What is Bali-Vaishva Yagya?
Before consuming our food, we should dedicate a small part of it to God, and pray to get rid of all kinds of debt. Ancient sages used to carry out a simple Balivaishva yagya, which is a small sacrificial ritual. ‘Bali’ means sacrifice or gift, and ‘vaishva’ means for everyone and everything in the entire universe.
In the Hindu religion, offering food to human body is a type of yagya. Food is considered God as our body’s existence depends on it. Our birth, development, and maturity are dependent on food. It is responsible for the formation of plasma, blood, muscles, fat, bones, nerves, bone marrow, and reproductive tissues. But food also has a subtle part to it; apart from affecting the physical attributes of the body it also affects our mind and thinking.
For example, earning money through wrong means is not hard but that money is tainted and can be responsible for pain and diseases. If the source of our food is impure, then it will have a bad effect on our mind and intelligence.
Food and Mind
The main means of progress of the soul is mind, and mind is formed from food. The mind is responsible for bondage as well as liberation. Lord Krishna says, ‘controlling crookedness and fickleness of mind is the only way to progress on the spiritual path’. According to Bhagavad Gita, there are three types of food – sattvic, rajasic and tamasic. A person, who takes a balanced diet according to his or her prakruti or constitution, can progress on the path of yoga, meditation, and devotion. When food is pure, inner consciousness is pure and holy, which is the source of eternal experience of God’s divinity.
Research
An experiment was conducted at Manchester Biomedical Research Institute, UK, about the effect of food on the quality, function, nature, and values of humans. White rats were used in the experiment as they are generally calm in nature. One of the white rats domesticated in the laboratory was housed in a separate cage; and given chilly, hot, spicy and intoxicated food for eight days. After eight days, he was placed with other mice; he became violent towards other mice and injured almost all of them. Thereafter, he was transferred to his cage and this time he was fed simple food. After a month, he became very calm and did not show violent tendencies towards other mice. This experiment proves that food not only nourishes the physical body but also creates personality, qualities, deeds, temperament, and value of a person. The Greek philosopher Pythagoras said, ‘you tell me what kind of food a person is eating, I will tell you how his thoughts will be.’
The purpose with which food is made and served also affects the mind and soul. If food is earned with good means, but the thoughts and conduct of the cook are not good, then it will have a bad effect on food. That’s why simple food cooked by a mother is more beneficial than delicious food served at a restaurant.
When to perform Bali-Vaishva Yagya?
Pujya Gurudev Pandit Shree Ram Sharma Acharyaji suggested that every family should perform such a simple yagya every day right before taking the main meal of the day. This smallest form of yagya, which takes less than five minutes, helps to purify food by removing bad karma and negative energy. When we offer it to God, it becomes ‘Prasad’ or ‘Holy Food’.
Procedure
Take 1 or 2 tsp of cooked food which does not have any salt or spices, like plain cooked rice or small pieces of roti prepared without salt. Add 4 to 5 drops of ghee (clarified butter), and mix them together.
If you don’t have any cooked food without salt and/or spices, then
Take 1 tsp of jaggery or brown or white sugar, add 4-5 drops of ghee (clarified butter), and mix them together.
Place a small clean copper container on the stove, and let it turn hot for a few seconds. Then, chant the Gayatri mantra as below and offer one small morsel of the mixture after each mantra while uttering ‘swaha’. A total of five morsel offerings will complete the yagya.
Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ bhargo devasyadhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ Prachodayāt ǀ Swaha, idam Brahmane idam namam ǁ
Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ bhargo devasyadhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ Prachodayāt ǀ Swaha, idam Devebhyah idam namam ǁ
Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ bhargo devasyadhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ Prachodayāt ǀ Swaha, idam Rishibhyah idam namam ǁ
Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ bhargo devasyadhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ Prachodayāt ǀ Swaha, idam Narebhyah idam namam ǁ
Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ tatsaviturvareṇyaṃ bhargo devasyadhīmahi dhiyo yo naḥ Prachodayāt ǀ Swaha, idam Bhutebhyah idam namam ǁ
Turn off the flame. Then, take a little water in right palm, and pour it around the container in a circle while uttering ‘Om Shantihi Shantihi Shantihi’. The remaining mixture should be distributed to all family members as Prasad or holy food.
These five offerings are equivalent to five ‘Mahayagya’ or ‘the great sacrificial ritual’.
- We show our compassion to the Supreme divinity, who gives us everything. It makes the connection between our soul and the Supreme.
- It helps to awaken godly qualities within us, which refines our personality.
- It inspires us to live a life for others. We may have the heart to feel the pain and need of other humans. Instead of selfish attachments, our lives should have a higher purpose.
- It reminds us of our responsibility to create environmental and social order according to human dignity.
- At last, to extend our compassion and intimacy towards all the animals, birds, trees, insects, and all the living creatures.
Through yagya, the environment of the house is purified and vitalized. Maharshi Charak regained his youth after eating Chyawanprash. Nowadays that effect is no longer there in Chyawanprash because the amla, which is produced in today’s atmosphere does not have the same quality, essence, and power it once had in Satyuga. But we can produce such food and medicine through yagya; because yagya is a sacrificial ritual that is performed with the sense of generosity, devotion and unselfish service to others.
Reference by Pandit Sriram Sharma Acharya in Hindi Language. http://literature.awgp.org/book/bali_vaishv/v1
