Author: Nandadulal Das
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: June 8, 2006
For the past two years, he has been seen performing
puja and chanting mantra in his village hut. Few know about him and his work.
But he is paid in dollars from Thailand, Philippines, and the USA.
Meet Pundit Panchanan Mishra (30) of Betaligaon village in Bhadrak.
Panchanan hails from a Brahmin family where priority is given to Kaulika Bruti
(hereditary profession). While his father provides spiritual comfort by performing
puja, brata and shraddh karma in five villages, Panchanan is busy performing
puja and yagna for the residents of the USA, Thailand, and Philippines.
Educated in Rig-Veda at the Maharshi Ved Vigyan
Viswa Vidya Pith, Noida near Delhi, Mishra became a professional pundit five
years ago. His days start at four in the morning. After a bath he meditates
for an hour and then starts reciting mantra that he learnt at the Vidyapith.
Then he performs puja for his foreign clients.
Panchanan is currently performing the Rudrabhishek Puja for five clients in
Fairfield, US. "I became popular for Rudrabhishek Puja in the USA in
2004. Jenith Thomas, my first jajman (client) came to the Vidyapith to hold
Rudrabhishek Yagna for the peace and prosperity of her family on March 25
and was impressed by my puja. She became a permanent jajman and I am performing
puja two hours a day for her family since then for a monthly retainer of $
61," said Panchanan.
Panchanan entered the Maharshi Ved Vigyan Viswa Vidya Pith in 1987 and studied
30 puja paddhatis (process of worship) and yagna including Shantipath, Rudrabhishek,
Durga Saptasatee Chandipatha, Sree Supta Patha, Kanak Dhara stottoram, Mahalaxmi
Astak, Hanuman Chalisha, Ramrakhya stottoram, Trailoka Bijay Kabacha patha,
Bishnu Sahashra Nama, Aditya hrudata stottoram, Mahamrunjaya Japa, Brusthi
Yagyan, Bagalamukhi Yagna, Laxmi Sashahashra Nama and Nabagraha Puja. We were
taught the process of all these puja and mantra. Besides recitation, the meanings
were also demonstrated by the gurus in the vidyapith, said Panchanan.
Besides Thomas, Panchanan has four clients from the USA who pay him $ 200
a month to cater to their spiritual requirements.
He is also the permanent pundit of Shanti Bhawan in Thailand. "I was
invited to Thailand and was paid Rs 15, 000 excluding air fare for my services",
said Mishra. "Recently I held a puja for 10 days for Zoango of Philippines
in my house to have a good and handsome husband for her," he added.
According to Mishra our ancient mantra, puja
and yagyna are popular in foreign countries as they have a very good effect
on human life. Replying to a question he said mantra are like invisible missiles,
you recite properly the relevant mantra and its distinct sound wave goes and
hits the particular problem area. It is all scientific, he added. Besides
puja for his foreign clients Mishra also assists his father in his jajmani
works in the villages.
