The Yagna Of Mahatma Gandhi

By Swami Chidanand Saraswati
India Heritage Research Foundation, Rishikesh

In August 1997, we celebrated the golden Jubilee of India's Independence, and on January 30 1998, we observed the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. The former was an occasion for somber reflection. We won our Independence, but we lost a beautiful soul, a true Mahan Atma (Great soul). As we revel in the joy of India's freedom, we must not forget the  message of his life.

As we reflect on the greatness of Mahatma Gandhiji's life and the tragedy of his assassination, let us look not only at facts but at meanings. What was the meaning of his life ? What was the message of his death? What does he have to teach the world of today?

We can answer these questions with the world of "Yagna". Yagna was the spirit of his life, including the last, was an oblation to his country, his principles and his faith in God. The theme of his life was truly sacrifice.

Sacrifice for his country 

Mahatma Gandhi could have been a healthy attorney. He could have had a life of relative ease and prosperity. However he was a man devoted to his country and to  her freedom. Through his tireless efforts and his simple piety, he led India to independence. However, in spite of national and international acclaim, he never lost his humility, his dedication and his spirit of sacrifice. Rather the flames of his true Yagna to Bharat Mata seemed to grow until he himself was the poorna ahuti, or final offering.

When I was young, a great saint said to me,

It means that we, as people, always want to be in the center. We always want the focus on ourselves, the recognition for ourselves and the reward for ourselves. We do not actually work or accomplish anything meaningful, but we expend great effort trying to convince all those around us of our inestimable worth. However Gandhiji was different. He did everything. Yet he worked with such piety that he never put himself in the centre. This is a great message of his life: "work, serve with every breath, but remain a simple humble, unattached child of God".

There is a story of a man traveling by train to Porbandar in the same coach as Gandhiji. However the man did not know that the old man in his coach was Mahatma Gandhi. So all night long this man lay down on the seat, occupied the entire seat in the coach, pushed Gandhi, put his feet on him, and left Gandhiji with barely enough room to sit upright. However Gandhi did not fight, or complain. How easy it would have been to proclaim, "I am Mahatma Gandhi. Give me room in the coach", But that is not the spirit of Yagna.

As the train pulled into Porbandar, the man mentioned that he was going to see the famous Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji still remained silent. As Gandhiji descended from the train to the welcoming crowd of thousands, the man fell at his feet, begging for forgiveness. Gandhiji of course, blessed and forgave him, telling him only that he should be more respectful of others, regardless of who they are. This is the spirit of Yagna. This is the spirit of India that we must maintain in our hearts.

Another beautiful example of Gandhiji's humility, his selfless sacrifice for his country is how he celebrated his victory. When India won Independence, when Gandhi was the hero of the country, he could have been in  New Delhi receiving boundless honors and appreciation. However he was not. He was not in New Delhi, nor was in Bombay, nor in Calcutta. He was nowhere that would shower him with love and esteem. Rather he was in East Bengal where Hindus And Muslims were fighting bitterly. 
He was not content to have "fulfilled his mission". If humans were still suffering, then he still had work to do. So while the rest of the country celebrated. Gandhiji continued his tireless work to heal the wound between Hindus and Muslims. This is the spirit of Divinity ... Even when all external circumstances throw you to the center, you remain simple, you remember for whom your Yagna was performed. Gandhiji's Yagna was for his country, not for his own fame.

Sacrifice for the principles of right living:

However, his life was not only a sacrifice for Mother India. It was also a Yagna of morality, of, dharma, of ethics and of truth. How easy it would have been to fight with weapons; how easy to kill the enemy. How easy to carry a gun to protect himself. Yet the flames of Gandhi's Yagna were fuelled by non-violence. Wars throughout history had been won with weapons. Gandhi was devoted to proving that peace could only come through peace. People criticized him vehemently for refusing to take up arms; they claimed he was forfeiting India's fight for freedom. Yet, he simply kept pouring truth, piety, and dharma into the fire of his life's Yagna, and the flames rose in victory. This is the true meaning of Yagna, for Gandhi sacrificed an easy-win (or at least a quick loss) for India by refusing to engage it in armed warfare. He sacrificed his status as a fighter. Yet the truth prevails and he is remembered as one of the greatest leaders- both political and spiritual - that the world had ever known.

Sacrifice to God

Mahatma Gandhi's life was in service to God. His work for his country and his tenaciously held values were part and parcel of this complete sacrifice to the divine. The Gita was his closest companion, and his most trusted guide.
So many people today claim that their lives and their work are "God's". Yet they use this as an excuse to lie, to cheat and even to kill. And at the end it is clear that they merely used God's name in the service of themselves. Yet Gandhiji was pure and his death is the clearest example. Due to his tenaciously held belief in ahimsa and his true surrender to God he refused to employ a bodyguard. Hence, he was gunned down on his way to a prayer meeting. As he breathed his last, there was no sign of fight, no break from his lifelong dedication to non-violence and to the divine. He did not scream, "Who are you ?How dare you ? Somebody help me!!" Rather the only words that escaped from his lips were "Hey Ram Hey Ram" This is the spirit of Yagna"

 So many people come and go in this world. So many people become famous through valiant efforts to "make a name for themselves". Yet how many of these people have really left lasting impressions or have really changed the course of history? Very few. When we depart this Earth, when we cremate our bodies, what is it that remains? It is that which we have given to the world. It is that for which we had sacrificed. It is the love and the peace that our presence brought to those around us. Gandhiji's name will live eternally not only because he brought independence to India. He will be remembered forever and revered forever because of the way he brought peace, because of the message of his life.

When Gandhiji was in South Africa he was traveling by train and the conductor came and rudely told Gandhi to leave.
"But Sir, I have a ticket," Gandhi replied.
 The conductor violently threw him from the train and yelled, "You do not deserve to ride on this train!" Gandhi, however did not raise an arm in his defense. And today, does anyone know the name of the man who threw him from the train? Of course not. But today the name of the station is "Mahatma Gandhi Station" ! That is the spirit of Yagna.

Gandhi would not have wanted to be remembered only in History books. He would not want to be remembered only as the politician who led India to independence . He would want his message to live on; he would want his Yagna to continue burning, to continue bringing light and warmth to all the world. In fact, when someone once asked him for a message, he replied, "My life is my message"

So as we remember this Mahatma this, "great soul" let us take his message to heart . Let us live our lives as a sacrifice to world peace, as a sacrifice to our principles and as a sacrifice to God, then and only then, will our lives truly make a difference.

We make many choices in our lives without ever questioning "why?".