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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Where can I find the rules of Vasordhara homa?
In Shukla Yajurveda, the mantras of chapter 18 are used for Vasordhara. From Mahidhara's commentary, I can see that these mantras should be uttered while a continuous flow of ghee is poured on the ...
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Any reference for this particular mantra performed during the Ashvamedha?
According to Wikipedia, the mantra (sacred recitation) at the end of the annahoma ("food-oblation rite") performed during the aśvamedha and uttered just before-, during-, and just after ...
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What portion of wealth was given away in yajnas?
It is mentioned in Ramayana that a king can at most tax one-sixth of their praja’s earnings. One of the goals of a Kshatriya is to accumulate artha but not at the expense of dharma and vice versa.
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Inspiration from the Gods- any examples today?
By meditating deeply on God/ gods, can we become more effective in our work and professions. Are there any examples today? That is important because we have to finish our job in best way, before going ...
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What are some major mantras/yajnas that include the formula इदं न मम ("Idam na mama (this is not mine)")?
Is it a formula to announce that the sacrificial offerings belong to God and not the performer of the Yagna?
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What is Panch Maha Yagna and what are 4 stages of life?
This post says a few things about Pancha Maha Yagna. Also, what are the 4 stages of life mentioned here? Are they somehow related to the 4 Purusharthas?
I first read about Pancha Maha Yagna in ...
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Where in the scriptures is the present day Agnihotra?
By present day Agnihotra I mean, the one performed during sunrise and sunset involving burning cow dung along with rice.
As far as I believe there seems to be no such practice mentioned anywhere in ...
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Who is the Hindu god of sacrifice?
Who is the Hindu god of sacrifice?
I tried to find out by Googling it, but all I found out was that it was Agni. But I thought that Agni was the god of fire. So, who is it then?
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If yajna doesn't include killing, why do brahman granths promote animal killing?
As per Nirukta 1/8, Yajna is adhvar means "non-killing" i.e, no animal slaughter is allowed in yajna right?
If so, why does shatpath brahman includes slaughtering of bulls and other animals?
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What is the horse breed that is used in Ashvamedha yagna?
Is it Equus sivalensis?
I remember them being white for the ritual but do we know the breed?
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How was Rama able to perform Ashvamedha?
According to Vedas and Mimamsa, a wife is required to perform Vedic yajnas like Ashvamedha because the wife does things in the yajna and also recites some mantras in the yajna. So, without a wife, one ...
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Why is the Shyena yajna adharma?
The Shyena yajna is a sorcery ritual in the Vedas meant to kill others. According to the followers of Mimamsa and other schools, this ritual is considered "adharma" because it causes ...
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Between japa yajna and yuga dharma which is to be followed and to what extent?
Japa or repeating mantras, shlokas, Bhagavan’s names, etc is in fact a form of yajna supposed to be highly effective as per the Puranas and Agamas. In fact even the dharmashastra, Manusmriti is in ...
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When Rama refrained from performing a Rajasuya yagna, why did Yudhishthira perform Rajasuya Yagna?
Lord Shri Rama actually wanted to perform a Rajasuya Yajna:
Beholding Bharata and Lakshmana present, Rama embraced them and said "I have, as promised, performed the work of the excellent twice ...
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When was the last Rajasuya yajna conducted?
Many kings such as Yudhishthira and Bharata conducted Rajasuya yajna. Who was the last king to conduct the Rajasuya yagna?
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Can one conduct a yajna for just about any reason?
This news article reports a yaagam/yajna being conducted to "to alleviate Covid-19 effect". Is this a legitimate reason i.e., sanctioned by Hindu scriptures, to conduct a yajna?
A yagam of ...
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What is the source of the verse that says that everything is established in yajna (fire sacrifice)?
yajneshu devastisthanti yajne sarvam pratisthitam|
yajnena dhriyate prithvi yajnastarayati prajah||
annena bhuta jibanti parjanyadannasambhavah|
parjanyo jayate yajnat sarvam yajnamayam tatah||
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What is the Jyotistoma Yajna?
In the Siddhanta Siromani Vasanabhasya we have reference to atleast three important Yajnas - "... दर्शपौर्णमासयागज्योतिष्टोमादयः ..." that is, the Yajnas performed at the new moon and full ...
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What are the fruits received by performing an Ashwamedha?
Ashwamedha is a Vedic yajna done mainly by Kshatriyas and is supposed to have wondrous benefits including getting rid of Brahmahatya and attaining the post of Indra, if 100 of them are performed.
I ...
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Where can I find an English or Bengali book on Havan/Yajna/Homa?
I am looking for a book on "how to perform Havan (Hawan/Yajna/Hom)" in English or Bengali. But, unfortunately, I could not find it. There are many books in Hindi. But I can't read Hindi. So, ...
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Should fire generated by match-sticks or petroleum-based products be used in homa?
In the Bṛhat Tantrasāra, it is stated that fire used for Tāntrika homa should belong to any one of the following categories :
It should be generated by araṇi wood.
It should be generated by stone (i....
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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?
user19297
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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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