December,2004
Yagya Journal
Kanchipuram, South India
Annapurni Devi
This month the yagyas were focused on Annapurna who is the form of Lakshmi who feeds the universe. Honoring her, by bringing abundance to others, is, in the Vedic tradition, one of the best ways to attract those qualities into our own lives. In addition to the full week long Navagraha (9 planet), and 8 day diety yagyas, the month's events featured special pujas for Annapurni on both Fridays during the monthly yagya cycle.
As usual, our staff of highly trained Vedic pundits did a wonderful job with both the pujas and the fire (homam) yagyas. We have experts in all the Vedas and the quality of their work is first rate.
We purchased 65 dhotis to be donated to each of the young priests in training at the largest patasala in Kanchipuram where young Brahmin boys recieve their initial training to become pundits. In addition to the dhoti, a special meal was served. The gifts were very much appreciated by the recipients and we honored and helped preserve the Vedic tradition in a meaningful way. All of the Vedic texts say that a key method of relieving negative karma is to feed and clothe Brahmins.

Particularly because we were honoring the goddess Annapurna, we arranged for a special puja called Kanya Puja for 15 young girls. It is a wonderful event where the girls are honored as a manifestation of the divine feminine with a special puja, followed by gifts of bangles, jewelry, a new silk dress, and of course a special lunch for them and their mothers.