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The concept

As explained in Bhagwad Gita

Bansi Mahajan|the speaking tree - Concept Of Yajna, Sacrifice, In The Gita|Jul 19 2017 : The Times of India (Delhi)

Yajna, sacrifice, is often considered as havan performance only , where offerings are made to fire.The Bhagwad Gita provides a deeper and wider meaning, that yajna is the route for all development and growth of the universe. The idea of Karma Yoga in the Gita is essentially based on sacrifice.Krishna says, “Yajnarthat karmano nyatra lokoyam karm abandhanah sama cara“ (3:9), that is, when actions are not performed for the cause of yajna, one is bound by his own actions.As per karmic account, one has to take rebirth to complete the debit-credit circle of actions. Hence one should perform duties for the sake of sacrifice, without any attachment.

If actions are performed with the spirit of yajna only , one is absolved from the cycle of birth and death and attains salvation. Here yajna means, when you carry out your duty selflessly , without pride and attachment, for the benefit and welfare of all beings. If you don't perform your duty and contribute your share for the sake of Humanity , then you are not part of the growth and evolution of the universe, the scripture advises. When we perform yajna, gods bestow us even with gifts we did not wish for. If one enjoys these gifts without sharing them, we would be behaving like a thief, and being ungrateful (3:12). Scriptures impart to us the culture of gratitude and thankfulness.There are various debts we incur, they're called rinahas. We need to clear them. Some of these are classified as matri rinh these are classified as matri rinha, mother's debt; pitri rinha, father's debt; dev rinha, debts of gods; social debt, teacher's debt and debt of the land. From whichever person, place or source you get something or are bestowed something by them, you must repay it. You should be grateful and thankful to them. This is a noble and typical characteristic of our culture and civilisation. The pious and benevolent person who partakes and accepts leftovers, after the sacrifice, is cleared of the guilt of all sins (3:13). The practice of accepting the fruit after distributing to all after the yajna (yajna sistasinah) gives us the thought of “judicious sharing of wealth“. It is the finest form of socialism, the summum bonum of any economy . The economy of yajna in karma yoga is being management studies of many taught in management studies of many universities of the world.

Krishna says, “He who doesn't act according to the wheel of existence or carry out his duties or contribute to the evolution of the universe, he lives in vain“ (3:16). His birth is futile and goes waste.

No society can evolve until there is a balance of responsibilities and rights. It is applicable to all, from family units to institutions, societies, nations and entire civilisation. The lack of balance between duties and rights, responsibility and freedom, trigger many chaotic conditions. Most people, including leaders, tend to harp on only one aspect ­ the rights. They hardly talk of responsibilities or duties for fear of becoming unpopular. It is imperative ­ in fact it is leaders' moral duty to make their followers aware of their duties also to make a future that is peaceful and hassle-free.

So let's become true karma yogis, by following Krishna's sage suggestions on the spirit and form of yajna in the third chapter of Karma Yoga in the Bhagwad Gita.

Doing Your Duties Is Yajna

Hasmukh Adhia, Oct 17, 2019: The Times of India

Hasmukh Adhia is former finance secretary, Government of India.

The first part of the Vedas gives us the technology of yajna by which one can fulfill all desires. There is a yajna prescribed for every conceivable desire. Do you want to go to heaven? Do you want children? Do you want name and fame? The Vedas offer yajnas for all of these and more. Yajna means a homa – oblations are offered to Devatas, strictly as per Vedic prescription. Yajna, in the form of homa, is an expression of our gratitude to Devatas who are believed to be in charge of sunlight, water, earth, wind and space. Without these essential elements, we would not have survived.

But that is not the only meaning of yajna. In the Bhagwad Gita, chapter 3, Krishna explains the ecological cycle of life: ‘The bodies of all beings are sustained by food. Food is produced because of rain. Rains come by yajna. Yajna becomes possible because of karma.’ The word yajna here refers to the collective action of all beings, which sustain the food cycle and make this world worth habitation.

The world we live in is what it is today, because of evolution, in which large numbers of people have contributed – scientists, engineers, doctors, teachers, supervisors and labour, for instance. Every individual plays a small or big role in the making of a better world order.

So also, by performing our chosen role with best efforts, we can express our gratitude to all other individuals who are trying to make this world a better place to live in. If we believe in karma theory, if we take more from the world and do not reciprocate equally by way of performance of our duty, we are gathering more paap, sins or exhausting our punya karma, fruits of merit deeds. Therefore, Gita’s prescription of yajna points at performance of one’s chosen duty without selfishness, carelessness and ego.

A person is meant to do five types of yajna every day: Dev Yajna, Rishi Yajna, Pitru Yajna, Atithi Yajna And Bhoot Yajna. Dev Yajna is expression of gratitude to Devatas like Agni, Varun and Vayu. It is done by offering some food to the fire. Rishi Yajna is expression of gratitude to sages whose knowledge gave us wisdom of how to live life. It is performed by reading or listening to scriptural knowledge, every day. Pitru Yagna is expression of gratitude to our forefathers who are now in different Lokas. It is performed by offering a pot of water and some food to them, in front of the Sun.

Atithi Yajna is expression of gratitude to our fellow beings. It is done by feeding an unexpected guest or by going out and feeding at least one hungry person every day. Bhoot Yajna is done in order to express our gratitude to other biological species such as animals, ants and birds by offering grains to birds, food to cows or other animals and insects. All these five yajnas are to be done daily.

These five yajnas are in addition to the main yajna that we all have to do. That is, to perform one’s duty properly, and by accepting gladly whatever results come as divine prasad. Krishna says such people are liberated from all sins and that when you express your gratitude to Devatas and other beings, they all bless you with prosperity and peace. What more do we need?