A six-day Mahagni Chayana Yagam began here in this village on Friday to mark the 200th birth anniversary of Manick Prabhu, considered by his devotees to be the fourth incarnation of Lord Dattatreya.
The Yagam is being performed by Bala Marathanda, a resident of Hyderabad at his farm here, which is known as Mutkh Ashram.
Several animals – donkey, frog, turtle, cows with calves, bull and horse — were offered prayers as part of the Yagam.
Yagashala
Yagashala was erected in about an acre land in the farm. It was cleaned using seven types of soil collected from near ant hill, near a snake pit, near a mouse’s nest, near the dwelling place of wild boars, mud dug by horns of bulls and mud from a lake apart from the soil at the Yagashala.
Yaga platform was designed in the shape of Garuda.
Special moulds
Special bricks 1,800 in number were designed with 19 iron moulds. They will be set up in the form of Garuda. The final pooja will be performed in the wee hours of June 14th.
As many as 17 priests from Mattur of Shivamogga district in Karnataka have arrived here to perform the Mahaagni Chayana Yagam.
Rare yagam
“Mattur is a village where those interested in Sanskrit will be taught. Sanskrit is a subject here being taught from primary level,” said Venkateshavadhani, who came from there. He said that Mahaagni Chayana Yagam is rarely performed.
“In this yaga, we consider everything is auspicious including a donkey and a frog. This is being performed for the benefit of humanity and society,” Bala Marthanda informed The Hindu .
