Using the ancient technology of Vedic Yagyas
to solve modern day problems.
Greetings Yagya Friends,

In this newsletter you'll find photos from the three day series of yagyas that we performed in Varanasi as a part of our Ancestor Yagyas in September.

We begin with a day for Shiva and Shakti because Varanasi is known as their city. The next day, we perform the ancient ancestor ritual on the banks of the Ganges. The final day we perform a special yagya for Ganga, the goddess of the river. This is performed as the Sun is rising and is especially beautiful.

A big "thank you" to everyone who participated. This is one of our most powerful and meaningful yagyas. It is your support that makes these beautiful yagyas possible.

Best regards,
Ben Collins
We begin with a day-long yagya, first for Shiva and then for Parvati (shakti).
In Rudra Abishekam the offerings are primarily liquid like milk, curd, sandalwood, etc. After the first round of offerings (above) the lingam is dressed and decorated in preparation for the second round (below) for Shakti.
After the Rudra Abishekam is completed, the priests change into red dhotis for the shakti yagya.
The 700 verse Saptashati, also known as Chandi Path, is recited during these offerings.
The last portion of the day is the vedic fire ritual called havan. Mantras are repeated while offerings are made into the fire that is the core of all vedic yagyas.
The next day, the pundits assembled on the banks of the Ganges in Varanasi to perform the ancestor ritual. This is a unique yagya that requires special training to perform properly.
In the Mahabharata there was a great warrior by the name of Karna whose mother was a young princess and father was Surya, the Sun. Soon after his birth he was given away for others to raise. As he grew up, he was renowned for his ethical nature. He always lived up to the requirements of natural law (dharma).
After he died his soul ascended to heaven where he was warmly welcomed. But he was only offered gold and jewels to eat. Inquiring why, he was told that during his life on earth he gave gifts of gold and jewels, but never made any offerings for the well-being of his ancestors. 
After some consideration, he was allowed to return to earth to conduct the necessary rituals. The time during which he did so is now known as Pitru Paksha, a time during which all ancestors are honored notably with offerings of food.
On the last day, our pundits get up extra early and perform a yagya for Ganga, the goddess of the river. This yagya is very cooling and soothing after the intensity of the previous days of yagyas.
As the Sun rises there is a beautiful sense of peace and a deep connection to the vedic tradition which has been performing these rituals in Varanasi for literally thousands of years.
And that concludes this yagya program!