Agni: The sacred science of fire and its transformative power
Fire (agni) holds a profound significance in Vedic rituals
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By Ashwini GurujiDec 19, 2024
Agni, the first word of the Rig Veda, holds a profound significance. It is, in fact, a wondrous element. While most are familiar with fire for its heat and light, very few understand that fire sustains our body and plays a pivotal role in cleansing it and the surrounding elements. Even fewer appreciate its role as a medium to connect with the Devlok (realm of the divine), and hardly anyone explores its potential to manifest changes within and around them. Dhyan Ashram is one such rare place in today’s world where sadhaks (practitioners) experiment with and experience the extraordinary properties of fire.
In Vedic times, yagyas were a routine practice. They were not mere rituals but a precise science designed to invoke and channel the forces of Creation through the medium of fire. The Vedic Shastras detail nearly 400 types of yagyas, each with a specific purpose.
Kamya-Karmas: Yagyas performed to fulfill desires.
Nitya-Karmas: Yagyas performed as a duty by every individual.
Ghrya-Karmas (or Smarta-Karmas): Yagyas specific to an individual and their family, as described in the Smritis.
Srauta-Karmas: Yagyas for the well-being of mankind, detailed in the Shrutis (Vedas).
The precision of these yagyas extends to every detail—the dimensions and shapes of the yagya kunds (fire altars), the timing (muhurat), the direction of performance, and the ingredients (samidha and samagri). Most importantly, the mantras, provided by a siddha Guru, ensure that the oblations reach the deity being invoked and manifest in the yagya fire.
To illustrate the precision required in yagyas, the Srauta rites employ three distinct fires in three differently shaped yagya kunds. The dimensions, spacing, and brick-laying for these kunds are meticulously outlined in the Shulba Sutras. Interestingly, the geometric principles we attribute to Pythagoras are detailed in this text, predating him by at least 500 years.
The power of authentic Vedic yagyas is evident in their efficacy. Unlike ordinary fires, there is no smoke in a properly performed Vedic yagya, and upon successful completion, forms of deities (Devs and Devis) can be seen in the yagya fire.
For those in the United Kingdom, you can experience the transformative power of a Vedic yagya at the Yogashram in Wales, where Dhyan Foundation sadhaks have built an authentic Vedic fire altar. Daily yagyas are performed here with proper chants and pure ingredients. The effects are visible, with images capturing the manifestations of deities in the yagya fire.
The sadhaks at the ashram also care for authentic Brahmin cows and bulls, conducting gau puja ceremonies as part of their spiritual practice.
Additionally, Dhyan Foundation conducts free weekly classes on mantra chanting and Sanatan Kriya meditation in London. Regular Sanatan Kriya Yoga sessions are held every Monday evening from 6:30–8:00 pm at King’s College London, Dharmic Prayer Space, New Hunt’s House, Guy’s Campus.
On 13 July 2025, Dr Mohan Yadav, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, visited the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi as part of the Guru Purnima celebrations.
He was received by Swami Brahmaviharidas, Head of the Mandir, who provided an overview of the Mandir’s history, architecture and purpose. The visit took place during a significant spiritual period for the BAPS community, with devotees from around the world gathering to honour their spiritual guide.
During his tour, Dr Yadav explored an exhibition highlighting the role and significance of a true Guru. According to organisers, he expressed appreciation for the values presented and reflected on the importance of selfless service to society.
The Chief Minister offered prayers at the Mandir’s shrines and was particularly moved by the presence of sacred soil from Jabalpur – the birthplace of His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj, spiritual leader and creator of the BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi.
Commenting on the experience, Dr Yadav described the Mandir as a global symbol of spiritual harmony, cultural unity and timeless values.
The BAPS Hindu Mandir, which opened earlier this year, has been noted for its intricate design and its role in promoting interfaith dialogue and cultural understanding in the UAE. The visit by Dr Yadav marks the latest in a series of high-profile delegations to the Mandir since its inauguration.
