Rajiv Malik, HPI Correspondent
NEW DELHI, INDIA, May 24, 2006: “Dandi saints from all over India have started reaching Bilaspur, a town in the state of Chattisgarh in central India, for the venue Satchandi Mahayagna And All-India Saints Sammelan. While the mahayagna, a large-scale fire worship ceremony, has already begun on May 22, the saint sammelan (meeting) is scheduled to take place on May 27 and 28 for which 108 eminent Dandi sannyasins have sent their confirmation of participation. Dandi sannyasins are the one who always hold a danda (staff). They belong to the distinguished lineage of the first and foremost order of dashnami [those who have ten specific names] sannyasins to whom the deeksha [initiation] was given by Adi Shankaracharya.” This information was given to HPI in an exclusive telephonic interview with the organizer, Shri Chakra Mahameru Peethadhishwar Shri Swami Satchidananda Ji, himself is a dandi sannyasin.
Speaking on the importance of the mahayagna, Swami Ji said, “Mahayagna and Vedic civilization are the basis of the social life and development of the creation on this planet. In fact, yagna is nothing but the form of God itself. Yagna contains the true power of rishis, and it is the axis around which the whole nature revolves. The positive qualities of Vedic yagna have been scientifically proved. For the past few centuries mankind has ignored yagna in a big way and because of this the quality of life on this planet has been adversely affected.”
According to him this mahayagna is a part of series of 21 yagnas that have so far been performed on his initiative since the year 1995, in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttranchal and Chattisgarh.
Swami Ji told HPI that the discourses of eminent swamis are being held everyday in the afternoon and two to three thousand devotees are attending. Prasadam (community meal) is served at the end of the program. He said that during the two-day saints meet, they will express their views on the challenges being faced by the Hindu religion and the Hindu society in the present times.
Some of the eminent saints who would be attending the events include: Shri Kalyandas Ji Maharaj, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh; Shri Hari Kewal Das Ji Maharaj, Ambikapur, Chattisgarh; Shri Ramvilas Vedanti Ji, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh; Shri Yudhishthar Lal Ji Maharaj, Shadani Darbar, Raipur, Chattisgarh; Shri Yantra Mahameru Peethadheeshwar Shri Swami Sukhdevananda Ji Maharaj, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh; Shri Dandiswami Ishwarananda Ji Maharaj, Mumuksha Bhavan, Assi, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh; Shri Mauni Baba Ji, Mithiladham Ganesh Mandir, Rajanandagaon; Shri Radhveshdas Vedanti Ji Maharaj, Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh; Shri Dinesh Giri Ji Maharaj; Shri Swami Muktananda Saraswati, Sarvodaya Ashram, Haridwar; and Shri Krishna Abhishek Maharaj, Bilaspur, Madhya Pradesh.
In his concluding remarks Swami Satchidananda Ji said, “To serve the people of this area, we are setting up some institutions including a Kamakshi Gaushala (cow shelter), Shri Vidya Ved Pathshala (school) and Lalita Eye Hospital. The chief minister of Chattisgarh, Shri Raman Singh Ji, is likely to inaugurate these at a special ceremony being held on May 27, 2006. A large number of well-known personalities belonging to different walks of life have also been invited to the various programs that are being held during this week long event.”