Vedic Rites (Rituals)

Also see: Photographs of Vedic Rituals.

In modern Indian languages the word yajna is used to signify a great focussed and dedicated effort.

The word yajna is derived from the verb root yaj which means ‘to worship’. It’s synonym is yaga.

Vedic Rituals have not completely disappeared and yajnas have been performed even in the 21st

century in India.

A proper study of Vedic Yajnas, helps to understand the Vedas, because the mantras are arranged

to suit the needs of the Yajna.

The sulabha (sulba) sutras are concerned with the constructional and engineering aspects of the

‘Vedi’. The Vedi is loosely translated as altar in English, but the altars of the church are different.

For us the Vedi is the place where the sacred fire will be placed and around which all the brahmans

sit.

The following srauta sastras describe the method of performing the vedic rites.

1. Apastamba
2. Asvalayana
3. Baudhayana
4. Bharadvaja
5. Katyayana
6. Satyashada

A yajna is defined as the tyaga (giving up) of a dravya (material) unto a devata

(luminary). Homa is the act of pouring ajya (ghee) into the gryhya or domestic fire. This act

continues in the later adaptation of deeparadhana using a ghee lamp, which must not go out during

the puja.

We learn from the Bhagavad Gita that Manavas and Devas sustain each other through yajnas. We

offer them ‘havis’ and they bless us with rain and other good things. We take care of nature and

nature takes care of us. Who can carry our offerings to the luminaries? Only one of them, someone

who knows the way. So whatever we want to give the devatas we offer to agni and agni takes the

offerings to the devas. (seeAgnim Ile).

The Yajamana is the person performing the Yajna is performed. He meets the expenses and

claims the fruit. All the rtvkiks and other brahmans are their to help him perform the yajna and for

this they collect a fee called the dakshina.

Only grhastas (house holders – married men) of the brahmana, kshatriya and vaisya varnas, were

eligible to establish the sacred agni and perform vedic rites. Since it was an expensive process (two

cows had to be maintained for all the cow dung cakes and fuel sticks) and restricted travelling,

grhastas usually waited till they were middle aged. The ahitagni, a man who had established such

a sacred fire, had to maintain it thoughout his life and if any such fire went out, he would have to

re-kindle it ceremoniously. Generally 3 fires were established, and when he died, these 3 fires and

implements used in maintaining them would be cremated along with him according to the

scriptures. If he took sanyasa, the fire would have to be discarded ceremoniously.

In common parlance today.. the word yajamana is used in the sense of ‘the master or boss’, by the

wife and servants, even if he has never performed a single yajnam in his life.

The Yajamana selected the Rtviks. The Rtviks were preferably young men, well-versed in the

Vedas, in perfect physical shape, from a good lineage and leading pure lives.

The hotr representing the rg veda had 3 assistants: maitravaruna, acchavaka, gravastut.

(Agastya and Vasishtha have been called maitravarunis.)

The adhvaryu representing the yajurveda had 3 assistants: pratipasthata, nesta, unneta.

The udgatr representing the sama veda had the 3 assitants: prastota, pratiharta,

subrahmanya (Narada was an Udgata in some yajnas listed in the Harivamsa).

The Brahma represented the Atharva Veda and his 3 assistants were brahmanacchamsi,

agnidhra and pota.

The 3 assistant were called dvitiyi or ardhi, tritiyi and padi and received a half, a third and a fourth

of the fees paid to the mahartvijas or great rtviks.

Not all the 16 brahmans are needed in all the yagas.

A group of yajnas is called a samstha.

As per the Bodhayana grhyasutras (1.1.18.21) yajnas can be classified into 21 samsthas. They

are performed with the mantras from 3 vedas Rk, Yajur and Sama. Domesticated Animals, Wild

Animals and Tree-plant products are offered in the sacred fire. The brahmans are paid to keep the

alive. Yajnas can also be classified as svadhyaya (self-

study), japa (repetition), karma (performing) and manasa (meditation). Manasa yajnas are

considered the best.

The first samstha are the Pakayajnas and they are 7 in number: Huta, Prahuta, Ahuta,

Sulagava, Baliharana, Pratyavarohana andAshtakahoma. They are meant for worldly gain and

properity. Cooked offerings such as boiled grains mixed with butter are offered into

theaupasanagni or the grhyagni.

The Seven Haviryajnas are Agnyadheya, Agnihotra, Darasa-purnamasa, Caturmasya,

Agrayana, Nirudhapasubandha andSautramani. The havis is uncooked offerings like barley,

rice, milk or clarified butter offered into the srautagnis namely the garhapatya,

dakshina and ahavaniya.

The seven Somayagas are Agnistoma, Atyagnistoma, Ukthya, Sodasi, Vajapeya,

Atiratra and Aptoryama. here the main offering is the SomaRasa (an extract of the soma plant).

The yajnas may be classified in other ways also. A model yajna like the darsapurnamasa is called

a Prakrti yajna. This yajna may be modified into vikrti yajnas like the kamyesti yajna. (We know

that Dasaratha performed the Putra Kamyesti Yajna to get sons.) Kamyesti Yajnas are for getting

some Kamas or wishes fulfilled. When Vikrti Yajnas are described only the modifications are

described. The rest is as per the prakriti yajna.

Another classification is as follows: The Agnihotra is an example of a nitya yajna that must be

performed everyday. The Ksamavatsiti yaga is a Naimittika (special cause) yajna that must be

performed if one’s house is destroyed by fire. The Aindragnesti yajna is a kamya (wish) yajna

which is performed to win a competitive venture.

Alternately: In a saumika yaga, the havis is Somarasa, in a pasuka yaga, the havis is an animal,

and in an aistika yaga the havis is purodasa (rice cake), ajya (ghee) or caru (a porridge of 4 kinds

of grains and/or lentils).

Authorship and Copyright Notice : All Rights Reserved : Satya Sarada Kandula

Reference Books:

1. Vedic Sacrifices, An Outline, By Swami Harshananda, Ramakrishna Math, Bangalore -19 (Rs
10/-)