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Through the infinite grace of the Lord, I get the opportunity to study many different scriptural texts. At one time while reading the Shiva Mahapuran. I was surprised and wonderstruck when I read about out how doing namaskar (bowing down) with humility is one type of yajna. The Shiva Purana says
नमस्कारात्मयज्ञेन तुष्टाः स्युः सर्वदेवताः।
यथायोग्यं स्वात्मयज्ञं नमस्कारं प्रकल्पयेत्।।
This is such a simple and beautiful thing. Our Rishi's have showered their blessings upon us, by teaching way an easy way to gain punya (subtle form of merit) and increase prestige, and thus expanding the path of our progress.
In many different places in our scriptures, we find the greatness of namaskara or pranam being extolled. Lord Manu has said :-
अभिवादनशीलस्य नित्यं वृद्धोपसेविनः।
चत्वारि तस्य वर्धन्ते आयुर्विद्या-यशोबलं।।
These four, namely the life-span, knowledge, fame and power, of those who do pranam to their elders and serve them always, keeps on increasing. In the Bhagavad Gita also, amongst the disciplines required for gaining knowledge from the Guru, pranam is pointed out as a necessity - तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया।
When we do our daily pujas or our naimittika karma ( rituals to be done occasionally), then the scriptural injunction is that we should remember all revered beings, and only then begin. At the end of the puja also, it is only after a full pranam (shashtanga namaskara) to the Lord that the puja is considered complete. When we do pranam on seeing father, mother, Guru, devatas, holy places, etc our humility and feeling of reverence and respect is expressed.
Since no external material is required for this namaskar yajna it is very simple. However it's result is very big. In this context, I remember the the behaviour of of King Yudhisthira, who was always committed to dharma. At the commencement of the Mahabharata war after the teaching of the Gita, when Arjuna became ready to fight the war, Yudhisthira came there and stepped down from his chariot. He kept his armour and weapons in the chariot and walked alone, by foot towards the enemy army. Everybody was shocked. Nobody could understand what was the reason behind his action. The four brothers ran after him. Lord Krishna could understand what was happening. Dharmraja first went up to Bhisma pitamaha, and with folded hands said, 'Grandfather, I, your grandson have come here to take your permission to fight this war with you. I seek your blessings for victory' and bending down, holding the feet of Bhismaacharya, he did pranam. Bhishma was overwhelmed with love. He lifted his hand in a gesture of blessing for victory. After that Dharmaraja also went to Dronacharya, his Guru for warfare, and to his uncle Shalya, and did pranam to them and asked for their blessings for victory.
The scripture commands us to give blessings to those who do pranam. It is surprising that Yuddhishtira obtained the blessings for victory from three generals of the Kaurava army. Because of his ego, Duryodhana was denied of these blessings. If Duryodhana had offered pranam to his elder brother Dharmaraja, then Dharmaraja would also have had to give blessings for victory to Duryodhana. Then perhaps the course of the war would have been different.
Namaskar yajna is very simple yet our ego does not allow us to bend down before others and because of this we are denied of a great benefit. In the Bhagavata Prahlada talks about the ninefold bhakti. In that 6 types of of praise of bhakti is there. Everyday the minimum that we can do, is to do pranam to the Lord. Pranam is also called as the ekopachara puja ( worship with just one item). At the end of the Bhagavata, Shri Shukadeva ji asks everybody to do pranam.
प्रणमेत् दण्डवत् भूमौ आश्वचाण्डाल-गो-खरम्।
Seeing the presence of the Lord in all, lying flat on the earth bow down to even a horse, a lovely being, cow, and donkey. (Meaning have reverence for all forms of life, seeing the divinity in them)
Beause of one's limitations, everybody may find it difficult to do pranam bowing their head. Then one can do pranam in one's mind. Sant Tukaram says जो नम्र झाला भूतां तणे कोंडिले अनन्ता।। The Lord is humbled/ controlled (Bhagavan ko vash kar leta hai) by the one who is humble in front of every being. In truth, praise brings everyone under one's control.
Doing pranam to the Lord, one gets practice in doing pranam to mother, father, Guru, and other elders.When the habit of doing pranam to elders in the house is there, automatically humility comes. Disagreements will not be fierce. The elders love for the young ones also keeps ncreasing. Everybody's speech begins to to become sweet and soft. Fights in the house do not become serious and an atmosphere pleasantness and peace is created. Life becomes happier. The atmosphere at home becomes like that of heaven. It would be so good, if in keeping with our culture, we would accept this namaskar yajna in our life and make efforts to progress.
Om Tat Sat
