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Krshi Vijnana (कृषिविज्ञानम्) (view source)
Revision as of 17:12, 9 April 2020
, 17:12, 9 April 2020adding content and references
== Yajnas and Agriculture ==
== Yajnas and Agriculture ==
The Chaturmasya yajna or the four monthly rites were held at the beginning of the three seasons of four months each. These were carried out as preventive and expiatory rites. The four rites were known as Vaisvedeva, Varunapraghasa, Sakamedha and Sunaasira. Two among these four rites, Varunapraghasa and Sunaseera had direct link with agriculture. The former held in the rainy season was carried out for good rains, getting good yield of food grains and increase of cattle wealth. The latter, Sunaseera, which means the plough, Not only this, symbolic agricultural activities were pursued on sacrificial ground with the purpose of successful crop-raising. Wide varieties of seeds were sown for varieties of crops raised in the same field.47 More interestingly offering to crops was a part of sacrificial rites so that these could be successfully cultivated. This helps us to know about the wide range of cultivated crops known in the Yajurvedic period.48 Craving for cultivated (kr.s.tapacya– ) and uncultivated (akr.s.t .apacya– ) crops mentioned in the sacrificial rites shows equal importance was given to the uncultivated crops. Uncultivated crops were wild crops species.49 Possibly these were used for hybridization with cultivated species for getting new variety of cultivated crop.
Many ancient texts in Bharatavarsha, the land of [[Yajna (यज्ञः)|Yajnas]], advocated that all activities of life are a form of yajna and have to be done with reverence. Origin and evolution of agriculture and irrigation are not separate processes and they are created by Yajnas as evidenced from the following mantras in Shukla Yajurveda.<blockquote>कृषिश् च मे वृष्टिश् च मे... औद्भिद्यं च मे यज्ञेन कल्पन्ताम् ॥ (Yaju. 18.7)<ref>Shukla Yajurveda ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E2%80%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AE Adhyaya 18])</ref></blockquote>These mantras illustrate the importance of Yajnas for rain, agriculture, air, environment, creatures such as snakes and their interrelationship.
The Shrauta and [[Grhyasutras (गृह्यसूत्राणि)|Grhyasutras]] describe a number of yajnas related to agricultural operations and welfare of cattle.
The grhyasutras prescribe certain ceremonies to be performed at the time of ploughing the field. Ceremony of yoking the plough, called Halabhiyoga, is described in Gobhila Grhyasutras. Under an auspicious nakshatra, the householder performs a yajna with offerings made to deities such as Indra, Maruts, Parjanya, Ashani and Bhaga, Sita and others. These deities are again worshiped during the time of making the first furrow called Sita Yajna, at the sowing of seeds called Pravapana, at the time of reaping the crop called Pralavana, at the time of threshing the grains called Khala Yajna and at the time of putting the corn into the barn (Prayayana). Manava Grhyasutras also describe these yajnas in detail. The Aagrayana is an offering of first fruits of the season, which is ancient tradition mentioned in the Aitareya and Kaushitaki Brahmana. The [[Shrautasutras (श्रौतसूत्राणि)|Shrautasutras]] describe Aagrayana as an important Shrauta yajna, while the Grhyasutras also mention it for Anahitagnis respectively. Many Rigveda mantras are recited during this ceremony.
Sita Yajna is an other important yajna mentioned in the Grhyasutras. The word Sita (सीता) literally means a "furrow", addressed as a deity in the Rigveda (4.57.6-7). A detailed account of the Sita Yajna is found in the Paraskara Grhyasutras.
The Chaturmasya yajna or the four monthly rites were held at the beginning of the three seasons of four months each. These were carried out as preventive and expiatory rites. The four rites were known as Vaisvedeva, Varunapraghasa, Sakamedha and Sunaasira. Two among these four rites, Varunapraghasa and Sunaseera had direct link with agriculture. The former held in the rainy season was carried out for good rains, getting good yield of food grains and increase of cattle wealth. The latter, Sunaasira, which means the plough, Not only this, symbolic agricultural activities were pursued on sacrificial ground with the purpose of successful crop-raising.
== Agricultural Processes ==
== Agricultural Processes ==