THE PANCHA MAHAYAGYAS
There are five great daily sacrifices that are to be performed by every householder.
They are: (i) Brahma Yajna, called also Veda Yajna, sacrifice to Brahman or the
Vedas or the sages; (ii) Deva Yajna, sacrifice to the celestials; (iii) Pitri Yajna,
sacrifice to the manes; (iv) Bhuta Yajna, sacrifice to all the creatures; and (v)
Manushya Yajna, sacrifice to men.
The performance of these five Yajnas is conducive to the spiritual evolution or
growth of a man. He gradually learns that he is not a separate entity or isolated
creature or isolated unit, but is a part of a great whole. He obtains knowledge by
studying the sacred scriptures written by great Rishis. He gets help from his
friends, relatives and fellow-beings. His parents gave his physical body. The milk
of cows, grains, vegetables and fruits nourishes his body. The five elements help
him. He cannot live without oxygen and water. The Devas and the Pitris bless
him. Therefore, he owes a fivefold debt to Nature. He must pay back his debt by
performing these five sacrifices daily. Further, numerous insects are killed by him
unconsciously during walking, sweeping, grinding, cooking, etc. This sin is
removed by the performance of these sacrifices.
THE FIVE YAJNAS (or yagyas)
The Rishis, the Devas, the Pitris, the Bhutas and the guests expect help from the
householders. Hence, they should perform these five sacrifices daily. Teaching
and studying of scriptures is Brahma Yajna; Tarpana or offering of water to the
ancestors, and Sraaddha, form Pitri Yajna; Homa or oblations into the fire is Deva
Yajna; Bali or offering of food to all creatures is Bhuta Yajna; and hospitality to
guests is Manushya Yajna or Atithi Yajna.
Brahma Yajna or Rishi Yajna
Every man should study daily the sacred scriptures. He should share the
knowledge with others. This is Brahma Yajna or Rishi Yajna. By so doing, he
pays the debt to Rishis.
Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita: "Having, in ancient times, emanated
mankind together with sacrifice, the Lord of Creation said, 'By this shall ye
propagate; be this to you the fulfiller of desires. With this, nourish ye the shining
ones, and may the shining ones nourish ye. Thus nourishing one another, ye
shall reap the highest good. For, nourished by sacrifice, the shining ones shall
bestow on you the enjoyments you desire. A thief verily is he who enjoyeth what
they give without returning them anything. The righteous, who eat the remains of
the sacrifice, are freed from all sins; but the unpious who cook for their own
sake, they verily eat sin" (Ch. III-10, 11, 12, 13). Manu says: " Let a man ever
engage in the study of the Vedas and in the rites of the Devas; engaging in the
rites of the Vedas, he supports the movable and the immovable kingdoms." These
sacrifices turn the wheel of life in accordance with the divine will and thus help
the evolution of man and the worlds.
Offering libations, etc., to the forefathers, regularly, is Pitri Yajna.
Distribution of food to cows, dogs, birds, fish, etc., is Bhuta Yajna.
Feeding the poor is Manushya Yajna. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked,
giving shelter to the homeless, comforting the distressed, etc., are all forms of
Manushya Yajna. Any kind of service to the suffering humanity is Manushya
Yajna. Feeding a guest is Manushya Yajna.
BENEFITS OF THE PANCHA MAHAYAJNAS
By daily doing such acts of kindness and sympathy, man develops mercy. Hatred
vanishes. His hard egoistic heart is gradually softened. He cultivates cosmic love.
His heart expands. He has a wider outlook on life. He tries to feel his oneness
with all beings. His old feeling of separateness on account of selfishness and
egoism is gradually thinned and eventually eradicated. He learns that he can be
happy only by making others happy, by serving others, by helping others, by
removing the sufferings of others and by sharing what he has with others. The
five great daily sacrifices teach man his relations with his superiors, his equals
and his inferiors.
Man has no separate individual existence. He is connected with the world. He is
like a bead in the rosary. His whole life must be a life of sacrifice and duties.
Then only he will have rapid evolution. Then only he will realize the supreme bliss
of the Eternal. Then only he will free himself from the round of births and deaths
and attain immortality.