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Create Bliss and Peace with Shiva-Shakti Koti Japa Yagya

The Shiva-Shakti Koti Japa Yagya was inaugurated on Vijaya Dasami ("Victory Day") following the Nine Nights of Mother Divine on October 7, 2000 with a special sankalpa (resolution of intent) and traditional vedic ceremony in Fairfield, Iowa, USA. Over 80 people attended the inauguration organized by Veda Vishwa Foundation, the non-sectarian, non-profit organization sponsoring this year-long Yagya.

Dr. Bansi Sharma, M.D., President of Veda Vishwa Foundation, former President of the Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago and member of the Governor of Illinois' Asian American Advisory Council, introduced the Shiva-Shakti Koti Japa Yagya to the attendees, who ranged in age form 2 to 70.

"Today is Vijaya Dashami, Victory Day: victory of knowledge over ignorance, victory of bliss over suffering, victory of purity over impurity. We have chosen today to inaugurate a very special and unique global Yagya that will last for one year. This special Yagya is called the Shiva-Shakti Koti Japa Yagya.

"As many of you know, Yagyas to Shiva gain support for spiritual endeavors and alleviate suffering, both individually and for the entire creation. They also help to create peace, bring enlightenment and promote rapid recovery from serious disease. Yagyas to Shakti gain the blessings of Mother Divine to remove ignorance, provide protection from adversity and eliminate suffering on an individual and cosmic level.

"The Shiva-Shakti Koti Japa Yagya is a free, year-long Yagya. It provides a simple structure for invoking an on-going wave of blessings from both Lord Shiva and Mother Divine for all levels of the universe, starting with the participants, and extending to their families, communities, states, countries, to the world and the cosmos."

Following this introduction, Pandit Dhruv Narain Sharma, the founding chairman of Veda Vishwa Foundation, performed a traditional puja to Ganesha, Shiva and Mother Divine. Pandit Sharma then recited the Mahasankapla for the Shiva-Shakti Koti Japa Yagya to declare the purpose and goal of the Yagya:

"With gratitude to the supreme divine source of all creation, we launch the Shiva-Shakti Koti Japa Yagya to establish total protection of righteousness in mankind and to heal ourselves and our planet by spreading the knowledge of Vedic wisdom throughout the whole world."

After the Mahasankalpa, the entire group recited 108 repetitions of the Mahamantras for both Lord Shiva and Mother Divine and experienced together the waves of silence, peace and inner bliss that these powerful mantras generate.

One of the participants, Alan Burnes of Fairfield, described his experience during the group recitation:

"The first time I did the Shiva-Shakti japa in a group during the inauguration, I experienced a glowing web of effulgent light connecting me to the other members of the group and a vibrant feeling of oneness with creation. This was a unique experience in 30 years of spiritual practice."

Following the official inauguration, Bharwar Lal Joshi, General Secretary of Geeta Ashram in Chicago, spoke about how anyone can participate in the Shiva-Shakti Koti Japa Yagya with only a small investment of time.

"All you need to do is to perform japa, or recitation, of the two mantras. The minimum number of repititions of each mantra is 108, or one mala. You can spend 5-6 minutes a day, or just 5-6 minutes once a week.

"The Shiva-Shakti Koti Japa Yagya is performed by a mandala or group of people from all over the world, each person reciting these two simple mantras. During the coming year the collective recitation will total at least one koti, or 10 million repetitions, of the Durga mantra and one koti of the Shiva mantra.

"Each individual participant benefits from the power of the collective consciousness of the entire group. Because this is a Japa Mandala Yagya, you will get the benefits of the whole Yagya, even if you can spend only a little time. The more people who participate, the greater the bliss for everyone.

Pundit Sharma commented on the unique structure of this Yagya:

"This is the first time this Yagya will be performed globally for an entire year. Traditionally, large-scale yagyas require enormous commitments of money and time that most people simply cannot afford. The Shiva-Shakti Koti Japa Yagya provides a simple structure for invoking the blessings and divine healing power of Shiva and Mother Divine 10 million times through the power of group consciousness over the next 12 months. The result will be a downpour of divine blessings for all participants, their families and the whole world family. People from every nation are invited to bless their countries by participating in this free global Japa Yagya."

Dr. B.D. Sharma added:

"Here is a very easy, simple and effective way for everyone to enjoy the powerful effects of increased positivity, balance, good health and peace for themselves and to help guide the world to a higher level of consciousness at the start of the 21st century. If you can spare an average of 5 minutes per day, you can experience a powerful upsurge of peace, wholeness and happiness in your own life and in your environment."

After the group recitation, the assembly gathered outside to raise a flag that will remain flying for one year. Veda Vishwa Foundation is organizing a large-scale Yagya to be held on Victory Day, 2001, in Fairfield, Iowa, to culminate the Shiva-Shakti Koti Japa Yagya.

Those who have begun their japa report amazing results:

"Each morning I consciously align my individual japa with the whole group yagya before I start and I immediately sense I'm tapping into a huge network of consciousness and divine power. I spend only 6-7 minutes doing japa, but the effect is still very strong and very soothing."

"Within a minute or so of beginning my daily japa, I feel the same bliss and expansion I've experienced before only at the end of a two-hour long Vedic Yayga. It's a great way to connect to that Divine energy!"

Pandit Sharma reports that more people are registering every day to participate in the Shiva-Shakti Koti Japa Yagya, and adds:

"Mother Divine is organizing the whole thing. Veda Vishwa is issuing invitations throughout the world for everyone to join this unique sacred group ritual over the next year. It will benefit everyone in the world, even if they do not know about it, but those who are able to participate can enjoy very special blessings."

For full details, you may consult the web site at www.vedavishwa.org. If you do not have full internet access you may send an email message to info@vedavishwa.org to receive directions and instructions by return email, or you may call 1-641-472-8085, or write Veda Vishwa at P.O. Box 248, Fairfield, IA 52556.

Veda Vishwa is a non-profit, non-sectarian cultural and educational foundation whose mission is to bring the benefits of the theory and practice of Vedic Yagya and related fields of Vedic Culture to all interested individuals and organizations.