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Heehs’s biography is grounded in extensive archival research across France, England, India and Israel
My friend and colleague, the American historian Peter Heehs, who has lived in Pondicherry, India, for decades, recently published a compelling new biography, The Mother: A Life of Sri Aurobindo’s Collaborator (2025). Heehs previously authored The Lives of Sri Aurobindo (2008), which remains one of the most balanced and scholarly accounts of Aurobindo’s life.
According to Heehs, most previous biographies of the Mother were written for devotees and relied on secondary sources, often presenting her as a divine incarnation without critical engagement. “Such biographies are fine for those who see the Mother as a divine being,” Heehs said, “but they can be off-putting for readers who simply want to understand her life – as an artist, writer, spiritual teacher, and founder of the Ashram and Auroville.”
Heehs’s biography is grounded in extensive archival research across France, England, India and Israel, along with digital collections of historical newspapers and journals. He examined all of her published works in both French and English, even uncovering essays written under a pseudonym that had not been seen since 1905. He traces her early life within the vibrant world of Belle Époque Paris (1871–1914), where she moved in artistic and esoteric circles.
Heehs describes two principal approaches to biographyAMG
Born in 1878 into a moderately wealthy Sephardic Jewish family – her father was Turkish-Egyptian, her mother Egyptian-Jewish – Mirra Alfassa grew up in an intellectually rich and cosmopolitan environment. Tutored at home, she later studied painting at the prestigious Académie Julian and exhibited at the Paris Salon. Her first husband, Henri Morisset, was a painter of the Intimist school, more traditional than contemporaries like Henri Matisse, Édouard Vuillard and Pierre Bonnard. Though he never gained their level of fame, he moved in similar artistic circles, and Mirra herself knew and associated with figures like Auguste Rodin.
At the same time, she was deeply engaged in the French occult revival, serving as managing editor of the Revue Cosmique, an esoteric journal. Her spiritual journey intensified when she encountered the Bhagavad Gita under the guidance of Indian lecturer G N Chakravarty and later engaged with eastern spiritual teachers such as Inayat Khan and ‘Abdu’l-Bahá.
In 1910, her second husband, Paul Richard, travelled to Pondicherry and met Sri Aurobindo. In 1914, Mirra joined him in India, and together with Aurobindo, they launched the monthly review Arya, which published most of Aurobindo’s major writings. The First World War forced their return to France, followed by a sojourn in Japan. They returned to Pondicherry in 1920, after which Paul Richard departed. Mirra remained and became Aurobindo’s closest spiritual collaborator.
Heehs describes two principal approaches to biography. The first – the contingent approach – follows the subject’s life chronologically, attending closely to verifiable facts. The second – the teleological approach – interprets the subject’s life as an inevitable progression towards a destined goal. “I took the contingent approach when dealing with the Mother’s early life,” Heehs explained, “and continued to do so even after Sri Aurobindo declared her to be an incarnation of the divine Shakti. As a historian, my role is not to make theological pronouncements but to present the facts of her outer and inner life, insofar as she spoke about them.”
When asked about the Mother’s lasting contributions, Heehs emphasised: “She established the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, founded its school – the Sri Aurobindo International Centre of Education – and launched the international utopian city of Auroville. At the same time, she oversaw both the inner and outer lives of the ashram’s members.”
Aurobindo Ackroyd Ghosh – the polymath Indian philosopher, freedom fighter and revolutionary yogi – was educated in England at St Paul’s School and King’s College, Cambridge, where he was trained in the Classics. Long before the term “Asian century” became popular, Aurobindo had already envisioned Asia’s re-emergence on the world stage. Today, countless volumes have been written about his extraordinary life and complex philosophical legacy.
Although it may sound like a modern geopolitical thesis, Aurobindo proclaimed in 1918: “Asia is once more rising; she is throwing off the torpor of centuries. She is recovering the pride of her past and the faith in her future... It is through the recovery of the deeper self of Asia that the world will find its balance.”
