Publication ofShrauta Prayoga- An InitiativeThe Vedashave a very highposition in theeternal heritage ofIndia. The Vedaselucidate the meansfor betterment of lifeand for attainment ofthe ultimate good.The means are theKarmas (actions)prescribed by theVedas and theknowledge impartedby the Vedas. Everyindividual desires toattain the likes andavoid the dislikes.For fulfilling this theVedas started itsKarma Kanda -section dealing withthe Karmas. Startingfrom Agnihotra tillAshvamedha are theKarmas prescribedby the Vedas.Worldly actions,though performedwell, may not befruitful. But theKarmas prescribedby the Vedas,Agnihotra etc, arenot destroyedwithoutgivingitsfruit.HenceheVedascalltheseactionsasSatyamorthetruth.ShastricKarmas are of twokinds - SmarthaKarma, prescribedby the Smritis andShrauta Karma,prescribed by theShruti or the Vedas.The SmarthaKarmas areperformed using onesacred fire. AGrihasta(householder)performingAupasana in theAupasana Agni, theVaishvadeva, theParvana Shraddhaetc which arecollectively calledSaptapaakasamstha Karmas aresome of the SmarthaKarmas. SimilarlyRudra Homa,Chandi Homa,Navagraha Homaetc are also SmarthaKarmas.The ShrautaKarmas areperformed using thethree sacred fires,viz. the Garhapatya,the Ahavaniya andthe Dakshinaagni.Thefollowing are theNitya ShrautaKarmas -* Agnihotra -performed everydayduring the sunriseand sunset.* Pindapitr yagna -performed on thenewmoon day.*DarshapoornamasaYaga - performed onthe day after fullmoon and newmoon.* Navaagrayana Ishti- performed in theAutumn season.* Chaturmasya Yaga- performed once infour months.* NiroodaPashubandha Yaga -performed in therainy season.* Soma Yaga -performed in theSpring Season.The Rishis likeApastamba,Bauddhayana etchave describedelaborately themethod ofperforming all theseKarmas i the workscalled Kalpa Sutras.For elucidating theKalpa Sutras, theprayogakaras havecomposed the workscalled as thePrayogas, for theconvinence of theperformers of theKarmas.TheShastras aver thatthe performance ofthese yagas not onlybestows good on theperformer of theKarmas but bestowson the whole worldpeace, prosperity,good health, goodrains, progeny withgood health &instinct etc.Unfortunately by theinfluence of the dark-age of Kali, theperformance ofShrauta Karmas hasdwindled. In thewholeofIndiathenumberofAgnihotriscanbefingered.Presently, thepalm leafmanuscripts are theonly resourceavailable to theperformers forreference, posingimpediment for thepeople who arewilling to perform theKarmas andstudents who arewilling to learn it.The commoners donot have evenawareness of them.The students willingto learn and peoplewilling to perform theShrauta Karmas arebecoming lesser andlesser. Thepreciousheritageofthisknowledgeisinthevergeofextinction.Our organization,perceiving thehapless state,desirous ofrejuvenating theVedic heritage bymaking thisknowledgeaccessible even to acommoner, hastaken up the task ofpublishing a seriesof books on ShrutaPrayogafor the firsttime in thehistory. In the series ofbooks that we haveplanned to publish, thefirst book will containthe Shrauta Prayogabased on the ShrautaSutra of Apastamba,with completedescription of the* Agnyadhana*DarshapoornamasaYaga* Navaagrayana Ishti* Chaturmasya Yaga* NiroodaPashubandha Yaga* Soma YagaApart frompublication, ourorganization intoimparting knowledgeof Sharauta Karmasand helping theinterested peopleperformthesame.This initiative isin need of enormousfinancial assistanceand can definitelysee the light of theday with the goodwillcontributions bypeople like you. So,by contributing forthis noble causemay all be blessedby Yajneshwara, theVedapurusha, thepersonification of theVedas.M SAshwattanarayanaAvadhani,PresidentShruthi ShankaraSamskritaSamshodhanaPratishtanaMatturShimoga - 577203Phone - 08182-237728Mobile -9448933121Note : The DD may be drawnin the favour of "ShruthiShankara SamskritaSamshodhana Pratishtana