K.A.Viswanathan
Today morning, at Sri Sankara Mattham , Matunga ,10 priests stood in a steel drum with chest-deep water, while reciting the Varuna Mantra in praise of Lord Varuna. Two priests , stood beside the drums, chanting the mantras and others repeated the same.
Varuna Japam and Varuna Gayatri Homam (Haven- fire pit ), meant to propitiate the rain God Varuna to bestow copious rain . It is also aimed at appeasing the Almighty to ensure world peace and well being of mankind. They hoped that the ancient vedic ritual would invoke rain god Varuna to pour his blessings on a rain-starved city.
In Mumbai, the ritual was performed earlier in 1987 , 1992 ,2004 and 2010 when the city witnessed similar drought-marred monsoons. The ritual started at 8.00 am and was performed for over two hours. While the priests chanted the mantra, volunteers poured fresh buckets of cold water into the tanks in which the priests sat.
After the Varuna Japam priests performed 10,000 Varuna Gayatri mantra homam which is a very powerful mantra that will bring peace in one family, career, education. Since Varuna is also the lord of the waters, chanting the Varuna Gayatri can ward off any problem which may arise due to water.
Two days prior to this six vedic scholars from Ratnagiri, Pune and Nashik did “Ishti varuna mantra homam” at the Sankara Mutt, for two days. This is another type of homam done by couples to please rain God varuna.
The weather bureau had predicted that monsoon could be delayed in Mumbai. Till monsoon arrive , the weather is likely to remain muggy and hot. Hence the Mutt decided to do this Japam to give relief to the people by praying to rain God said S.Siva Subramanian , Secretary of the Sankara Mattham
In villages and small towns, the ritual is performed in temple tanks, rivers and ponds. In Matunga, the priests had to do with the large drums.
