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In addition to these daily rites, the householder has also to perform certain monthly ceremonies such as offering oblations to the ancestors on the new-moon day and the observance of the vow of Ekadasi or fast on the eleventh day of every lunar fortnight.  

In addition to these daily rites, the householder has also to perform certain monthly ceremonies such as offering oblations to the ancestors on the new-moon day and the observance of the vow of Ekadasi or fast on the eleventh day of every lunar fortnight.  

==    पञ्चमहायज्ञ  || Panchamahayajnas ==

==    पञ्चमहायज्ञ  || Panchamahayajnas ==

For a grihastha (householder) five apparatus namely a sifter, a grinding stone, a broom, a mortar and a water-pot are unavoidable. It is believed that when these instruments are used for daily activities a householder incurs paapam or sins (attributable to killing of numerous small beings such as ants, insects and such minute organisms unconsciously). The ancient rishis have prescribed these Panchamahayagnas as given in Taittiriya Aranyaka (2.10) for removal of these sins.   

For a grihastha (householder) five apparatus namely a sifter, a grinding stone, a broom, a mortar and a water-pot are unavoidable. It is believed that when these instruments are used for daily activities a householder incurs paapam or sins (attributable to killing of numerous small beings such as ants, insects and such minute organisms unconsciously). The ancient rishis have prescribed these Panchamahayagnas as given in Taittiriya Aranyaka (2.10) for removal of these sins.  <blockquote>तद्विधिप्रसङ्गेन पञ्चमहायज्ञान्विधत्ते - The procedure to perform panchamahayagnas is now given</blockquote><blockquote>पञ्च वा एते महायज्ञा: संतति प्रतायन्ते सतति संतिष्ठन्ते | देवयज्ञ: पितृयज्ञो भूतयज्ञो मनुष्ययज्ञो ब्रह्मयज्ञो इति-, इति ||</blockquote>Meaning : Five of these mahayagnas are observed and completed day after day, on a daily basis. They are Devayagna, Pitruyagna, Bhutayagna, Manushyayagna and Brahmayagna.

=== Deva Yagna : ===

=== Deva Yagna : ===

<blockquote>तद्विधिप्रसङ्गेन पञ्चमहायज्ञान्विधत्ते - The procedure to perform panchamahayagnas is not given</blockquote><blockquote>पञ्च व एते महायज्ञा: संतति प्रतायन्ते सतति संतिष्ठन्ते | देवयज्ञ: पितृयज्ञो भूतयज्ञो मनुष्ययज्ञो ब्रह्मयज्ञो इति-, इति ||</blockquote>Meaning : Five of these mahayagnas bestow <blockquote>तत्र देवयज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यदग्नौ जुहोत्यपि समिधं तद्देवयज्ञ: संतिष्ठते - इति |</blockquote>Deva-Yajna, is the sacrifice offered to the celestial beings in the form of ghee, herbs, and camphor offered into the अग्निहोत्र || Agnihotra (sacrificial fire). Homam or Havan promotes rains which give good crops and harvest.   

<blockquote>तत्र देवयज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यदग्नौ जुहोत्यपि समिधं तद्देवयज्ञ: संतिष्ठते - इति ||</blockquote><blockquote>पुरोडाशादिहविर्मुख्यं तदलाभे समिधमप्यग्नौ देवानुद्दिशञ्जुहोतीति यत्सोऽयं देवयज्ञः || (Saya. Bhas.)</blockquote>Meaning : The characteristics of Devayagna are now said - Wherein the sacrificial material (samidha) are offered into Agni, that completes Devayagna.  Saayana Bhashyam further explains that "Purodaasha" ( a special kind of sacrificial offering) is to be offered primarily as a sacrificial offering, however when that is unavailable, samidha are offered for Devatas and such a practice is called Devayagna.

 

Deva-Yajna, is the sacrifice offered to the celestial beings in the form of ghee, herbs, and camphor offered into the अग्निहोत्र || Agnihotra (sacrificial fire). Homam or Havan promotes rains which give good crops and harvest. 

 

 

 

Generally तर्पण || tarpana (offering of water and pinda or offering of rice) is made to the ancestors with the utterance of "Svadha" whereas offerings for Devatas is made with the utterance of "Svaaha" after the mantras.   

=== Bhuta Yagna : ===

=== Bhuta Yagna : ===

Every temple in the past had 'Bali peetam' on which the food (after Vaisvedava offering) is placed on it for feeding the hungry animals and birds.   

Every temple in the past had 'Bali peetam' on which the food (after Vaisvedava offering) is placed on it for feeding the hungry animals and birds.   

'''Pitru Yagna''' : The third is Pitri-Yajna where the तर्पण || tarpana (offering of water and pinda or offering of rice) is made to the ancestors.  

मनुष्ययज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यद्ब्रांह्मणेभ्योऽमं??? ददांति तन्मनुष्ययज्ञ: संतिंष्ठते -, इति |   

'''Maanushya Yagna''' :  This is the fourth yagna and includes providing hospitality, food and water to hungry uninvited atithi अतिथि || (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.

'''Maanushya Yagna''' :  This is the fourth yagna and includes providing hospitality, food and water to hungry uninvited atithi अतिथि || (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.