YAJNA. Traditionally yajna is seen as a fire ritual in which Vedic mantras are recited while sacred woods, fruits, grain, oil, yoghurt and ghee are poured into the fire as an offering to the Lord. But yajna has deeper purports as it is also work or spiritual practice that is offered as worship to God. In such sense yajna is a ritual of transformation with fire as the central metaphor, the traditi
onal method for external and internal purification. Each Yajna has a divine character through the agency of ritual offerings; participants experience a powerful and direct relationship to the Supreme Consciousness within themselves. The Vedas state ‘yajnam bhhantam asathe’ meaning they attain to or enjoy a mighty sacrifice.
The Lord had instructed Arjuna on performing work on yajna alone so that his entire karma melts away. Then Arjuna was told that yajna is Brahman and yajna fire and methods are modifications of Brahman: Gita 4.26-27. Then the Lords tells, 'Hi hang-on a minute Arjuna, there are other forms of yajna also!'. So in Gita 4.28, Sri Krishna instructs Arjuna on the forms of Yajna.
‘Dravya yajna’ means those who offer wealth as sacrifice; those who distribute wealth; sacrificing one’s possessions. To distribute one’s wealth is a charity and also a form of yajna. If such deeds are made as offering to the Lord, then it can be given as yajna, as a means of invoking the Lord. ‘Tapo Yajnah’ means those who offer austerity as sacrifice; those who follow prayerful disciplines; sacrificing in austerities. Tapas are prayerful discipline. The vows one takes are also tapas. ‘Yatayah samsita vratah’ refers to person of rigid vows; those of firm vows. People whose vows are clear or those taken to strict vows. ‘Yoga yajnah’ means those who offer yoga as sacrifice; those who practice yoga. Those pursuing astanga yoga, eight limbed yoga, are referred to as yoga yoga yajnah. ‘Astanga yoga’ or Raja Yoga is a prayerful discipline wherein the Lord is worshipped as Ishvara pranidhanam as one of the prescribed observances or niyamas.
‘Jnana yajnah’ refers to those who study Vedanta and enquire into Vedanta sastra; sacrifice in the advancement of knowledge. Through devoted study and reverent exposition of Vedantic texts and guidance of a guru, the divine knowledge in one increases. ‘Svadhyaya jnana yajnah’ refers to those who offer study and knowledge as sacrifice; those who pursue knowledge with clear vows.
With these great efforts and commitment to the knowledge is complete when both these yajnas are done. This is the law governing Yajna. Hearing this list, Arjuna must have taken a long breath, for Sri Krishna, then went on to instruct on the science of Pranayama – breath control.
Hari Om
The Lord had instructed Arjuna on performing work on yajna alone so that his entire karma melts away. Then Arjuna was told that yajna is Brahman and yajna fire and methods are modifications of Brahman: Gita 4.26-27. Then the Lords tells, 'Hi hang-on a minute Arjuna, there are other forms of yajna also!'. So in Gita 4.28, Sri Krishna instructs Arjuna on the forms of Yajna.
‘Dravya yajna’ means those who offer wealth as sacrifice; those who distribute wealth; sacrificing one’s possessions. To distribute one’s wealth is a charity and also a form of yajna. If such deeds are made as offering to the Lord, then it can be given as yajna, as a means of invoking the Lord. ‘Tapo Yajnah’ means those who offer austerity as sacrifice; those who follow prayerful disciplines; sacrificing in austerities. Tapas are prayerful discipline. The vows one takes are also tapas. ‘Yatayah samsita vratah’ refers to person of rigid vows; those of firm vows. People whose vows are clear or those taken to strict vows. ‘Yoga yajnah’ means those who offer yoga as sacrifice; those who practice yoga. Those pursuing astanga yoga, eight limbed yoga, are referred to as yoga yoga yajnah. ‘Astanga yoga’ or Raja Yoga is a prayerful discipline wherein the Lord is worshipped as Ishvara pranidhanam as one of the prescribed observances or niyamas.
‘Jnana yajnah’ refers to those who study Vedanta and enquire into Vedanta sastra; sacrifice in the advancement of knowledge. Through devoted study and reverent exposition of Vedantic texts and guidance of a guru, the divine knowledge in one increases. ‘Svadhyaya jnana yajnah’ refers to those who offer study and knowledge as sacrifice; those who pursue knowledge with clear vows.
With these great efforts and commitment to the knowledge is complete when both these yajnas are done. This is the law governing Yajna. Hearing this list, Arjuna must have taken a long breath, for Sri Krishna, then went on to instruct on the science of Pranayama – breath control.
Hari Om
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