Introduction
One of the prominent meanings of "yajna" is "worship". In Vedic tradition, Yajna may range from elaborate ritualistic worship in fire-altar, to simple daily practices of catering to one's surroundings.
As a part of daily practice - five Yajnas are performed in the Vedic tradition: Brahma-Yajna, Pitr-Yajna, Deva-Yajna, Bhuta-Yajna and Manushya-Yajna.
Manu smriti says "Teaching others is the Brahma-Yajna; Tarpana (offering water) is the Pitr-Yajna; Homa (the offering into the fire) is the Deva-Yajna; Bali (offering food to other creatures) is the Bhúta-Yajna; giving hospitality to guests is the Manushya-Yajna." (3.70).
Performing these simple Yajnas daily is a form of worshipping the almighty. This not only increases psychological & social well-being, but also help us advance in our spiritual journey.
Vedic Tribe is happy to bring you this introductory series on these five daily simple Yajnas.
Our intention is to create enough curiosity in you so that you can study Vedic literature and implement them in your day to day life.
All the best
Madhwesh K
Vedic Tribe
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1. Brahma-Yajna
The term "Brahma" indicates - that which is big. In Vedic tradition, Vedas are called Brahma because knowledge is considered bigger than anything we can acquire.
The simple ritual of conducting daily Brahma-Yajna is to recite small portions of Vedic scriptures, to remind ourselves of the vastness of the Vedic knowledge and to keep us on the path of learning always.
Usually, few mantras from all four Vedas, few segments of Vedanta, few shlokas from puranas etc are recited after completing daily Sandhyavandanam.Each time, we learn a new scripture, few slokas or segments from that scripture is added to the daily recitation part of the Brahma-Yajna.
This is one form of worshipping the almighty i.e., via the Vedic knowledge that we acquire.
If you are a beginner in spiritual practice, you may start a daily practice of reciting a few verses of Bhagwad Geeta, Vishnu sahasraNama, Bhagavata Purana and Ishavasya upanishad. While doing so, you may resolve that you are conducting Brahma-Yajna in its simplest form.
This elevates your mind and makes it receptive to spiritual knowledge.
In the next write-up we will discuss "Pitr-Yajna".
Madhwesh K
Vedic Tribe
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2. Pitr-Yajna
The term "Pitr" indicates - ancestors and there is a general stigma regarding our interaction with them because it involves the dead & the departed. It may be noted that this term also indicates deities who communicate between us and our ancestors. Nonetheless, a lay person always limits the interaction with “Pitr” to yearly “shraddha” or “pitr-paksha”
In Vedic tradition however, a simple ritual of offering water (tarpana) is part of daily practice and this is called “Pitr-Yajna”.
According to dharma-shastras, there are many ways of conducting Pitr-Yajna; e.g. procreation, serving daily meals to those who walk the path of vedic knowledge, conducting yearly “shraddha”, performing specific rituals in pirt-paksha…etc. All these are intended towards continuation of the human race, creating social well-being and ensuring respect to the contributions of our ancestors for generations to come. Ultimately this is also one of the forms of worshiping the almighty.
If you are a beginner in spiritual practice, you may start a daily practice of remembering contributions of our ancestors and weekly or monthly practice of feeding the needy. While doing so, you may resolve that you are conducting Pitr-Yajna in its simplest form.
In the next write-up we will discuss "Deva-Yajna".
Madhwesh K
Vedic Tribe
–
3. Deva-Yajna
The term “Deva” indicates playfulness, illumination…etc. In Vedic tradition, the whole cosmos is a playful activity of devas and we progress in our spiritual journey under light of their knowledge. Every Rig-veda mantra is dedicated to a specific “deva” and there are 33 such major deities. Out of them three are identified for the daily Deva-Yajna: Surya, Agni & Prajapati.
In Deva-Yajna, “ahuti” (oblation) is offered to the said three devas via physical fire and their illuminative knowledge, aura, strength…etc are sought. This process is part of an elaborate “agni-karya” (interaction with “agni” during a lifetime) and even today we can find those who have this “deeksha” (resolution called “agni-hotra”).
Vedic tradition mandates a systematic initiation into “agni-karya” and warns of counter-productive implications in case of lapses. Hence, only those who are initiated follow agni-karya and hence the practice is lost among lay people.
Nonetheless, due to simplification by learned scholars these practices are invariably present in daily practices of lay people: e.g. offering oil to the lamps in temple, offering sesame seeds in fire to “shani-deva”, conducting homa like “gana-homa”…etc
If you are a beginner in spiritual practice, you may start by offering oil to lamps in temples daily and also conducting homa at home on auspicious days. While doing so, you may resolve that you are conducting Deva-Yajna in its simplest form. This enables you to absorb the qualities of devas and progress both in your external & internal journey.
In the next write-up we will discuss "Bhuta-Yajna".
Madhwesh K
Vedic Tribe
–
4. Bhoota-Yajna
The term “bhoota” indicates “being” (non-living beings like pancha-maha-bhootas and living beings like sentients). Sentient beings around us are further classified into “sthira” (eg. plants) and “chara” (eg. animals).
Offering food..etc to all the sentient beings is part of a larger duty under dharma-shastras. A specific duty of offering a part of our food to other sentient beings is also there in dharma shastras and this specific duty is called “bhoota-yajna”.
In Vedic tradition, before consuming the food, three small portions of it are separated and kept beside the plate / leaf (traditionally it is called “parishechana”). This is not offered in fire but is later directly fed to animals. Since this offer is directly from our plate, it helps us develop a sense of belongingness with all other living creatures. This is the “Bhoota-Yajna” which is conducted on a daily basis.
If you are a beginner in spiritual practice, you may start by sharing a small part of your food to other animals (since cooked food is unnatural for most of the animals, it is preferred you keep this to a minimum). Also, you may develop a habit of offering bird-seeds, cow-grass…etc. While doing so, you may resolve that you are conducting Bhoota-Yajna in its simplest form.
In the next write-up we will discuss "Manushya-Yajna".
Madhwesh K
Vedic Tribe
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5. Manushya-yajna
The term “Manushya” indicates - descendant of “Manu” i.e. the one incharge of the current manvantara “Vaivaswatha Manu”. It also indicates - those creatures which are driven by “manas” (mind made of logic & reasoning). All other creatures on this planet are driven by “instinct” and not by “logic & reasoning”. On the other hand, humans are largely driven by “logic & reasoning” and to a limited extent by “instinct”.
In Bhuta-Yajna, we serve other creatures and in Manushya-Yajna we serve fellow human beings.
In Vedic tradition, serving the guests is the higher form of Manushya-Yajna. Guest is classified into “athihi” (the one who visits without invitation) and “abhyagatha” (the one who visits with invitation). Serving those who visit without invitation is considered the highest form of Manushya-Yajna. In Vedic tradition, the story of Nachiketa (in Katha-Upanishad) highlights the importance of serving “athithi” and warns of consequences in lapse.
If you are a beginner in spiritual practice, you may invite the needy on a weekly basis and serve food & other essentials as per your ability. While doing so, you may resolve that you are conducting Manushya-Yajna in its simplest form.
Vedic Tribe is happy to have brought you this introductory series on five daily simple Yajnas.
Our intention is to create enough curiosity in you so that you can study Vedic literature and implement them in your day to day life.
All the best
Madhwesh K
Vedic Tribe
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