The following inspiring incident has been narrated by Lilapat Sharma, one of the earliest direct disciples of Yugrishi Shriram Sharma Acharya, in his book: Revered Gurudev, Some Touching Reminiscences.
Lilapat Sharma: At the end of the Gayatri yagya, Gurudev (Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya) asked people give up one bad habit and adopt a good one. He called everyone near him and asked each person which bad habit they had renounced and which good habit they had adopted. Hundreds, gave up smoking, drinking, eating non-veg, gambling etc.
I told him, “In all the yagyas (fire-sacrifice), I have attended, the priests recite the mantras but they never ask people to give up their bad habits. This is the first time I am seeing such a thing.”
Gurudev replied, “Son, yagya is only a symbol. Rituals are not everything. The real aim of yagya is inner self-refinement. Those who do not let go of their bad habits but conduct yagyas by chanting mantras verbally, they are misguided and are only fulfilling their ego. The do not get the benefit of performing the yagya.”
