Analysis of Shanti rituals based on subtle knowledge

Conducting Shanti rituals post 50 years onwards and every 5 years thereafter, is essential to obtain spiritual benefits. With the help of few blessed seekers, the changes that occur in the spiritual realm while performing the shanti ritual have been explained in this article.

Holy texts provide detailed information on how the ritual of Shanti is to be performed. This article, however, has made an attempt to explain the importance of performing this ritual. Analysis done by Sanatan’s seekers during the ritual, based on subtle-knowledge, will be helpful in better comprehension of the ritual and in reinforcing the impression about its importance

1. Analysis done during installation of the main Deities and their worship

A. I had a vision of Deities and Sages present in a miniature form on the betel-nuts placed upon the eight-petalled lotus pattern of akshata (Unbroken rice grains, usually smeared with kumkum and used in ritualistic worship). – Ms Madhura Bhosale, Sanatan Ashram, Goa. (Spiritual experience during Roudri Shanti performed on 13.5.2006 on the 85th birthday of Mrs Shantabai Vaidya)

B. When flowers were offered to the betel-nuts (representing the Deities) placed on the eight-petalled lotus pattern of akshata, I saw blue waves of Anand (Bliss) emanating and spreading into the environment. When marigolds were offered to the betel-nuts, yellow waves of Chaitanya (Divine consciousness) were emitted by the akshata and the lotus appeared to be real. – Ms Madhura Bhosale, Sanatan Ashram, Goa. (Spiritual experience during the ritual of Roudri Shanti performed on 13.5.2006 on the 85th birthday of Mrs Shantabai Vaidya)

2. Analysis done while making offerings to presiding Deities

A. Vaishnavi Shanti

1. Flow of black energy from the premises and black covering around the attendees slowly got sucked into the havan-kunda (Sacrificial fire place) and began to disintegrate

My bhav (Spiritual emotion) awakened due to the mantras recited during the Shanti-havan (sacrificial fire). I could perceive pleasant sensations over my head. The black flows from the premises and the black covering around the attendees gradually started getting sucked into the havan-kunda and began disintegrating. Thereafter, the smoke emanating from the fire appeared much darker. – Mrs Anjali Gadgil (Spiritual experience during the ritual of Vaishnavi Shanti performed on 9.12.2006, on the 50th birthday of Mr. Sudin Dhavlikar)

B. Ugrarath (Shashti) Shanti

1. When the havan was going on, negative energies tried to suck sattvikta and Chaitanya in order to reduce efficacy of the Shashti Shanti

When the havan (Offering of oblations in fire) was going on, from the north-east direction I could hear subtle recitation of mantras from the ground. I saw mantriks performing a Yadnya at some distance from the venue of the Shanti. Their objective was to take away sattvikta and Chaitanya generated from the Ugrarath Shanti to reduce its benefits. – Ms Madhura Bhosale, Sanatan Ashram Goa. (Spiritual experience during Ugrarath Shanti performed on 29.4.2006 on the 60th birthday of Mr. Atmaram Joshi)

Note : Mantrik – most powerful negative energy

Performing a Shanti bestows the doer with sattvikta and Chaitanya. Mantriks emit negative energy through various media and thus try to reduce the effectiveness of a Yadnya. However, faith in God protects us.

This example shows how negative energies create obstacles in any ritual. Such obstacles created by negative energies in the subtle are incomprehensible to the common man. Only those with subtle-vision can perceive them and this ability can be achieved only with spiritual practice. Hence, to protect oneself from negative energies and to progress spiritually, there is no alternative but to perform spiritual practice. Sanatan Sanstha has undertaken the mission of providing guidance on how to perform appropriate spiritual practice.

2. As priests began offering samidha in the Yadnya amidst recitation of the Mrutyunjay mantra, Deity Shiva destroyed the Yadnya of the mantriks

As the priests began offering samidha (6-8 inch long firewood sticks used in Yadnya) into the Yadnya amidst recitation of the Mrutyunjay mantra, I felt the presence of the Shiva Principle there. As the recitation and the offerings continued, the Shiva Principle in the environment increased, and finally, I saw the destroyer form of Deity Shiva destroying the Yadnya of mantriks. – Ms Madhura Bhosale, Sanatan Ashram, Goa. (Spiritual experience during the ritual of Ugrarath Shanti performed on 29.4.2006 on the 60th birthday of Mr. Atmaram Joshi)

3. Offering durva in Yadnya activates the combined Principles of Apa (Absolute Water) and Vayu (Absolute Air), thus enhancing the sattvikta and coolness in the environment

When the priests started offering the durva (A fragrant grass used in ritualistic worship of Shri Ganapati) into the Yadnya, the coolness in the environment began to increase and Chaitanya was experienced. The durva activated the combined Principles of Apa and Vayu, thus enhancing the sattvikta in the environment. Then, I saw Holy river Ganga flowing towards the Yadnya-kunda and its Chaitanya in the form of water spreading in the Yadnya-kunda. – Ms Madhura Bhosale, Sanatan Ashram, Goa. (Spiritual experience during the ritual of Ugrarath Shanti performed on 29.4.2006 on the 60th birthday of Mr. Atmaram Joshi)

4. When puffed rice was offered to the Sapta-chiranjiv (Seven eternal souls), the Nirgun-tattva (Non-materialized Principle) and pure Chaitanya in the atmosphere was enhanced. – Ms Madhura Bhosale, Sanatan Ashram, Goa. (Spiritual experience during the ritual of Ugrarath Shanti performed on 29.4.2006 on the 60th birthday of Mr. Atmaram Joshi)