His collaborator, Mirra Alfassa, widely known as the Mother, dedicated her life to actualising this prophetic vision.
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The festival was warmly received by recipients and appreciated by local residents
Madhavipriyadas Swami of SGVP Holistic Hospital in Ahmedabad led a mango distribution drive in 2025, providing free mangoes to poor and needy families as part of the SGVP Mango Festival.
The event was held at the SGVP campus and aimed to support underprivileged communities by distributing fresh seasonal fruit during the summer. Thousands of mangoes were handed out to individuals from economically weaker backgrounds.
Thousands of mangoes were handed out to individuals from economically weaker backgroundsSGVP
Swami Madhavipriyadas personally oversaw the initiative, highlighting the hospital’s continued commitment to community welfare and seva (service). Volunteers and staff members of the hospital participated in the event, ensuring the distribution was well-organised and reached the intended beneficiaries.
With the support of its spiritual and community leadersSGVP
The mango distribution is one of SGVP’s ongoing efforts to uplift disadvantaged sections of society by offering food, healthcare, and support. Organisers said the gesture was not only about providing fruit but also about spreading kindness and compassion.
The festival was warmly received by recipients and appreciated by local residents. SGVP plans to continue similar charitable activities in future, with the support of its spiritual and community leaders.
Parmarth Niketan will mark the 25th sanyas anniversary of Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji on 11 June, honouring her quarter-century of spiritual service and dedication since she took monastic vows in 2000.
The ceremony will be held on the sacred Shri Rama Katha stage at Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh and will feature blessings from several prominent spiritual leaders. Among those attending are Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, Pujya Swami Ramdevji, mahamandaleshwars Rajendra Dasji, Ravindra Puriji and Harichetnanandji, as well as Pujya Sadhvi Ritambharaji, Pujya Acharya Balkrishanji, Dr Chinmaya Pandyaji and others.
Parmarth Niketan will mark the 25th sanyas anniversary of Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati SaraswatijiParmarth Niketan
Sadhviji, a renowned spiritual teacher and author, came to India in 1996 and embraced the path of sanyas just four years later. She has since become a global advocate for interfaith dialogue, environmental protection and women’s empowerment.
Those unable to attend in person can join the celebration via livestream from 11.30 am IST on the official YouTube channels @ParmarthNiketan and @Sadhviji.
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The event served not only as a religious gathering but as a communal space where people of all ages could connect
The Gurjar Hindu Union has concluded a hugely successful week-long Shrimad Bhagwat Katha at its Apple Tree Centre temple in Crawley, West Sussex, drawing around 14,000 attendees across seven days.
Held from Friday 24 May to Friday 31 May 2025, the spiritual event featured daily discourses by the esteemed Pujya Bhaishri Rameshbhai, attracting approximately 2,000 devotees each day. His captivating delivery and deep spiritual insight resonated strongly with attendees, creating an atmosphere of devotion and reflection.
His captivating delivery and deep spiritual insight resonated strongly with attendeesCrawley Hindu
A key focus of this year’s Katha was on promoting holistic health, wellbeing, and social connection. Using the teachings of the Bhagwat Purana, Pujya Bhaishri Rameshbhai emphasised the importance of inner peace, healthy lifestyles, and building stronger community bonds. In doing so, the Katha also sought to address the growing issue of loneliness within society.
The event served not only as a religious gathering but as a communal space where people of all ages could connect, support each other, and find spiritual rejuvenation. Many described the experience as deeply moving and transformative.
creating an atmosphere of devotion and reflection.Crawley Hindu
A spokesperson for the Gurjar Hindu Union said: “The sheer number of attendees each day is a testament to the spiritual hunger within our community and the profound impact of Pujya Bhaishri Rameshbhai’s discourse. We are proud of how this event supported health, wellbeing, and social cohesion.”
The Union expressed sincere thanks to Pujya Bhaishri, the volunteers, and all attendees for their contributions to this uplifting and unifying occasion.