We arrived at Srihari Mahodayas house at 12:30 AM after a long, six-hour trip from

Suttur to Vamanjoor. We were happily welcomed by our host, Srihari Upadhyaya, a young
purohith who we instantly fell in love with. The name of the village we resided in, Vamanjoor,
was derived from two words- homa and uuru (village) due to the many homas being conducted
there. Over time and through cultural integration, the ha became va and resulted in its current
name, Vamanjoor. After arriving, we all had a cup of milk and home grown bananas, with some
apples, and fell asleep quickly. We woke up around 5:30 AM the same day, took bath, and
assembled downstairs. Srihari Mahodaya called us outside for a special navagraha pooja. When
we went outside we saw an Ashwatta tree with nine plants around it, arranged in a 3x3 pattern to
simulate the nine grahas (celestial bodies). Srihari Mahodaya explained to us the significance of
the nine plants and that the oxygen around this specific area was very abundant and pure.
Adjacent to the navagraha plants, there was a Nagavana with a large idol of Naga which we
briefly observed. After Srihari mahodayas father conducted the Pooja for the Ashwatta tree, we
circumambulated the navagraha nine times. Then we went inside for alpaharam (breakfast)
which consisted of pundigatti (rice coconut balls) and bendaikai palya (okra curry). We then
boarded the Tempo Traveler and started to Sri Krishna Udupi Matha, which took around two
hours. Along the way we met up with Umeshanna, Srihari Mahodayas fellow purohith. Shortly
after arriving at Udupi Matha, we had a meeting with the highest and longest serving Swamiji, Sri Vishwesha Teertharu of the Pejavara Matha, popularly known as the Pejavara Swamiji. What
was arranged as a five-minute meeting ended up being a fifteen minutes session with Swamiji.
We, as a group recited the last five stanzas of the Purushottama yoga (Chapter 15 of the
Bhagavad Gita) that we had learnt the previous year. After reciting them, Swamiji asked us a
couple of questions about who we were and why we chose to come to India all the way from
America. Shanthi Aunty broadly explained the focus of our Vidya-Niketanam Group and some of
our students described what we had already learnt from the trip. Next, we went into the Geeta
Mandir, a meditation room with all the shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita and the Vishnu
Sahasranama written on its four walls. The symbols of shankha, chakra, gada, and padma
decorated the ceiling, symbolizing Lord Vishnus conch, weapon, mace, and lotus. Umeshanna
explained to us some of the history behind the Udupi Matha; the Matha itself is not the center of
the entire location, the Anantheswara and Chandramoulishwara temples are closest to the center.
Therefore, the area where the Udupi Matha is located is commonly called the Rajata Peeta
instead of Udupi. We kept walking through Udupi and saw many temples, including the
Anantheswara and Chandramoulishwara temples previously mentioned. Through this, we learnt
about Madhwacharya, the one who founded the original Krishna Matha which was later
expanded to the eight mathas existing in India today. We walked around the place where Krishna
himself allegedly turned towards a devotee. After that, we ate lunch at the matha itself- different
curries with rice and many sweets. We then met with Sri Vishwa Prasanna Tirtha Swamiji,
second in command to Pejavara Swamiji. He runs the Prahlada Gurukula, which provides free
education for orphan boys until seventh grade. In addition to this, Swamiji saves all cows that are
taken to be slaughtered or simply left abandoned on the streets. So far, he has saved around 1000