C. Sahastra-chandra-darshan

1. As soon as the havan began, I could see a Sage’s daughter performing the puja (Ritualistic worship) of Shrivishnu’s Holy feet and offering Tulsi blossoms

As soon as the havan began, I remembered Shrivishnu intensely. Then I saw a Sage’s daughter performing the puja of Shrivishnu. I saw her offering Tulsi leaves at His Holy feet. – Ms Madhura Bhosale, Sanatan Ashram, Ramnathi, Goa. (Spiritual experience during the ritual of Sahastra-chandra-darshan performed on 5.5.2006 on the 80th birthday of Mr Manerikar)

2. Demon was killed due to a prayer made by Agnidevata (Deity of Fire)

The priests were invoking Yama (Deity of Death) and offering samidha into the Yadnya. At that time, a frightful demon was seen advancing fiercely towards the Yadnya from the northern direction. At that moment, I had a vision of Agnidevata in the burning flames of the Yadnya. He prayed to Suryadevata and Shrikrushna with intense humility and complete surrender. No sooner had He done this, than an agniastra and a yellow discus appeared from the Yadnya, and moving towards the demon, attacked him and cut him into three pieces. – Ms Madhura Bhosale, Sanatan Ashram, Ramnathi, Goa. (Spiritual experience during the ritual of Sahastra-chandra-darshan performed on 5.5.2006 on the 80th birthday of Mr Manerikar)

3. A vision of Chandradevata (Moon Deity) adorned with silky white drapes and a peaceful countenance in place of the worshipped image of the Deity

When I happened to glance at the worshipped image of Chandradevata, I saw a radiant silvery half-moon. As I continued looking, I felt serene waves coming towards me and I experienced Chaitanya. Then, in the same place, I saw Chandradevata with a peaceful countenance, adorned with silky white drapes. He was looking at the Yadnya site and humbly offering gratitude to Shrikrushna and Agnidevata. – Ms Madhura Bhosale, Sanatan Ashram, Ramnathi, Goa. (Spiritual experience during ritual of Sahastra-chandra-darshan performed on 5.5.2006 on the 80th birthday of Mr Manerikar)

4. Perceived the presence of Deity Shiva in the form of an aura of white light around Chandradevata

I began to feel the growing presence of the Shiva Principle around Chandradevata. Due to this, I saw an aura of white light around Chandradevata. Before the priests began recitation of the Mrutyunjay mantra (A mantra from the Rig-Veda, invoking Deity Shiva, recited to avert death) and invoked the Deities, all of them being Omniscient, were already present at the venue either in their form or as a Principle. – Ms Madhura Bhosale, Sanatan Ashram, Ramnathi, Goa. (Spiritual experience during the ritual of Sahastra-chandra-darshan performed on 5.5.2006 on the 80th birthday of Mr Manerikar)

D. Roudri Shanti

1. Smoke emanating from the havan purified the subtle-body of Mrs Shantabai Vaidya (for whom the Shanti was performed) and also made the environment sattvik

The sattvikta from the smoke emanating from the Yadnya was seen moving towards Mrs Shantabai Vaidya. I could perceive these waves purifying her subtle-bodies and she was becoming sattvik. The smoke was also purifying the environment, increasing the sattvikta and Chaitanya in it. – Ms Madhura Bhosale, Sanatan Ashram, Ramnathi, Goa. (Spiritual experience during the ritual of RoudrI Shanti performed on 13.5.2006 on the 85th birthday of Mrs Shantabai Vaidya)

2. When ghee was offered to the Yadnya, I faintly saw the faces of three Deities. I could identify one of them as Rudradevata. They were partaking of the offerings made. – Ms Madhura Bhosale, Sanatan Ashram, Ramnathi, Goa. (Spiritual experience during the ritual of Roudri Shanti performed on 13.5.2006 on the 85th birthday of Mrs Shantabai Vaidya)

3. Analysis of Ajyavalokan ritual

A. When the couple performing the Shanti viewed the reflection of their faces in a dish filled with ghee, the negative energy enveloping them was absorbed

The couple performing the Shanti viewed their reflection in a dish filled with ghee. At that moment, the negative energy enveloping their mind and intellect and that present in every cell on their faces was absorbed by the ghee (Clarified butter). At the same time, the smoke from the Yadnya was performing spiritual remedies on them. – Ms Madhura Bhosale, Sanatan Ashram, Goa. (Spiritual experience during the Sahastra-chandra-darshan performed on 5.5.2006 on the 80th birthday of Mr Manerikar)

4. Analysis of Aukshan performed on the couple

A. When the ritual of aukshan (Ritual of waving a lit lamp in front of an individual) with lamps made from flour was done for the couple performing the Shanti, I could perceive the presence of Shri Mahalakshmi near them: When the ritual of aukshan was being done for the couple performing the Shanti, I saw a protective sheath of Chaitanya around them becoming more radiant and felt Shri Mahalakshmi’s presence near them. I saw the Deity’s feet adorned with toe-rings. I also experienced the subtle fragrance of mogra (A variety of jasmine) and felt bhav of gratitude unto God. – Mrs Anjali Gadgil (Spiritual experience during the ritual of Vaishnavi Shanti performed on 9.12.2006, on the 50th birthday of Mr Sudin Dhavlikar)

Reference : Sanatan’s Holy text ‘Spiritual science underlying familial religious and social acts’