Holy Smokes!: Of swamis, fire rituals & yummy prashad (9/11/07 TIWC)

Namaste!

It was another wonderful Hindu evening for the Peacemakers’ Tuesday Inner Work Circle (TIWC) last Sept.11/07 as the group went on another Faith-On-Site session or “field trip” to attend a Vedic ritual called Maha Sudharshan Homa at a residential home in New Manila, Quezon City. The ritual --which was intended for peace, happiness and getting rid of evil forces—was especially performed by two Swamis who are devoted followers of Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi or “Amma”, India’s renowned “hugging Saint.”

Amma’s first monastic disciple, Swami Ramakrishnananda Puri is currently in Manila to spread the love and wisdom of the guru. A series of meditation lectures, spiritual discourses and rituals were conducted from Sept.8 to 12 in several venues in Metro Manila. The TIWC members were grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in one of these events.

It was the first time for most of us to experience a Homa or fire ritual. Although not set in an actual Hindu temple, the makeshift “shrine” – complete with a carpet platform and roofed by a tent amidst trees in a wet grassy garden of a huge cozy residential complex—was enough to provide an atmosphere of peace, serenity and sacredness for such a unique spiritual experience.

With only oil lamps lighting the area at the beginning, a clueless first-timer might find the ritual uneventful as the crowd merely observes in silence and sits in meditation (or anticipation, or amusement) as the orange-robed “priest” (who sits in full cross-legged lotus position most of the time) quietly performs a series of mudras (hand gestures) and prayers while blessing the altar with water, incense, oil lamps, twigs, flower petals and other implements.

Vedic chants sung by the Swami at certain times interspersed with the lighting of the fire. After an hour or so, the house lights were turned on and the crowd was led to a series of participatory tasks which include washing the feet and going barefoot, offering individual prayers, scattering flower petals around the fire altar, receiving and anointing ourselves with blessed water and ashes. The ritual culminated with what seemed to be the most enjoyed part of all—the distribution of prashad or food that is blessed as offering for all to share. Everyone was obviously delighted with the sweet milky prashad not only by its delicious exotic taste, but also by the experience of eating it out from our bare palms!

The evening was capped with a hearty Indian meal which was enjoyed by all while watching videos of Amma. What a delightful body-and-spirit-filling experience indeed! (It was an ideal way to conclude the 101st anniversary day of Gandhi’s non-violence movement!) Thanks to the organizers and hosts!

Om Shanti!

OrlanD

Next session we will be given a chance to share and exchange personal insights on the several events our members have experienced (Janmashtami celebration with ISKCON/Hare Krishna and the Vedic Homa with Amma's Swami). We will also be planning for the upcoming interfaith program celebration for the International Day of Peace on September 21. If there is more time we might continue with reflections on the theme: What do i have in abundance? What have i been deprived of?

See you then!