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=== Deva Yagna : ===

=== Deva Yagna : ===

<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.

<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.   

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.   

=== Pitru Yagna : ===

=== Pitru Yagna : ===

तत्र पिण्डदानासंभवे जलमात्रमपि पितृभ्यः स्वधाऽस्त्विति स्वधाशब्देन यद्ददाति सोऽयं पितृयज्ञः --- (Saya. Bhas)

<blockquote>"तत्र पिण्डदानासंभवे जलमात्रमपि पितृभ्यः स्वधाऽस्त्विति स्वधाशब्देन यद्ददाति सोऽयं पितृयज्ञः ---" (Saya. Bhas)</blockquote>Pitri-Yajna, is where Pindapradhana is made into fire with the chanting of "svadha", but when that is not possible even water offered to Pitrus with "svadhakaara" (i.e using the mantras with svadha in the end) or offering anything into the fire with "svadha" constitutes the Pirtuyagna.   

 

Pitri-Yajna, is where Pindapradhana is made into fire with the chanting of "svadha", but when that is not possible even water offered to Pitrus with "svadhakaara" (i.e using the mantras with svadha in the end) or offering anything into the fire with "svadha" constitutes the Pirtuyagna.   

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.   

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 : ===

<blockquote>भूतयज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यद्भतेभ्यों बलिँ् इरति तद्भूतयज्ञ: संतिष्ठते -, इति ||</blockquote>Meaning of Bhutayagna is said to be - that bali offered to Bhutas (other life forms) is the bhutayagna.<blockquote>वैश्वदेवानुष्ठानादूर्ध्वं बहिर्देशे वायसादिभ्यो भूतेभ्यो यद्बलिप्रदानं सोऽयं भूतयज्ञ: ||</blockquote>Vaisvedeva is the offering of food to Agni, without which food cannot be cooked. Bhuta-Yajna involves feeding of animals, especially cows, ants and birds like crows that are present in the outside environment (not domesticated) and the ritual is called Balipradanam.   

<blockquote>भूतयज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यद्भतेभ्यो बलिँ् हरति तद्भूतयज्ञ: संतिष्ठते -, इति ||</blockquote>Meaning: Characteristics of Bhutayagna is now said - that bali offered to Bhutas (other life forms) that completes the bhutayagna.<blockquote>वैश्वदेवानुष्ठानादूर्ध्वं बहिर्देशे वायसादिभ्यो भूतेभ्यो यद्बलिप्रदानं सोऽयं भूतयज्ञ: ||</blockquote>Vaisvedeva is the offering of food to Agni, without which food cannot be cooked. Bhuta-Yajna involves feeding of animals, especially cows, ants and birds like crows that are present in the outside environment (not domesticated) and the ritual is called Balipradanam.   

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.   

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

<blockquote>"मनुष्ययज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यद्ब्रांह्मणेभ्योऽन्नं ददाति तन्मनुष्ययज्ञ: संतिष्ठते -, इति" ||</blockquote>Meaning : Characteristics of the Manushyayagna is now said - when annam (food) is given to Brahmanas, that completes the Manushyayagna.

 

 

<blockquote>"ब्रह्मयज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यत्स्वाध्यायमधीयीतैकामप्यृचं यजु: सामं  वा तद्ब्रह्मयज्ञ: संतिंष्ठते - , इति" ||</blockquote>स्वस्यासाधारणत्वेन पितृपितामहादिपरम्परया प्राप्ता वेदशाखा स्वाध्यायः | तत्र विद्यमानमृगादीनामन्यतममेकमपि वाक्यमधीयीतेति यत्सोऽयं ब्रह्मयज्ञः--- || (Saya. Bhas)

 

'''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.

According to Sasyana ,  

'''Brahma Yagna''' : The first of the Mahayagnas, this sacrifice is dedicated to the Vedas and their seers (Rishis) in the form of regular study (svadhyaya) of the holy scripture 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 (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.   

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 gi to the Sun 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 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).  

== सम्वाद || Discussion ==

== सम्वाद || 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. 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. 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.