Questions tagged [yajna]
yajña, yagna, or yagya (Sanksrit: यज्ञ, "worship, prayer, praise; offering, oblation, sacrifice; fire ceremony") comes from the root yaj, "to worship" — is an outer form of worship in which offerings are made to different deities in a prescribed and systematic manner by qualified priests to supplicate them, so that they would assist the worshiper in achieving certain results in life.
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Why is a yagya/Homa called a sacrifice?
I read somewhere where the Agnihotra yagya/homa was called as a sacrifice.
Technically,a sacrifice means you give/part with, something that you have,to someone(edit:not necessarily a person,but I hope ...
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Does Sanatana Dharma Endorse Animal Sacrifice? [duplicate]
I've heard in Vedic yajna, the sacrifice of animals was a must. Nevertheless, Vedic texts are riddled with contradictions. I've also heard of SrimadBhagavad Gita and Puranas which endorse animal ...
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preserving Agnihotra in present days?
I have heard in olden days, People used to preserve the Agni used in marriage ritual and the same agni was used for cremation of the same pair wedded. My question is, how this Agni was preserved and ...
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What actually is 'Yajna'?
What Yajna is?
Today again i came across it in Kularnava tantra, Lord Shiva talking about Mantra Jap being superior to all Yajnas.
So, please tell what yajna is.
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How to worship Indra?
How to worship Indra and what is the proper way to worship him, can he only be worshipped through yagna or shamanic ways are allowed ?
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What's the alternative to fire used in Yajna or homa?
Sometimes, especially in foreign countries maybe, due to fire alarms or similar state laws governing the infrastructure, which might forbid fire lighting inside home, it might not be possible at all, ...
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Who are agnihotra and darshapUrNamAsa obligatory for?
I have been trying to read dharmasUtras and smRRitis about the daily and fortnightly yajnas. These are very rarely performed these days. They are definitely obligatory on some people according to ...
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Who are gratified when the sacrifices are performed by the demigods?
Who are gratified when the sacrifices/yajna are performed by the demigods? Like when humans make sacrifices they gratify demigod (like Indra, Agni, etc.).
I mean Indra is a god that had performed a ...
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When did Lord Vishnu perform Vaishnava Yajna?
From Mahabharata's Vana Prava
The name of that sacrifice worthy of virtuous persons, is Vaishnava. No person save the ancient Vishnu hath performed it before. This mighty sacrifice vies with that ...
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Yajna kunda made up of Iron
One of the vidwans of a Madwa mutt said in a discourse that homa/yajna kunda should be made properly and can not be of iron like it's done in cities today. He said fire in iron is like in hell and not ...
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Can substitutes in rituals be permanent fixtures?
It is my understanding that use substitutes is permissible in case of random non-availability of samagri (ingredients, material etc). Some of the answers such as this one and this one provide ...
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Can a son perform amavasya tarpanam in place of his sick father?
Doing tarpanam (water libations) on the day of Amavasya is a well-known fact. My father was doing it very sincerely on all Amavasyas.
But now, since he became very old and has health issues, he is not ...
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Alternatives to animal sacrifice during Vedic yajnas, according to Brahmana texts?
I seem to remember having read somewhere that one or more of the ancient Brahmana texts (maybe Shatapatha Brahmana) allow performing Vedic yajnas by providing alternatives to animal sacrifice, like ...
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Sitting posture during yajna
What is correct way of sitting when performing yajna? I have seen in Yajna, Brahmins seated for hours doing mantra chanting and don't even feel any pain or cramp when they get up. Do they follow ...
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How to practise fire worship in modern times?
Is there a simple way to practise fire worship more suited to modern times and not too complex and time-taking?
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Who decided that mantras should be used for yajñas that came later?
Were the ṛṣis who heard the mantras (found in the saṃhitā portion of the Vedas) aware that what they heard (or was revealed to them) will be used to conduct yajñas (sacrifices)?
If not, who decided ...
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Do rituals require faith to be successful?
According to Adi Shankaracharya, Vedas consist of three parts-
Karma kand (rituals like yajna, nitya karma etc.)
Upasana kand (praying to devas etc.)
Bramha vidya (denunciation of world, sameness of ...
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Who is Gaya Avatar of Lord Vishnu?
