The Five Great Yajna of Vedic Dharma

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As the term “Dharma” is invariably connected and based upon the term ‘Rta’ in Vedic perspective, any practice or performance of Dharma right from ascertaining to implementation must be conducted with the spirit of Rta.

So what exactly is Rta?

The dynamism, the insight, the physical spiritual guiding principles which are the fulcrum of functioning of this Cosmos are realized and understood through Rigorous Ascetical Enquiry by the Rishis. This realization is expressed poetically in Vedas.

This realization and understanding are conceived as Rta. So, Rta could be termed as “Order”, “System”, “Principal”, “Inner Dynamics” etc in a cosmic scale which is beyond human control.

Vedas says the conduct of Human must be harmonious to the spirit of Rta, so not just humans but also the broader nature could thrive and grow. Dharma has to fulfill the need of an ethical basis of that kind of human conduct.  

Rtasya pathi veda apayi sriye manamsi devanso akran,

Dadhano nama maho vacovhirvapurdrsaye venyo vyavah.  (Rigveda 6/44/8) 

On the path of truth and eternal law, the man of knowledge and wisdom is protected, and the noble and the wise control and transform their minds for the beauty and grace of manners and culture. May the great one, kind and loving, bearing the holy name, reveal his divine presence in response to our prayers and protect us through the paths of life. (Translation; Tulsiram Sharma)

Human must be on the path of truth and eternal law (which govern the cosmos in physically and spiritually in a most sublime way). Belief (in God and themselves), kindness (towards fellow humans and broader nature), strive for knowledge; understanding (divinity of things both physical and metaphysical) makes a man noble, wise and graceful. This path has to be harnessed to uplift the man, family, society, state and mankind through the all-round spiritual development.

Any Vedic Samskaras must be seen in these above merit of arguments.

The “Five Great Yajnas” are daily rituals performed by every Vedic. Yajna, a Sanskrit word means “Sacrifice”. A performance of Yajna means achieving/doing something righteous through the specific sacrifice.

The Spirit of Yajna

An analogy with Fire may help. Fire burns and decomposes anything towards their (objects) minutest existence and releases them to the world. In Fire Yajna like Agnihotra (not all Yajnas are fire yajna though) a Vedic put his / her purest intentions in the shape of rice (not broken, fully formed), fruits, ghee (clarified butter), sweets etc to Agni (fire) as sacrifice. As foods being decomposed in blazing heat, the intentions of the Yajnik (doer of Yajna) are thought to be breaking and spreading as a positive result for everyone to enjoy, not just the Yajnik!

This is the spirit of a sacrifice. Results must be dedicated to everyone not just to one self.  Without the spirit, it is just a mechanical repetition.  

How important are Panca Mahayajna (5 great yajnas)?

So what are the Five Great Yajnas?  

In Manusmriti, Sage Manu mentioned;

“Adhyapanam brahmayajnah pitruyagnastu tarpanam,

Homa daivo balirvauto nruyajnahatithipujanam.” (Manusmriti 3/70)

Study and teaching of Vedas is Brahma Yajna, to sacrifice of foods and humility towards father, mother and the likewise (dead or alive) is Pitru  Yajna. Sacrifice of fire is Deva Yajna, gifting foods and sustenance to animals and nature is Bhuta Yajna and to help and work for the welfare of fellow human is (Nru) Manushya Yajna.

1. Brahma Yajna: Sacrifice to Brahman; the Ishwar; the Ultimate Reality. This is to be performed through the study / self-study of Vedas and relevant Shastras. Study of Vedas has three steps, namely;

a) Lecture or self-Study of Vedas  

b) Manana; the reasoning of the subjects in its context and

c) The intuitive understanding or embodiment of God, Nature and Atman.

2. Pitr Yajna:  Sacrifice to parents or parent like persons, to bring comfort and happiness to them. Unlike animals, whose survival instinct is hard coded in their DNA, human babies are the most powerless at wilderness of nature. It is only because of a caring family, a caring society, we could hope to grow and develop our potentials for survival and excellence. In the process, the very fortunate, humans are indebted to their parents and likewise parental figures.

Any decent human being would cherish the opportunity to have a family by repeating the process of their parents and happily serving the “debt” acquired through so much love and affection to the people without whom they would have barely survived.   

3. Deva Yajna: The Fire sacrifice; The Agnihotra, to the God; Ishwar; Brahman. This is done with certain intention in mind to achieve specific goal through specific sacrifices. This requires broader scope of explaining and understanding.

4. Manushya Yajna: Sacrifice to fellow humans; to support them, co-operate them and help them in distress. Families are built upon humans and societies are built upon families. Likewise, the bond between brothers and between family members must be extended to the fellow humans to develop an organic network of support to grow into a healthy, prosperous, harmonious and just society. 

5. Bhuta Yajna: Bhuta means Nature. It’s a sacrifice to Nature and sentient beings other than human, to serve the Mother Nature, which is the physical realm of “Rta” and to which we are a part, take our sustenance. According to Vedas, nature is eternal. Not mere consumables for humans. The Vedic spirituality depends on realizing divinity of God through realizing the divinity of Men and Nature.

We see the very holistic and wholesome practices are inspired by Vedas, the earliest possible scriptures of Human being and possibly earliest divine sources of inspiration to uplift the Human race from their contemporary state.

Krinvanto Vishyamaryam; May the world become Arya.

Namaste

Ayan Chowdhury