with the involvement of 121 Vedic Pundits reciting the Shri Rudra Mantr, 11 times each day for a continuous span of 11 days, totaling 14641 times (approx. 5,000 man-hours) of recitation.
Abhishekham to Lord Shiv will be performed along with the recitation with 11 different items (such as oil, panch gavyam, panchamratam, milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, fruit juice, coconut water, sugar, cane juice, sandal paste/vibhuti). At the ed of the Rudrajap, one tenth of the recitation will be performed as Rudra Homam. It will be accomplished by performing the Homam in 11 Homa Kund by the scholars.
As part of the Athi Rudra yagya, recitation of all four Ved(as), Durga Saptasati, Vishnu Sahashranam and Lalita Sahashranam will also be conducted in parallel.
In addition, discourses, special renditions of the Ved Mantr in various formats, music, concerts several other homam and special pooja(s) (such as Sahashra Linga Archana with 1,116 Shiv Ling), workshops for youth, children's programs, etc., will take place during the course of the 11 days.
Since the conduct of the event involves several minute details added to the large expense, it was never ventured outside of Bharat thus far. because of this reason, the organizers have planned it as an international event. In addition the organizers say the aim is to reach out to the younger generation here so they can have the feel and appreciation for an authentic Vedic rite.
The function has been organized with the blessings of the Shankaracharya
of Sringeri Mutt and Jagad Guru Shri Bharati Teertha Maharaj Maha Swamiji.