The Satvata Tantra Part 2 Verse 17 mentions:
Born as Gaya in King Priyavrata's dynasty, the Lord became very famous by the actions of His body, mind and words. Yajna personified, which had the form ...
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Has the current day India become a mlecchadeśa? Is it still fit for sacrifices?
Commenting on Manusmṛti 2.23, Medhātithi says:
In fact, the name ‘mlecchadeśa’ is to be taken literally, in the sense that it is ‘the country of mlecchas’; so that if mlecchas happen to conquer a ...
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How does Hindu scripture explain why it rains in places where yajnas are not performed?
According to Hindu scripture, yajnas produce rain, and when yajnas aren't performed, it doesn't rain:
From food arise all beings; from rain food is produced; from sacrifice comes rain; ...
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When was the last Ashwamedha yajna conducted?
I have read at few sites that Pushyamitra Shunga (2nd century B.C.) had conducted two Ashwamedha yajnas. Did any king conduct Ashwamedha yagna after Pushyamitra ?
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Whose translation of AV 7.5.5 is this?
A couple of answers on this site (e.g., this one) cite this translation of AV 7.5.5:
Atharvaved 7:5:5:- All those are foolish who use cow, dog or any other animal in yajnas.
From another answer:
...
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What were the reasons for all somayajnas banished?
We don't have any proper literature left on Mahayajna like darshapurnamasa, niruDhapashubandha, jyotishtoma, aptoryaama, vaajapeya, paundrika, rajasuya, ashvamedha etc. There is no one today who can ...
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What do the Devas do with offerings of sacrificial blood in Yajnas?
It is known that whatever is offered to the Devas in Yajnas is consumed by them. So things like milk, butter, ghee, soma, meat, liquor etc are all eaten and drank by the Devas.
For example, Vyasa ...
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Which Yagya To Perform When Wife Is Pregnant?
I’m deeply inspired with Vedic Dharma and Vedas. Agnihotra is what I found way to life.
There are many types of Yajna. So is there any Yajna which is best to perform for the benefits of child in the ...
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Which yajna was performed by Prajapati Daksha?
Which yajna was it which was performed by Prajapati Daksha in which he didn't invite Lord Shiva and suffered with consecutive events ?
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Which are seven Hotā mentioned in Śiva Saṅkalpa Sūkta?
Śiva Saṅkalpa Sūkta is a sūkta of six Śloka from 34th chapter of Ṣukla Yajurveda. This hymn is dedicated to (a prayer) for having mind of Śiva (auspicious, good) Saṅkalpa (thoughts, intentions).
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Are there yajnas that can be done to increase the quality of life and happiness of all people?
In Kaliyuga, there is a lot of adharma, so people are becoming more and more sad and because of adharma, we are causing many species of animals to become extinct. Is there any yajna that I can do for ...
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What are sacrifices done on new moon and full moon where a part is thrown for Rakshasas?
Sage valmiki uses many metaphors and writes in a poetic sense while explaining an incident in the Valmiki Ramayana. There are hundreds of usages of Upama and rupaka alankara which is used to explain ...
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Effects of Hawan/Yajna on health [closed]
How does the smoke from hawan/yajna affect the health of the human beings inhaling it? Are there any good effects?
How does its effects compare with those of vehicle exhaust/industrial pollution? I'm ...
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How do I find a spiritual Guru for this particular Indra sadhana?
I am in need of a Guru who can help me in performing the Indra Sadhana (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOo5m4azAN8). How to perform the yagna ? Who can help me on this ? How can I prosper ?
I am ...
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What is Bhuta Yajna?
What is the definition of Bhuta Yajna?
Who should do it and how?
What is to sacrifice in this yajna?
Is it part of the daily rituals?
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Do these rituals in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad to bear children give fruition in this lifetime?
These rituals in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad are for getting certain types of children to be born:
In case one wishes, 'That a white son be born to me! that he be able to repeat a Veda! that he ...
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Can Rakshasas do Yajnas?
Can Rakshasas do Vedic Yajnas?
Are there instances where Rakshasas were doing Vedic Yajnas, like in the Ramayana?
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Do good people cause rain regardless of Yagnas?
