The Philosophy behind Yajna –

äüapR[< äü hiväRüa¶aE äü[a ÷tm!,

äüEv ten gNtVy< äükmRsmaixna. É. gI. 4-24.
Brahmärpaëaà brahma havi
rbrahmägnau brahmaëä hutam |
Brahmaiva tena gantavyaà brahmakarmasamädhinä ||
Bha. Gé. 4-24||

“BRAHMAN is the oblation; BRAHMAN is the

clarified butter, etc., constituting the offerings; by
BRAHMAN is the oblation poured into the fire of
BRAHMAN; BRAHMAN verily shall be reached by
him who always sees BRAHMAN in all actions”.
Yajna etymology
The Sanskrit word ‘Yajña’ etymologically means;
yj devpUjas¼itkr[dane;u
‘to worship’
‘to unite or connect’
‘to do charity unconditionally in right manner to the
deserved’
Three types of Yajna from Vedic sources
 Shrauta (prescribed in Vedas)
 Smarta (prescribed in Smritis) and
 Tantra-Agama (prescribed in Tantra and
Agamas).
Three types of Yajna based on Sattva
Rajas and Tamas
A)lakai'œ]iÉyR}ae
ivix†òae y #Jyte,
yòVymeveit mn>
smaxay s saiÅvk>. É gI 17-11.
aphaläkäìkñibhiryajïo
vidhidåñöo ya ijyate |
yañöavyameveti manaù
samädhäya sa sättvikaù || bha gé 17-11||

SATTWIC
The Yajna performed,
without desire for fruit
enjoined by ordinance and
with a firm faith that sacrifice is a duty, is or 'pure.’

AiÉsNxay tu )l<
dMÉawRmip cEv yt!,
#Jyte Értïeó
t< y}< iviÏ rajsm!. É gI 17-12.
abhisandhäya tu phalaà
dambhärthamapi caiva yat |
ijyate bharataçreñöha
taà yajïaà viddhi räjasam || bha gé 17-12||

RAJASIC YAJNA
The Yajna performed
seeking only the fruit
for ostentation

ivixhInms&òaÚ<
mÙhInmdi][m!,
ïÏaivriht< y}<
tams< pirc]te. É gI 17-13.
vidhihénamasåñöännaà
mantrahénamadakñiëam |
çraddhävirahitaà yajïaà
tämasaà paricakñate || bha gé 17-13||

TAMASIC
The Yajna performed which is
contrary to the ordinances
no food is distributed
devoid of Mantras and Dakshina
devoid of faith.
Five Vedic Yajnas (Yajurveda Taittiriya
Aranyaka)
 Deva Yajna – offerings to Devatas (Cosmic
energy sources)
 Pitr Yajna – offerings to forefathers
 Bhuta Yajna – looking after plants, birds and
animals
 Manushya Yajna – looking after human beings,
universal brotherhood
 Brahma Yajna – study of Vedas and scriptures
Siddhis are acquired from 5 different sources;
jNmaE;ixmÙtp>smaixja> isÏy>. p yae sU 4-1.
janmauñadhimantratapaùsamädhijäù siddhayaù || pa yo
sü 4-1||
1) Birth
2) Special herbs,
3) Mantra,
4) Tapas and
5) Samadhi
Yajna attitude for Sanyasi
Sannyasi’s attitude while performing Yajna

tSyEv< ivÊ;ae y}SyaTma yjman> ïÏa pÆI

zrIrimXmmurae veidlaeRmain bihRveRd> izoa
ùdy< yUp> kam AaJym! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mahanarayana Upanishat Section 80
 Atma, the witness of all sensory actions is said to
be Yajamana (owner of performance)
 Shraddha, spiritual aspiration is considered as
wife
 Shariram, physical body is fuel
 Uras etc. (different organs in the body), are the
stage or ground for performing Yajna
 Loma, hairs on the body are flame sparkles
Realm of existence
 Adhibhautika (consideration of living being all
around and nature),
 Adhidaivika (considering natural forces/ cosmic
conscious centres) and
 Adhyaatmika (cantered at one-self including
conscious, unconscious and subconscious levels).
 Acharya SAYANA gave Yajna (fire ceremony)
based interpretation i.e. Adhiyajnika.
four essential factors of Yajna

(1) The deity invoked to whom the oblations are offered

(2) The fire in which the offerings are poured

(3) The materials that constitute the offerings and

(4) The individual who is performing the Yajna.