defective or diseased cows, which costs him upwards of one lack rupees per month. Besides, he
goes on pilgrimages by walk to sacred places along with devotees and conducts brief discourses
and bhajans on the way, with a well planned and disciplined daily schedule. Vishwa Prasanna
Tirtha Swamiji has also been Srihari Mahodayas guru and has taught the three Vedas to him. We
briefly talked with him, took prasadam, and then shopped for some souvenirs for our families
back in America. Finally, we took the two-hour trip back to Srihari Mahodayas house on the
Tempo Traveler and arrived at 4:00 PM. After some rest we went downstairs and had a class/
lecture with Srihari Mahodaya about the significance of the Homa. He lucidly explained in
Kannada as Shanthi Aunty translated into English. In short, Srihari Mahodaya explained that
while everyone wants happiness without sadness, there is always sadness that is accompanied by
happiness. This is called a samsara, a cycle, specifically of happiness and sadness. Once
happiness comes, sadness must follow. Despite this, we should not succumb to this Samsara and
keep a healthy balance between the two emotions. Also, when we are happy, we should share our
happiness with others in the name of God. Our guru also explained matru-pitru-acharya-atithi
devo bhava- mother, father, teacher, and guests are God himself and we should treat them as
God. This concept is very specific- it must go systemically. Mother must be thought of as God
first, then only will the others fall into place. However, if for some reason one of these four `devo
bhavas are not followed, one must repent and perform vratas- difficult tasks to show their regret.
We then were taught about the Homa itself with all this knowledge in mind. There are different
categories of Homa to cure different ailments that we may have. The panchagavya is the
cleansing liquid in which we sprinkle to purify. It consists of cow urine, cow dung, cow milk,
curd, ghee, and ganga water, most of which are products from the cow. Most of all, the belief that
I will be cured or I will be safe in the hands of God must be there. After class, we got ready
for the Maha Sudarshana Homa half saris for the girls and panches for the boys. We boarded
the bus and rode our way five minutes down the road to arrive at a large house. As soon as we
arrived, we heard drums being played and went inside. The homa was being conducted to
inaugurate a new house for the host family. After listening to the opening music, Umeshanna
explained to us the significance of the specific materials used and the mantras that were being
chanted. He said that the Maha Sudarshana Homa is usually done for the welfare and protection
of the people under Lord Vishnus Sudarshana Chakra. The pooja was conducted with all of the
five elements- earth, water, fire, air, and space. The first element, prithvi tattva (earth), is
represented by the mandala that is drawn as a home for the worship of God. Water, or aap tattva,
is kept in a kalasha (container) for God to purify it. The liquid in this kalasha will purify
anything it touches, as God has manifested Himself in it. Tejo tattva (fire) is the Mahasudarshana
agni itself, in which everything is offered to. This fire has been purified by God, and we offer
everything to Lord Vishnu through it. Just as the fire gives movement to anything it touches, this
agni and its smoke will purify each and every person who experiences it.

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Vayo tattva (wind/air) is embodied in the pronunciation of the mantra, which is why the mantra
must be chanted in a very specific way by all of the priests. Lastly, all of what we offer to the fire
is known as akasha tattva, representing space. These five elements form a havana, or an offering
to God through the Mahasudarshana Homa. After this explanation, Umeshanna took us around to
see the Mahasudarshana mandala and described its different parts.

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In the middle of the mandala there is a vrtta surrounded by six triangles representing the six
enemies- kama (lust), krodha (anger), lobha (greed), moha (emotional attachment), mada (pride),
and matsarya (jealousy). Outside the triangles there are 8 petals in a circle, which signify the
eight directions. Combining these two, God will protect you from enemies coming from all
directions. Next, there are 16 more petals around the mandala, characterizing the 16 sanskaras

that one experiences throughout life. Three differently colored rings surround these layersyellow, red, and black. These rings represent the three gunas, yellowsatva-guna, redrajoguna, blacktamo-guna. Finally, the colored boxes symbolize the entrance to the mandala as a
home for God.
After this, Umeshanna recited the two mantras that were to be chanted and explained their
significance as follows
Sudarshana Mantra 1
Om Kleem Krishnaya- Beejakshari- start of every mantra
Govindaya Gopi Jana Vallabhaya- One who is favorable to everyone
Paraaya Paramapurushaya- The Supreme being
Paramathmane- You are the atma which is in each and everything
Parakarma Mantra YantrOwshata Asthra Shasthrani Samhara Samhara - Whoever does
vengeful acts will be defeated by the chakra which is in your hand
Mrithyore Mochaya Mochaya- Please save any death coming towards me
Om Namo Bhagavate Maha Sudarshanaya- We are respecting Him, asking Him, the all
powerful
Deepthre Jwala Pareethaya- Let the chakras shine defeat every one of your enemies
Sarva Digkchobanakaraya Hum Phat ParaBrahmane Jyotishe Nama (Swaha*)- Let all
problems be solved by the Sudarshana chakra
Sudarshana Maha Vishnave Idam Na Mama- All what we are offering is not ours, it is all
yours, we have nothing in this materialistic world, please give protection to everyone

Sudarshana Mantra 2
Om Sahasra Hara Hum Phat (Swaha*)- Let the 1000 dosas (darknesses, evils) be defeated by
the Sudarshana chakra
Sudharshanaya Idam Na Mama- All what we are offering is not ours, it is all yours, we have
nothing in this materialistic world, please give protection to everyone
*All priests gave offering to the fire while chanting Swaha
After watching and listening to the 12 priests chant both mantras 108 times, we took prasadam
and did namaskara to the chief priest, our very own Srihari Mahodaya.

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Next, Umeshanna and Srihari Mahodaya helped us tie the strings that were used in the homa
around our wrists to help protect us from all the evils and enemies that we come across. We then
went downstairs for dinner, which consisted of dosa, rice, curry, laddu, and other sweets on
banana leaves. Our group thanked the host family for the food and wonderful hospitality and
then left back to Srihari Mahodayas house to sleep.