Yajna

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In Hinduism, Yajna (Devanagari यज्ञ IAST ; also anglicized as Yagna, Yaga or Yagya) is a ritual of sacrifice (Monier-Williams gives the meanings "worship, prayer, praise; offering, oblation, sacrifice") derived from the practice of Vedic times. It is performed to please the Devas, or sometimes the Supreme Spirit Brahman. An essential element is the sacrificial fire (the divine Agni) into which oblations are poured, as everything that is offered in the divine Agni is believed to reach the Devas.

A yajna is typically performed by a hotar, with a number of additional priests playing a supporting role, chanting Vedic verses. Often there will be a fire in the centre of the stage and items are offered into the fire. Among the items offered as oblations (Aahuti) in the Yajna include many coconuts, large quantities of ghee, sandalwood shavings and even quantities of clothing. The time for which a yajna lasts depends on the type of yajna performed, some can last a few hours, some a few days and some even last over years with priests continuously offering sacred items to god accompanied with sacred verses. Yajna is performed typically with a large number of people in attendance. Yajna, where milk products (ghee or yogurt), fruits, flowers, cloth, and money are offered, is also termed homa or havan.

A typical Hindu marriage essentially consists of a yajna, because the fire deity Agni is supposed to be the witness of all pious marriages. Brahmins and certain other castes receive a yajnopavita at their upanayana. The yajnopavita symbolizes the right of the individual to carry out yagnas or homams. The mode of temple worship is termed agamic, while communication to divinity through the fire god, Agni, is considered Vedic. Temples of today are generally a combination of both Vedic and Agamic rituals. The sacrifical division of Shastra (Hindu scripture) is the Karma-Kanda portion of the Vedas which describe the most holiest sacrifices.

The Nambudiri Brahmins of Kerala are the most famous Shrauta Brahmins who maintain these ancient rituals.

Pancha Mahayajnas

Hindu tradition has the Pancha Mahayajnas ("Five Great Yajnas", Taittiriya Aranyaka 2.10) namely:

• Devayajna- consists of offering ahutis to devas
• Pitruyajna- consists of offering libations to ancestors or pitrus
• Bhutayajna- consists of offering bali or foodstuffs to all creatures
• Manushyayajna- consists of feeding guests
• Brahmayajna- consists of chanting Vedas, namely Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda

Three kinds of Śrauta Yajnas

Those yajnas explicitly described in the Vedas are known as Śrauta yajnas. In the category of nitya-karma there are 21 sacrifices, included in the forty saṃskāras, which are required to be performed at least once in a lifetime of a Dvija. These are divided into groups of seven - paaka-yajnas, havir-yajnas, and soma-yajnas.

Pakayajnas

Pakayajnas are minor sacrifices and are performed at home. On every Prathama (first day of the lunar fortnight), a pakayajna and a haviryajna have to be performed in the grhyagni and shrautagni respectively. The first is called sthalipaka. "Sthali" is the pot in which rice is cooked and it must be placed on the aupasana fire and the rice called "Charu" cooked in it must be offered in the same fire.

Haviryajnas

The haviryajnas are more elaborate, though not so large in scale as the somayajnas. The haviryajna performed on every Prathama is "darsa-purna-isti", "darsa" meaning the new moon and "purna" the full moon. So the "istis" or sacrifices conducted on the day following the new moon and the full moon (the two Prathamas) are together given the name of darsa-purna-isti. The two rituals are also referred to merely as "isti". This is the prakrti (archetype) for haviryajnas. The first four haviryajnas - adhana, agnihotra, darsa-purna-masa and agrayana - are performed at home. The last three haviryajnas - caturmasya, nirudhapasubandha and sautramani - are performed in a yagasala.

Somayajnas

The name somayajna is derived from the fact that the essence of the Soma plant, said to be relished by the celestials, is made as an oblation. For soma sacrifices "agnistoma" is the prakrti, the word "stoma" also meaning a sacrifice. The Saman is sung. In such soma sacrifices there is the full complement of priests - the hotar, the adhvaryu, the udgatar and the brahma. Each priest is assisted by three others. So in all there are sixteen priests in a soma sacrifice. Agnistoma which is the first of the seven somayajnas is the prakrti (archetype) and the other six are its vikrti. These six are: atyagnistoma, uktya, sodasi, vajapeya, atiratra and aptoryama. Vajapeya is regarded as particularly important. When its yajamana (sacrificer) comes after having had his ritual bath (avabhrtha snana) at the conclusion of the sacrifice, the king himself holds up a white umbrella for him. "Vaja" means rice (food) and "peya" means a drink. As the name suggests, the vajapeya sacrifice is believed to bring in a bountiful crop and plentiful water. The name is appropriate in another sense also. This sacrifice consists of soma-rasa homa, pasu-homa (23 animals) and anna - or vaja-homa. The sacrificer is "bathed" in the rice that is left over. Since the rice is "poured over" him like water the term "vajapeya" is apt.

More Yajnas

Jyotistoma

This yajna is for elevation to higher planets or lokas (e.g. Indraloka.)

Pitrloka Yajna

This yajna is for obtaining the planet of the ancestors.

Panchagni Yajna

This sacrifice is addressed in the Chandogya Upanishad. It enables one to achieve Brahmaloka.

Dravyamayar Yajna

This is where people open ashrams for who are in need of them. The five types of ashrams are: dharma-shala, anna-kshetra, atithi-shala, anaathaalya, visya-pitha.

Tapomaya Yajna

Candrayana and Caturmaasya

These are several vows for conducting life yunder certain rigid rules For example, a devotee does not shave for four months during year (usually in the July-October time period.) Other exmples are that the devotee does not eat certain foods, or does not eat twice a day, or does not leave home (Caturmaasya.)

Svadhyaya Yajna

This sacrifice is engaging in studying of the Shastras (Hindu scripture.)

Prasastekarmani Yajna

This sacrifices means carrying out one's duties. Whatever varna is in one's nature, if one carries out the person is performing this sacrifice.

Harernamanukirtanan Yajna

This sacrifice is hearing or chanting the glories of the Lord.

Vivaha Yajna

This is the marriage ceremony.

See also

• Nambudiri
• Yajurveda
• Ashvamedha
• Yasna
• Ashram
• Śrauta
• Historical Vedic religion
• Pooja
• Homam
• Abhisheka

References

• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dhallapiccola

External links

• The Integrated Science of Yagna by Shriram Sharma Acharya.
• Significance of Athi Rudra Maha Yajnam
• Agnihotra Fireritual

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