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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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 ...
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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
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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 ...
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Indra's name as Shatakratu [duplicate]
Devendra got the seat of heaven only after performing 100 Yajnas. So, he is known as Shatakratu. What was he before and any details of the Yajnas he performed is available in Purana ?
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Who is Samyuka Barhaspatya?
The Shatapatha Brahmana 1.9.1 mentions about a certain priest who went to heaven after performing a particular fire-sacrifice:
Thereupon he pronounces the 'All-hail and blessing' (sam-yos). Now ...
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Are there any instances where Putra Kameshti Yajna really worked? [closed]
It is believed that if a couple remained childless or doesn't have a male child, performing Putra Kameshti Yajna will result in producing offspring, especially a male offspring. Now, my question is, ...
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Story of a blue-eyed mongoose that came on completion of the Ashvamedha Yajna of king Yudhishthira?
King Yudhishthira performed the Ashvamedha Yajna(horse-sacrifice) under the guidance of Maharishi Vyasa. There is a wonderful story of a blue-eyed mongoose which came at the conclusion of the ...
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Who are the Havirdhanas mentioned in RIgveda?
Rigveda Book 10 Verse 13 is devoted to the Havirdhanas and goes something like this:
I yoke with prayer your ancient inspiration: may the laud rise as on the prince's pathway. All Sons of ...
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Which scripture does Pillai Lokacharya reference in which Shiva enjoins his devotees to offer human sacrifice?
In Pillai Lokacharya's Prapanna Paritrana, Shiva is said to enjoin his devotees to offer human sacrifice.
Nor again is Rudra any better. For he is to begin with the Destroyer par excellence. Water ...
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Were horses killed in the ashvamedh performed by Lord rama?
Lord rama performed ashvamedh and that too without a wife, who did the ritual killing, and were animals actually sacrificed?
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Why did Lord Rama perform an Ashwamedha Yajna?
I am not sure about the reason of Ashwamedha Yajna but I have heard that when a person does a hundred Ashvamedha Yajna then he is capable for Indrasan (position of Indra). Lord Rama did an Ashwamedha ...
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What is the exact motive of the “yagya” which is done by Rishi-munis?
Rishi-munis did the 'yagya' many times due to an order of his king. they did because fulfil their king's wish. So, was there any benefits or importance for common society people for yagya?
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What is “kaal sarpa dosha/yoga”? What are the solutions?
This is a very famous dosha/yoga in certain Kundali-s. There is a Hindi wikipedia article about it.
It is said to be formed when all the planets come between Rahu & Ketu during the birth time. ...
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Why is the queen required to sleep next to the dead horse at the end of Aśvamedha Yajña?
From the Wikipedia article on Aśvamedha Yajña:
After this, the horse, a hornless he-goat, a wild ox (go-mrga, Bos gaurus) are bound to sacrificial stakes near the fire, and seventeen other animals ...
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424 views
Is there a Vedic yajna that can grant wishes?
Karma kanda has many yajnas which can give heaven and such other fruitive activities, is there mention of yajna which can fulfill a wish? Are there any
rituals, yajnas, vratas, mantras or praying to a ...
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What is the procedure for Agnishtoma ritual that leads to Heaven?
Agnishtoma is a Vedic ritual that takes its name from three hymns to Agni recited in it and was performed by those who want to ascend to heaven. This Hindupedia page - Agniṣṭoma gives the basic steps ...
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Where did the notion that cows are sacred originate from? [duplicate]
Contemporary Hindus believe that cows are the most sacred animals and should not be eaten. There are even groups in North India that kill people who eat cows.
However, many of the Dharma Shastras, ...
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Were there any schools of Shaiva, Shakti, or Tantric philosophy that advocated human sacrifice?
Were there any schools of Shaiva, Shakti, or Tantric philosophy that advocated human sacrifice?
If so, what were their arguments?