The Tamil poet/saint Auvaiyar says:
http://www.edubilla.com/tamil/moothurai/
நெல்லுக்கு இறைத்த நீர் வாய்க்கால் வழி ஓடிப்
புல்லுக்கும் ஆங்கே பொசியுமாம் - தொல் உலகில்
நல்லார் ஒருவர் உளரேல் அவர் ...
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Do any commentators interpret “from yajña arises rain” in BG 3.14 allegorically i.e., not involving a physical sacrifice, fire and smoke?
Bg. 3.14
annād bhavanti bhūtāni
parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ
yajñād bhavati parjanyo
yajñaḥ karma-samudbhavaḥ
Rāmānuja's commentary on this verse points to a verse from Manusmṛti which is ...
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In Kali Yuga, how do devas get havir bhaaga, since yagnas are rarely performed?
In Bhagavad Gita 3.10 & 11, Krishna says:
सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः
अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेष वोऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक्
देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः
परस्परं भावयन्तः ...
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Apparently good yagnya by Daksha
The author of popular Lingashtakam stotram extolled Shiva as destroyer of Yagnya conducted by Daksha (father in-law) describing it as suyagna that is contradiction in its very terms.
Can we explain ...
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Is this an authentic Hindu yagna?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmWRpP_V5q0
It sounds like a modern composition that imitates authentic Vedic Yagnas.
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How much region can be controlled by performing Rajasuya?
It has been mentioned in Mahabharata that two kings: Yudhistira and Harishchandra performed Rajasuya.
Control of how much region will be gained by performing Rajasuya? Will it cover the whole earth ...
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What is pancha angni yajna in agnihotra?
What is pancha kunda in agnihotra?
anvahrya, grahapathy, dakshinaagni and uttravedhi in agnihotra
what is their respective meaning with short description of the offerings made?
Is Vaishwadeva homa a ...
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What are the details of Lord Mahadeva's SarvaMedha yajna?
Mahabharata: Santi Parva: [Rajadharmanusasana Parva:] Chapter 20
यज्ञैरिन्द्रो विविधैरन्नवद्भि; र्देवान्सर्वानभ्ययान्महौजाः |
तेनेन्द्रत्वं प्राप्य विभ्राजतेऽसौ; तस्माद्यज्ञे सर्वमेवोपयोज्यम्
||११||
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Are there any animal sacrifices specifically for Vishnu?
There are animal sacrifices for Indra, Vayu, Agni, Prajapati and Shiva, etc in the Vedas.
For example, in the Ashvalayana Grihya Sutras:
1 1. Now the spit-ox (sacrificed to Rudra).
In ...
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Does Tantrik, avaidik, or agamic animal sacrifice have any scriptural authority?
No one has done a Vedic animal sacrifice for hundreds of years, but the Shakta, Shaiva, and Vamachara traditions, especially in East India, are known to perform lots of avaidik animal sacrifices for ...
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Does Vishnu like animal sacrifices?
The Vedas are traditionally divided into two parts: Karma kanda and Jnana kanda. The Karma kanda consists of Yajnas involving animal sacrifice. Ancient Sri Vaishnava commentators and acharyas say that ...
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Do the Devas and Pitrs like eating meat?
The body of animals killed in Yajnas and Sraddhas go to the world of the Devas as well as the world of Pitrs. The Devas and Pitrs eat the flesh of the animals killed in the yajnas offered by humans.
...
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How are animals killed in the Soma Yajna?
In the Soma yajna, a few animals are killed (I think 3 different animals are killed). My question is, how are they killed? Through beheading, strangulation, etc?
This answer says that the horse is ...
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What is the difference between Yajna and Havana?
While reading Rigveda, I often encounter these two closely related words, so often that the entire scripture seems to depend on these two words only. The problem is that I can't point out the actual ...
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What is the name of the Yajna which is capable of curing diseases?
Tembe Swami or Vasudevananda Saraswati in his Dwisahastri Teeka says through the following procedures diseases can be cured.
पूर्वजन्मकृतं पापं व्याधीरूपेण पीडते ।
तच्छान्तिरौषधैर्दानैर्जपहोमसुरा...
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Which scripture is Devdutt Patnaik referring to when he says “Yagna is not a contract. Devata has no obligation”
While explaining about Yagnas according to the Vedas, I have heard from elders that the Devata is bound by mantra (Devadhinam jagat Sarve mantraadhinam cha Devataa).
However, in an article on his ...
