This year for the first time we have added a special ekadasa rundra yagya in Varanasi; the city of Shiva. The yagya was held on Tuesday, Feb 6th. Our priests got up early and at 4 AM crossed the Ganges.
Prior to the yagya they had made 11 large Ganges-clay lingams which were ready and decorated as the sun rose.
Even in India, it gets cold in the morning this time of year, but nothing can beat the sight of the Sun rising over the Ganges. Is there any more beautiful or more timeless view? How many thousands of years has Shiva been honored here?
All set for the pujas to begin.
Each lingam is elaborately decorated with flowers and colored rice flour, with all 11 traditional ingredients prepared and ready.
All the priests begin the pujas with the recitation of the sponsor's names and begin chanting Rudram. The famous ghats of Varanasi are seen in the background on the other bank of the Ganges.
In the north of India, they use a special buffalo horn based instrument called a shringi, to offer the water over the lingam.
The pujas continue with additional offerings; cloth, flowers, yogurt curd, sandal paste, bilva leaves, etc.
After the pujas and abishekam is complete, the homam fire is lit and offerings are made into the fire.
One of the attendees made a beautiful watercolor of the homam.
Yagyas complete!
In the afternoon, after an enjoyable day of yagyas, the group returned to Varanasi.
