Significance of Athi Rudram

Our existence in this world is dependent on energy exuded by our

environment and individuals like us. It is increasable and decreasable
with right and bad level of vibrations respectively that are an outcome
of our thoughts, conversations, and actions. In today’s setup, to
preserve and accelerate positive energy for the world at large
(including us), yagnas are being regularly conducted where Vedic
verses are chanted during fire ceremonies. A notable and very
powerful yagnam to achieve this purpose is Athi Rudram Maha
Yagnam.

Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam is known to be a very potent and important

form of worship to the primordial representation of energy in Santhana
Dharma: Lord Shiva. It is widely recognized that Shiva is omnipotent,
omniscient and omnipresent. Thus, any effective and sincere prayer
that recognizes these elements of Lord Shiva will yield the intended
results. This becomes multiplied when 1 rudram is chanted. When
Rudram is chanted to meet the Athi Rudram count, the results become
many folds.

Wikipedia reports that Rudram is important in Vedanta, taken from the

Yajur Veda, where Shiva is equated to the Universal Brahman. It is also
famous for its mention of the Shaivite Panchakshara ("five-syllable")
mantra (Sanskrit: Namaḥ Śivāya), which appears in the text of the
Śatarudrīya in the eighth anuvaka. It is said that Lord Shiva, after
Bhasmasura was killed with the help of Lord Maha Vishnu, performed
the Tandava Dance and then Performed the "Rudra Yagna" for the
Betterment of Humanity, this Place where the Rudra Yagna was
performed is where the "Sri Kalahasti" Temple stands now, this temple
also has one of the 12 Jyothirlingas of Parameshwara.

It is widely recognized that participating, sponsoring, and conducting

Maha Rudram Yagnam is a blessing bestowed by the lord himself.
Having said that, it is also true, one can accelerate to this level of
involvement by yearning to be part of such an event. Rishis have
prescribed Maha Rudram based on the following steps:
1) "One Rudra Ekadasini" (11 times): Chanting Sri Rudram at a
stretch eleven times over with one chapter of Chamakam every
time in between
2) "Laghu Rudram" (11 x 11 = 121 times): Repeating this Rudra
ekadasini eleven times
3) "Maha Rudram" (11x11x11 = 1331 times): Repeating this Laghu
Rudram eleven times
4) "Athi Rudram": Repeating "Maha Rudram" Repeating "Maha
Rudram" eleven times by 121 individuals.
In summary, 121 members chant Sri Rudram eleven times everyday
for eleven days continuously meeting the count of 14641
(11x11x11x11 = 14641 times). The chanting of Maha Rudram is
considered as a yagna when homa kundas(i.e. fire beds) are erected
and used for this purpose.

It is widely believed that such yagnam purifies us of all negative

energies, removes us the effect of our own karma, and protects us of
nature accidents.