Changes

<blockquote>मनुष्ययज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यद्ब्रांह्मणेभ्योऽन्नं ददाति तन्मनुष्ययज्ञ: संतिष्ठते -, इति ||</blockquote><blockquote>manuṣyayajñasya lakṣaṇamāha - yadbrāṃhmaṇebhyo'nnaṃ dadāti tanmanuṣyayajña: saṃtiṣṭhate -, iti ||</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : Characteristics of the Manushyayajna is now said - when अन्नम् ॥ annam (food) is given to ब्राह्मणाः ॥ Brahmanas, that completes the Manushyayajna.</blockquote>This is the fourth yajna and includes providing hospitality, food and water to hungry, uninvited अतिथिः || atithi (guests). अतिथि देवोभव || Atithi devobhava is the humane concept wherein any person irrespective of their birth, age and gender are offered essential items such as food and clothing without accepting anything in return.   

<blockquote>मनुष्ययज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यद्ब्रांह्मणेभ्योऽन्नं ददाति तन्मनुष्ययज्ञ: संतिष्ठते -, इति ||</blockquote><blockquote>manuṣyayajñasya lakṣaṇamāha - yadbrāṃhmaṇebhyo'nnaṃ dadāti tanmanuṣyayajña: saṃtiṣṭhate -, iti ||</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : Characteristics of the Manushyayajna is now said - when अन्नम् ॥ annam (food) is given to ब्राह्मणाः ॥ Brahmanas, that completes the Manushyayajna.</blockquote>This is the fourth yajna and includes providing hospitality, food and water to hungry, uninvited अतिथिः || atithi (guests). अतिथि देवोभव || Atithi devobhava is the humane concept wherein any person irrespective of their birth, age and gender are offered essential items such as food and clothing without accepting anything in return.   

=== ब्रह्मयज्ञ: || Brahma Yajna  ===

=== ब्रह्मयज्ञ: || Brahma Yajna  ===

<blockquote>"ब्रह्मयज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यत्स्वाध्यायमधीयीतैकामप्यृचं यजु: सामं  वा तद्ब्रह्मयज्ञ: संतिंष्ठते - , इति" ||</blockquote><blockquote>"स्वस्यासाधारणत्वेन पितृपितामहादिपरम्परया प्राप्ता वेदशाखा स्वाध्यायः | तत्र विद्यमानमृगादीनामन्यतममेकमपि वाक्यमधीयीतेति यत्सोऽयं ब्रह्मयज्ञः---" || (Saya. Bhas)</blockquote>Meaning : The characteristics of Brahmayagna are now said - when स्वाध्यायः || svaadhya (regular study) of at least one of the Rig, Yajus and Sama vedas are performed, that completes the Brahmayagna.

<blockquote>ब्रह्मयज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यत्स्वाध्यायमधीयीतैकामप्यृचं यजु: सामं  वा तद्ब्रह्मयज्ञ: संतिंष्ठते - , इति ||</blockquote><blockquote>स्वस्यासाधारणत्वेन पितृपितामहादिपरम्परया प्राप्ता वेदशाखा स्वाध्यायः | तत्र विद्यमानमृगादीनामन्यतममेकमपि वाक्यमधीयीतेति यत्सोऽयं ब्रह्मयज्ञः--- || (Saya. Bhas)</blockquote><blockquote>brahmayajñasya lakṣaṇamāha - yatsvādhyāyamadhīyītaikāmapyṛcaṃ yaju: sāmaṃ vā tadbrahmayajña: saṃtiṃṣṭhate - , iti ||svasyāsādhāraṇatvena pitṛpitāmahādiparamparayā prāptā vedaśākhā svādhyāyaḥ | tatra vidyamānamṛgādīnāmanyatamamekamapi vākyamadhīyīteti yatso'yaṃ brahmayajñaḥ--- || (Saya. Bhas)</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : The characteristics of Brahmayajna are now said - when स्वाध्यायः || svadhyaya (regular study) of at least one of the Rig, Yajus and Sama vedas are performed, that completes the Brahmayajna.</blockquote>According to Sayanacharya, स्वाध्यायः || svadhya is that where the vedashaka (veda) is conventionally handed down according to tradition by the forefathers (such as father and grandfather). A study of at least one word in such traditionally handed down veda is said to be Brahmayajna.  

 

According to Saayana, स्वाध्यायः || svaadhya is that where the vedashaka (veda) is conventionally handed down according to tradition by the forefathers (such as father and grandfather). A study of at least one word in such traditionally handed down veda is said to be Brahmayagna.  

This sacrifice is dedicated to the Vedas and their seers (Rishis) in the form of regular study (svadhyaya) of the sacred vedas and the teaching of it to deserving students (adhyapana).

This sacrifice is dedicated to the Vedas and their seers (Rishis) in the form of regular study (svadhyaya) of the sacred vedas and the teaching of it to deserving students (adhyapana).

These five functions are imperatives on every householder and they are rightly regarded as great sacrifices (Maha-Yajnas).  These are the dharmas of a person in Grihastaasrama.  A share of food is given to them as a token of one's remembrance of them. The quantity that is offered is not important; it is the mental state of expressing gratitude and feeling that is associated with it that is of consequence in conducting these yagnas.   

These five functions are imperatives on every householder and they are rightly regarded as great sacrifices (Mahayajnas).  These are the dharmas of a person in Grhasta ashrama.  A share of food is given to them as a token of one's remembrance of them. The quantity that is offered is not important; it is the mental state of expressing gratitude and feeling that is associated with it that is of consequence in conducting these yajnas.   

Even if at times one is incapable of doing Maanushya yagna one must perform the Brahma and Deva yagnas .  The offerings given to gods in the sacrificial fire goes to Surya and he sends rains to the earth which enable the plants to grow. Thus food is obtained and Vedas say thus the living beings increase.  Just as how all animals and objects depend on the life-breath for living, Brahmachaari, [[Vaanaprastha]] and [[Sanyasi]] are dependent on the Grihastha for sustenance. Therefore, the Grihastha ashrama is the best of all ashramas according to Manusmriti (chap 3).  

Even if at times one is incapable of doing Manushya yajna, one must perform the Brahma and Deva yajnas .  The offerings given to gods in the sacrificial fire goes to Surya and he sends rains to the earth which enable the plants to grow. Thus, food is obtained and Vedas say thus the living beings increase.  Just as how all animals and objects depend on the life-breath for living, Brahmachari, Vanaprastha and Sanyasi are dependent on the Grhastha for sustenance. Therefore, the Grhastha ashrama is the best of all ashramas according to Manusmriti (chap 3).  

== सम्वादः || Discussion ==

== सम्वादः || Discussion ==

These, in ordinary religious parlance, are called the Panchamahayajna, or the five great sacrifices which a householder, especially in India, has to perform. These sacrifices mean the way in which one recognizes one’s own self in the variety of creation that he sees before him, by means of sympathy, consideration and feeling for others<ref>The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad by Swami Krishnananda ([https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/brdup_audio/brdup-12.pdf Discourse-12)]</ref>. That is the first step that one takes before moving on to the difficult task of complete identification with the Inner Being or Atma of all things.

These, in ordinary religious parlance, are called the Panchamahayajna, or the five great sacrifices which a householder, especially in India, has to perform. These sacrifices mean the way in which one recognizes one’s own self in the variety of creation that he sees before him, by means of sympathy, consideration and feeling for others<ref>The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad by Swami Krishnananda ([https://www.swami-krishnananda.org/brdup_audio/brdup-12.pdf Discourse-12)]</ref>. That is the first step that one takes before moving on to the difficult task of complete identification with the Inner Being or Atma of all things.