12 types of Yagas in the Bhagavadgita
1. äüy} – Brahma Yajïa = Realizing the doer, the
action, the instrument and object ect., in every
action as Brahma.
2. ÉagvdpR[ép y} - Bhägavadarpaëarupa Yajïa =
assuming all actions and objects only God’s and
only for Him).
3. AiÉÚtaêp y} - Abhinnatärüpa Yajïa = having total
disinclination for the unreal, merger in God viz.,
having nono independent existence of one’s own
apart from God.
4. ktRVy kmRêp y} - Kartavya Karmarüpä Yajïa =
performance of all actions for the welfare of
others.
5. s<ymêp y} - Saàyamarüpa Yajïä = In loneliness
not to allow the senses to incline mentally towards
the sensual objects.
6. iv;y- hvnêp y} - Viñaya- Havanarü Yajïä = in day
to day life today life to keep the senses free from
attachment and aversion even when the senses
come in contact with senses-objects.
7. smaixêp y} - Samädhirüpa Yajïa = By restraining
all the functions of the senses and breath to get
established in trance kindled by knowledge.
8. ÔVy y} - Dravya Yajïa = Utilization of all
materials for the service of others in a selfless
spirit.
9. tpaey} – Tapo Yajïa = Facing difficulties happily
while descharging one’s duty.
10. yaegy} - Yoga Yajïa = To remain equanimous in
success nan failure, in favourable and unfavourable
circumstances.
11. SvaXyayêp }any} - Svädhyäyarüpa Jïäna Yajïa =
study of the sacred scriptures and chanting the
Lord’s holy names for the good of others.
12. àa[ayamêp y} - Präëäyämarüpa Yajïa = Control of
breaths by inhalation,
Importance of Yajna
y}dantp>kmR n TyaJy< kayRmev tt!,
y}ae dan< tpíEv pavnain mnIi;[am!. É. gI. 18-5.
Yajïadänatapaùkarma na tyäjyaà käryameva tat |
Yajïo dänaà tapaçcaiva pävanäni manéñiëäm || bha. gé.
18-5||
“Acts of sacrifice, charity and austerity should not be

abandoned, but should be performed; worship, charity,

and also austerity, are the purifiers of even the 'wise'”.

Uniqueness of Yajna Karma

y}awaRTkmR[ae=NyÇ laekae=y< kmRbNxn>,

tdw¡ kmR kaENtey mu´s¼> smacr. É. gI. 3-9.
Yajïärthätkarmaëo'nyatra loko'yaà karmabandhanaù |
Tadarthaà karma kaunteya muktasaìgaù samäcara ||
bha. gé. 3-9||
“The World is bound by action other than those

performed 'for the sake of sacrifice'; do thou,

therefore, O son of Kunti, perform action of that

sake (for YAJNA ) alone, free from all

attachments”.
Cycle of creation

Maintenance by Yajna

AÚaÑviNt ÉUtain pjRNyadÚsMÉv>,

y}aÑvit pjRNyae y}> kmRsmuÑv>. É. gI. 3-14.
kmR äüaeÑv< iviÏ äüa]rsmuÑvm!,
tSmaTsvRgt< äü inTy< y}e àitiótm!. É. gI. 3-15.
Annädbhavanti bhütäni parjanyädannasambhavaù |
Yajïädbhavati parjanyo yajïaù karmasamudbhavaù ||
bha.Gé. 3-14||
Karma brahmodbhavaà viddhi
brahmäkñarasamudbhavam |
Tasmätsarvagataà brahma
nityaà yajïe pratiñöhitam || bha.Gé. 3-15||
From food come for the beings; through rain food is

produced; from sacrifice arises rain, and sacrifice is

born of action. Know you that action comes from

BRAHMA (the creator) and BRAHMA come from the

Imperishable. Therefore, the all- pervading BRAHMAN

(God-principle) ever rests in sacrifice.

Types of Agni for Yajna Performances

1. GARHAPATYA – symbolizes the GRIHAPATHI or
the householder and the oblations to this helps him to
 conquer expanded PRITHVI LOKA. Since earth is
circular, the fire pit used for doing the offering is also
circular.
2. DAKSHINA – the oblations to this AGNI helps the
householder to conquer DYU-LOKA, the AKASHA .
Hence it appears semicircular to view; the fire pit
used for the rituals is semicircular in shape.
3. AHAVANIYA – the oblations to this Agni helps to
conquer the SWAR-LOKA. Here this AGNI is used
for invoking various DEVAS. Since the shape of the
heaven is perceived as square (perfectly symmetrical)
the square or rectangular fire pits are used for this
rituals.
The seven flames of Agni according Mundaka
Upanishat
kalI kralI c mnaejva c
sulaeihta ya c suxUèv[aR,
S)…ili¼nI ivñécI c devI
lelaymana #it sÝ ijþa>. 4.
kälé karälé ca manojavä ca
sulohitä yä ca sudhümravarëä |
sphuliìginé viçvarucé ca devé
leläyamänä iti sapta jihväù || 4||

The seven flames of fire are

 Kaali,
 Karali,
 Manojava,
 Sulohita,
 Sudhumravarna,
 Sphulingini and
 Vishvaruchi