CHARM 2022 - SACRAMENTO, CA
With the immense Grace and Blessings of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba varu, Chandi sahita Ati Rudra Mahayajna (CHARM) recently concluded in Orangevale, California. This is perhaps the first Yajna that included Ati Rudra Mahayajnam along with Sata Chandi that was offered to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Sri Sathya Sai Baba Center of Sacramento, California is blessed to conduct this unprecedented Yajna for universal healing, peace, and prosperity in conjunction with Celebrating the Centennial of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
With the current increase in human agony, loss of life, fear, and depression due to the impact of a global pandemic and a regional war, we must intensify our efforts to locally serve and globally connect in prayers for universal healing and peace. As a matter of fact, the same week of this Sacred Ceremony has brought together collective prayers across all the major religions; the event is book-ended by the Holy Festivals of Sri Rama Navami (April 10) and Sri Hanuman Jayanthi (April 16). Incidentally, this event also occurred during the sacred month of Ramadan, during the Holy Week of Good Friday (April 15) and Passover. In addition, Zoroastrians observed the festival of Fravardin on April 8th, when Omkareswara was consecrated for CHARM 2022. The Sikh Holy day of Baisakhi also was celebrated on April 14 during the Yajna.
The offering started on December 8, 2021, with 587 devotees across 11 countries registering as volunteers, chanters and Ritwiks. Since then, on an average 250 devotees joined the daily Sri Rudram and other prayers that occurred 4 times a day the across time zones for 121 days till April 9, 2022. This accounts for 30,250 times of Sri Rudram chanting which equals to more than two Ati Rudra Parayana ahead of CHARM. In addition to the regular Sai Center service projects, several devotees across greater Sacramento and California Bay Area worked tirelessly in preparation of CHARM in helping with procuring and transporting material locally as well as from India, assembling and painting over 350 wooden stools for the event, constructing 12 homa kundas (fire pits), preparing and serving food for volunteers for several weeks, etc. As a matter of fact, when the Homa Kunda construction was about complete on one of the days, Bhagawan was seen leaving the Yajnasala (see the picture). On the top of it all, 150+ devotees learned, practiced, and offered Devi Mahatmyam as part of the Shata Chandi offering before and during CHARM. Overall, CHARM is in true spirit an offering filled with SAI (Service, Adoration, and Illumination). It is sheerly Bhagawan’s love, grace, will, and blessing to be part of this sublime CHARM offering. Bhagawan’s presence was felt through the entire time from October 2021 when the event was announced.
The event began on April 7 evening with the consecration of Omkareswara, a special lingam that was blessed by Bhagawan with materialization of 2.2 kgs of vibhuti and 21 crystals prior to the installation.
On April 10th, the auspicious Sri Rama Navami, Bhagawan entered the yajnasala in a procession along with Omkareswara and Shirdi Sai Bhagawan. The event began with Lighting the Lamp, worshipping the Cow and Calf, welcoming the 11 priests and 268 Ritwiks that participated in the event.
A stunning altar enthralled the hearts of all with magnificent back drop of Sapta Shringi mountain along with Baba, 132 Kalasams of the primary deities as well as waters from major rivers across the world backed by the presence of Bhagawan and Jesus the Christ, an abhishekam table adorned with the murthi’s of Shirdi Baba, Omkareswara, Chandi Yantra, Golden Bhagawan Baba, Panchamukheswara with Mahaganapathi in the front, and symbols of all the major faiths at the front of the stage. In addition, the 6,000 square feet prayer tent was adorned with the stunning visuals of Vallabha Ganapathi, Guru Trinity, and the 25 avatars of Shiva captivating the presence of all.
What followed was an intense downpour of prayers with each day starting with parallel chanting of Aruna Prasna and Mahanyasa parayana, panchamrita and ekadasa rudra abhisheka followed by Rudra homa. On an average 300 devotees chanted the Sri Rudram for eleven times every day. Everyone was given an opportunity to offer abhishekam irrespective of caste, creed, country, religion, gender, and age. Sri Rudra homa were offered by 267 Ritwiks and 11 priests twice a day from April 11 to April 16. On an average 400 devotees were served prasadam thrice a day with 1,000+ devotees attending the grand finale on April 16. All the eight aspects of Shiva Shakti were present in full potency to adore Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba; cold, heat, wind, rain, rivers, clear skies, sunshine, and full moon! Simply incredible to feel their CHARMing and unusual presence, all in a span of week. It is not an exaggeration to state that a Yajna of this magnitude has not happened in California and perhaps in the United States of America.
On the Good Friday April 15, auspicious Chaturdasi evening, Shata Chandi Homam was offered to honor the incredible sacrifice as in surrender of the “I” and the “mine” in the sacred fire of the Heart to emerge great, grand, and holy. This is the quintessence of the sacred act of Jesus the Christ on Good Friday as well as significance of Devi Mahatmyam. Mahapurnahuti was performed on Saturday April 16, the auspicious full moon day that signified the birthday of Hanuman, the epitome of SAI in work, worship, and wisdom. A befitting musical program of the Saint Tyagaraja compositions extolling the glory and story of Sri Rama was expounded and submitted at HIS Lotus Feet. The CHARM program concluded on the eve of Easter Sunday with Sri Sathya Sai Sathyanarayana Vratam, the 11th Aradhana Mahostavam of Bhagawan!!
Positive thought generates positive energy and in a similar fashion positive energy creates positive thoughts. The Yajna is a ‘colossus of positive energy’ which would bring in positive energy and collective awareness for universal healing and peace.
There is a saying by Sri Sathya Sai Baba: "As is the fire, so is the smoke. As is the smoke, so are the clouds. As are the clouds, so is the rain. As is the rain, so are the crops. As are the crops, so is the food. As is the food, so is the intellect”. The divine vibrations from these sacred prayers and offerings in the fire enters the clouds, results in purification of air and the rain that results in sacred food that results in positive thoughts to help and serve our communities.
May All the Beings in All the Worlds have Happiness and Peace!!
