| |
|
|
A B
C D
E F
G H
I J
K L
M N
O P-Q
R S
T-U V-W-X
Y-Z
Yagya
A Yagya is a spiritual sacrifice. In a common use of the word Yagya means - a Vedee
(an altar) is built, sacred fire is set in it, and Aahuti (oblations)
are offered in it. Otherwise there are many kinds of Yagya. All the names of Yagya and their
description is not possible here, but some information about them is given here.
Bhavishya
Puraan, p 246, says - Whoever is without son and wife, has no right to do
Yagya.
Yagya
has a common meaning that is when one does anything for the welfare of
others, such is Bhoomi Yagya, Gyaan Yagya, Shikshaa Yagya etc.
Janamejaya did Sarp Yagya (Snake sacrifice).
Paak
Yagya
Some Yagya are done with cooked food, they are called "Paak Yagya".
Manu Smriti lists four types of Paak Yagya -
(1)
Vaishwadev Hom,
(2) Bali Karm,
(3) Nitya Shraaddh - offering food to Pitar daily, and
(4) Atithi Bhojan - feeding a guest
Panch
Mahaa-Yagya
(1) Dev Yagya, (2) Bhoot Yagya, (3) Pitra Yagya, (4) Manushya Yagya, and
(5) Brahm Yagya.
Various Yagya
Performed by Kings and Rishi
Although
there may be many types of Yagya, but the following Yagya have been
mentioned in our scriptures Their names are given here with their
references.
(1)
Agnihom Yagya - Meghnaad did it
(2) Agnishtom Yagya
(3) Ashwamedh Yagya - In this Yagya a horse is sent around to establish one's sovereignty, to
neighboring kingdoms asking their kings either accept his sovereignty or
challenge his claim. If somebody had been more powerful than the person who
was doing this Yagya, he
challenged the king by seizing the horse and then fighting with him;
otherwise the weaker kings gave gifts and a part of their revenue to him. If the horse had
come back without any challenge, the king was supposed to have completed Ashwamedh
Yagya. After the horse had come back, it was killed ceremoniously as
part of the victory celebrations. Many kings had performed this Yagya in ancient Bhaarat
Varsh, but the main four kings who have performed this Yagya were Bharat,
Sudaas, Yudhishthir, and Janamejaya. Dasharath, Raam and Meghnaad also did this
Yagya.
(4) Atiraatri Yagya - King Dasharath did it to get sons.
(5) Bahu Swarn Yagya - Meghnaad did it.
(6) Brihaspati Yagya - Daksh Jee performed this Yagya in which Satee
left her body through Yog.
(7) Devasatra Yagya -
(8) Go-medh Yagya - Meghnaad did it.
(9) Gyaan Yagya - Devtaa did it (Bhaagvat,
7/7)
(10) Maaheshwar Yagya - Meghnaad did it.
(11) Marutsom Yagya - Bharat (Shakuntalaa's son) did it to get a son. [Bhaagvat
Puraan, 9/12]
(12) Mitraavarun Yagya - Vashishth Jee did it for Vaivaswat Manu to get
children. [Bhaagvat
Puraan, 9/1]
(13) Naramedh Yagya - Vyaas Jee suggested this to Yudhishthir to perform
it after the war. [MBH,
7/4]
(14) Paitaamaha Yagya - Rishi did this Yagya when Prithu was born.
(15) Pundareek Yagya -
(16) Paundreek Yagya -
(17) Purushmedh Yagya - Harishchandra did it after his son Rohit brought
Ajeegart's middle son Shunah-shep for sacrifice. It seems that
Purushmedh Yagya is the Yagya in which a man is offered as a sacrifice,
as in Ashwamedh Yagya a horse is scrificed. [Bhaagvat
Puraan, 9/4]
(18) Putreshti Yagya - King Dasharath did it to get a son.
(19) Raajsooya Yagya - Meghnaad did it. Yudhishthir did it - Yagya performed to ask kings
to recognize a kingdom as the sovereign.
(20) Sarvmedh Yagya - Vyaas Jee suggested this to Yudhishthir to perform
it after the war. [MBH,
7/4]
(21) Satra Yaag - Raajaa Nimi was doing this Yagya when he requested his
Guru Vashishth to perform it, but Vashishth told him to wait as he had
to go to Indra, but Nimi did not wait for him ad started his this Yagya.
When Vashishth Jee came back, he gave Shaap to him, and in turn Nimi
also gave Shaap to him. Both died. Then Vashishth Jee was born again
from Mitra and Urvashee [Varun and Urvashee had Agastya as their son]. [Bhaagvat
Puraan, 9/7]
(22) Sautraamani Yagya
(23) Som Yagya - Chyavan Rishi did it for King Sharyaati to get a son. [Bhaagvat
Puraan, 9/2]
(24) Ukothya Yagya - King Dasharath did it to get sons.
(25) Vaajpeya Yagya - King Janak did it at the time of Swayamvar of
Seetaa. [Padm
Puraan, 5/40]
(26) Vaishnav Yagya - Meghnaad did it.
(27) Vishwajit Yagya - Yayaati's son Puru did this [MBH,
1/2]; Daitya Raaj Bali did it [Bhaagvat
Puraan, 8/6]
Pratyangira and Sudarshan Hom
are done to ward of evil Prayog done by others.
A Yagya
has four people to complete it, and when a Yagya is completed by these
four people, it is called Chaaturhotra
(1)
Hotaa - chants Rig Ved mantra
(2) Adhwaryu - chants Yajur Ved Mantra
(3) Udgaataa - chants Saam Ved Mantra.
(4) Brahmaa - chants Atharv Ved Mantra
Yagya
in Geetaa
In
Indian social system , by and large , the word ' Yagya ' is used for all
kinds of auspicious , sacred and spiritual ceremonies . The 'Yagya ' is
also understood as a ritual ie offering oblations to fire God . In
this concept Yagya has two parts - Mantra (sound energy) and Havishya
(food of gods). The Mantras are phonetic sound symbols for invoking and
inviting different Gods and ' Havishya' is the food offered for their
satisfaction . The essential ingredient of Havishya is 'cow's Ghee'. The 'fire' (Agni ) is said to be the
mouth of all gods .Therefore the food is offered to all the gods through
Agni's mouth. Thus, all kinds of sacred ceremonies are called Yagya and
Yagya is a specific ritual performed to satisfy Divine powers (gods)
for healthy, wealthy, happy and peaceful life on earth
The first expression of this Divine word in Geetaa is in its 3rd chapter
(Karm Yog – Yog of action) verse 9. Here Shree Krishn has
bifurcated Karm (action) in two forms. One is 'Yagyaarth' (action
performed as Yagya) and another, actions performed otherwise. In Indian
spiritual science, 'Karm' is said to be the cause of bondage (to the cycle of birth and death).
Arjun was confused and could not
understand, how a war could be supportive or instrumental to 'Gyaan'
(liberation). Shree Krishn told him that any action performed as Yagya
liberates the man. Here 'Yagya' is the spirit behind actions. Any
action performed in Yagya spirit liberates the person and frees from
bondage and performed otherwise binds
to the cycle of birth and death.
Four types of
Yagya are explained in Geetaa. 'Gyaan Yagya' is the highest among all
Yagyas. Yagya is a spirit, Yagya is a science, Yagya is a ritual,
Yagya is a method of self realization and Yagya is a way of Living .
|