It is an “EVENT” that has never been undertaken and performed in the recent century's' history of “TELUGU SPEAKING AREAS”; now, the challenge has been undertaken by “SAMATHA LOKSEVA SAMITHI” and it will be a “Record Event”  to get the famous “NAMBOOTHIRIS” here to our "TELUGU SPEAKING AREAS", to perform this Supreme Shroutha Soma Yaga, very near to the banks of river “GODAVARI”. It is also a "Record" in the history of these famous Namboothiri sects, to go out of Kerala State and perform this kind of Supreme Shroutha Soma Yaga.  

 

YAJAMANA  & YAJAMANA PATHNI 

Yajamanan:- Brahmasri. Naduvam Narayanan Somayajipad

Yajamana pathni:- Srimathy. Savithri Pathinadi 

Yajamaanan's Definition, Eligibility and Title: The Yajamaana (master / leader) is the person who actually performs Yaagam. Not all Namboothiris are permitted to perform Yaagam. Only Namboothiris of Aadu class can perform Yaagam. Namboothiris of Eadu, Bhiksha, Picha, Othu, Saanthi, Adukkala, Arangu, Panthi and Kadavu classes have no right to perform it. Namboothiris of Tulu pedigree  may perform Yaagam in their own style and eligibility. The Yajamaanan has to be a male Braahmanan with the following pre-requisites :

(i) He should belong to one of the seven Graamams, namely, Perinchellur, Karikkaad, Sukapuram, Panniyur, Aalathiyur, Perumanam, or Irinjalakuda
(ii)He should be a member of a family with the right to perform Yaagam
(iii)In order to perform Somayaagam, he hould have performed all the prescribed Shodasakriyaas, and should therefore have married and performed a shorter ritual, Aadhaanam, the last of the Shodasakriyaas. For performing Athiraathram, he should already have performed Somayaagam. (iv) In order to perform Somayaagam, his father and elder brothers, if alive, should already have performed the same Yaagam.This condition need not be satisfied for performing Athiraathram.
(v) His wife (Pathni) also should be alive and healthy enough to perform her part in the Yaagam. This refers to all the living wives if there are more than one wife. After performing a Yaagam, the Yajamaanan gets a title. Agnishtomam (the basic Somayaagam) makes him a Somayaaji, and Athiraathram, an Akkithiri. Extra respect to him from others makes him Somayaajipad and Akkithiripad.

THE LIST OF MAIN RITHVIKS:

Rithwiks' Definition, Eligibility and Title: Rithwik is a general term for a priest in Yaagam, apart from the Yajamaanan, and should be well-versed in the three Vedams. They should be Namboothiris having the right to perform Yaagam and fulfill the eligibility conditions (i), (ii) and (iii) of Yajamaanan, listed above. Seventeen Rithwiks of various expertise are needed to perform Yaagam. Adhwaryu, Hotha, Udgaatha  and Brahma are the main Rithwiks with several assistants (also called Rithwiks) for the smooth performance of the Yaagam. The Rithwiks are appointed by the Yajamaana.

ADHWARYU:

 Adhwaryu has to recite Yajurvedam and should be well-versed in it with deep knowledge in Yajurveda Manthrams, Praishams and the Havana Kriya Manthrams. A Praisham from Adhwaryu is a set of orders given to other Rithwiks to perform certain rituals in his absence. He guides the Rithwiks and other assistants in the Yaagam. Adhwaryu has Prathiprasthhaatha, Neshta and Unnetha, all being experts in Yajurvedam, as assistants, though they need not be Yajurvedis. Yajurvedam experts among Rigvedis may also perform each of these duties.

Adhwaryu : Brahmasri.  Kadaloor Sreedas Namboothiri

Prathiprasthatha : Brahmasri.K.N.Vasudevan Namboothiri

Neshta : Brahmasri. Krishnadas .N. Namboothiri

Unnetha : Brahmasri. N. Krishnan Namboothiri

HOTHA:

 Hotha should have expertise in Rigvedam and its traditional chanting styles for Udaatham, Anudaatham, Swaritham, and Pracharyaswaram, which are followed here too. Hotha recites all the Sasthrams with the assistants' support. Hotha's assistants are Maithraavaruna, Achhaavaaka and Graavasthotha, the first two being Rigvedis and the last, a Saamavedi.

Hotha : Brahmasri. Kapra Narayanan Namboothiri

Maithravaruna : Brahmasri. K. Narayanan Namboothiri

Achavaaka : Brahmasri. N. Vasudevan Namboothiri

Gravasthotha : Brahmasri. M.Parameswaran Namboothiri

UDGATHA:

 Udgaatha chants Saamavedam in its traditional musical style, and the Sthuthis such as Subrahmanya ahwaanam. Udgaatha has three Saamavedi assistants, Prasthotha, Prathihaari and Subrahmania. Saamavedam experts among Rigvedis or Yajurvedis may also assume any of these four posts.

Udgatha : Brahmasri. Thottam Krishnan Namboothiri

Prasthotha : Brahmasri. Thottam S.Sivakaran Namboothiri

Prathihari : Brahmasri. Thottam Gadheyan Namboothiri

Subrahmanya : Brahmasri. Thottam K. Sivakaran Namboothiri

BRAHMA:

 Brahma is witness to the entire proceedings and should know Adharvavedam too but the Namboothiri practice is that, Brahman has to be the same Charanam (recension) as that of Yajamaanan. For example, if Yajaamana is a Kousheethaki, then Brahma should also be a Kousheethaki. The only exception is for Saamavedi Yajamaana, then the Brahma has to be either Aswalaayana or Kousheethaki. Brahma's assistants are Braahmanaachhamsi, Aagneedhra and Potha, all Rigvedis.

Brahma : Brahmasri. P. Krishnan Namboothiri

Brahmanachamsi : Brahmasri. N. Narayanan Namboothiri

Agneedhra :  Brahmasri. K.N.Vasudevan Namboothiri

Potha : Brahmasri. P.Subrahmanain Namboothiri, Naduvam Sreehari Namboothiri

SADASYA:

 Sadasya should be an expert in all activities concerning the Yaagam and has the responsibility to ensure that everything is done right. He has no assistant.

Sadasya : Brahmasri. Panthal Jathavedan Namboothiri

Adhwaryu, Hotha, Udgaatha, Brahma and Sadasya are called Mahaa (great) Rithwiks. The Mahaa-Rithwiks, except Sadasya, have three assistants each. Thus, there are seventeen Rithwiks in all, including Sadasya.

YAGA RAKSHAPUSHA:

Smt & Sri. K. Hariharanadha Sarma, Event Manager

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Adhwaryu, Hotha, Udgaatha, Brahma and Sadasya are called Mahaa (great) Rithwiks. The Mahaa-Rithwiks, except Sadasya, have three assistants each. Thus, there are seventeen Rithwiks in all, including Sadasya apart from 30 other paricharakas to perform this ultimate & supreme Somayagam "ATHIRATHRAM".

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