Athirathram

[venkatakailasam]

A 12-day ritual Athirathram, or Atiratra Agnicayana, a 3000-year-old (some say 4000) Vedic ritual to cleanse the earth and ring in global peace was performed at Panjal, a sleepy hamlet home to Namboodiri Brahmins in Trichur, Kerala, the sect that earns the right to perform this ritual by birth.

"Modern day Hinduism has its spiritual origins in the Vedic religion; this particular ritual is said to be the oldest and perhaps the greatest of all Vedic rituals that still continue to be performed today. A bird-shaped altar is built with 10,800 bricks for the ritual, which is an offering to Agni or the God of Fire. As you'd know, the number 108 has special significance in Hindu faith. This ritual, never witnessed by outsiders till 1956, caught the attention of a Sanskrit professor/philosopher of European origin, Frits Staal, who is credited with bringing global awareness to Athirathram, which was facing extinction. The 1975 Athirathram was then made open to the public, filmed and recorded at Staal's behest, who's studied the rituals and written a book about it.
Read his views about the Athirathram here.
Panjal was the venue this year (reportedly for the fourth time), and over 2 lakh people have had the chance to witness this year's Athirathram, some parts of which are not open to women. One particular part of the ritual is said to give rise to a tall column of fire which is said to be harmful to women. This fire ritual is said to harmonise the elements and purify the atmosphere, as Fire, known as the Destroyer, is also worshipped as the Origin. "

ATHIRATHRAM" - ANCIENT VEDIC RITUAL AT PANJAL : THRISSUR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6hW1KTqQto&feature=fvst

venkatakailasam

[vasanthakokilam]

Thanks venkatakailasam. Interesting.

[cmlover]

also check out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvvI3bIA ... ure=relmfu
from the 1975 video by Harvard University

[cmlover]

Nature still abides by the laws of the vedas!

http://expressbuzz.com/states/kerala/ra ... 66016.html