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==    पञ्चमहायज्ञाः  || Panchamahayajnas ==

==    पञ्चमहायज्ञाः  || Panchamahayajnas ==

Panchamahayajnas have been described in different texts as follows

Panchamahayajnas have been described in different texts as follows

* [[Manu Smriti|Manusmriti]] gives the definitions and essence of Panchamahayajnas in the 3rd Chapter (shlokas 67 to 83).<ref name=":0">Manusmriti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Third Adhyaya])</ref><blockquote>पञ्च सूना गृहस्थस्य चुल्ली पेषण्युपस्करः । कण्डनी चोदकुम्भश्च बध्यते यास्तु वाहयन् || ३.६८ (Manu Smri. 3.68)<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>pañca sūnā gṛhasthasya cullī peṣaṇyupaskaraḥ । kaṇḍanī codakumbhaśca badhyate yāstu vāhayan || ३.६८ (Manu Smri. 3.68)<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : For a grhastha (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 पापम् (sins) - attributable to killing of numerous small beings such as ants, insects and such minute organisms unconsciously.</blockquote>

* [[Manu Smriti|Manusmriti]] gives the definitions and essence of Panchamahayajnas in the 3rd Chapter (shlokas 67 to 83).<ref name=":0">Manusmriti ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Third Adhyaya])</ref><blockquote>पञ्च सूना गृहस्थस्य चुल्ली पेषण्युपस्करः । कण्डनी चोदकुम्भश्च बध्यते यास्तु वाहयन् || ३.६८ (Manu Smri. 3.68)<ref name=":0" /></blockquote><blockquote>pañca sūnā gṛhasthasya cullī peṣaṇyupaskaraḥ । kaṇḍanī codakumbhaśca badhyate yāstu vāhayan || ३.६८ (Manu Smri. 3.68)<ref name=":0" /></blockquote>Meaning : For a grhastha (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 पापम् (sins) - attributable to killing of numerous small beings such as ants, insects and such minute organisms unconsciously.

* Panchamahayajnas have been described in [[Grhya Sutras|Grhyasutras]].

* Panchamahayajnas have been described in [[Grhya Sutras|Grhyasutras]].

<blockquote>अथातः पञ्चयज्ञाः | १ देवयज्ञो भूतयज्ञः पितृयज्ञो ब्रह्मयज्ञो मनुष्ययज्ञ इति | २</blockquote><blockquote>तद्यदग्नौ जुहोति स देवयज्ञो यद्बलिङ्करोति स भूतयज्ञो यत्पितृभ्यो ददाति स पितृयज्ञो यत्स्वाध्यायमधीयते स ब्रह्मयज्ञो यन्मनुष्येभ्यो ददाति स मनुष्ययज्ञ इति | ३ तानेतान्यज्ञानहरहः कुर्वीत | ४ (Asva. Grhy. Sutr. 3.1.1 to 4)<ref name=":2">[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Asvalaayana Grhya Sutras]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>athātaḥ pañcayajñāḥ | 1 devayajño bhūtayajñaḥ pitṛyajño brahmayajño manuṣyayajña iti | 2 </blockquote><blockquote>tadyadagnau juhoti sa devayajño yadbaliṅkaroti sa bhūtayajño yatpitṛbhyo dadāti sa pitṛyajño yatsvādhyāyamadhīyate sa brahmayajño yanmanuṣyebhyo dadāti sa manuṣyayajña iti | 3 tānetānyajñānaharahaḥ kurvīta | 4 (Asva. Grhy. Sutr. 3.1.1 to 4)<ref name=":2">[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Asvalaayana Grhya Sutras]</ref> </blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : Now the Panchayajnas. The yajna for devatas, yajna for (other living) beings, yajna for forefathers, yajna for Brahma, yajna for human beings. Here, when offerings are made in Agni, this yajna is for the devatas. That which is offered as bali, is the yajna for other beings. That (pindas) which is given for forefathers, is the pitru yajna. That study (of the vedas) is the brahma yajna, and that which gives to men, is the manushya yajna. These five yajnas are to be performed everyday.</blockquote>

<blockquote>अथातः पञ्चयज्ञाः | १ देवयज्ञो भूतयज्ञः पितृयज्ञो ब्रह्मयज्ञो मनुष्ययज्ञ इति | २</blockquote><blockquote>तद्यदग्नौ जुहोति स देवयज्ञो यद्बलिङ्करोति स भूतयज्ञो यत्पितृभ्यो ददाति स पितृयज्ञो यत्स्वाध्यायमधीयते स ब्रह्मयज्ञो यन्मनुष्येभ्यो ददाति स मनुष्ययज्ञ इति | ३ तानेतान्यज्ञानहरहः कुर्वीत | ४ (Asva. Grhy. Sutr. 3.1.1 to 4)<ref name=":2">[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Asvalaayana Grhya Sutras]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>athātaḥ pañcayajñāḥ | 1 devayajño bhūtayajñaḥ pitṛyajño brahmayajño manuṣyayajña iti | 2 </blockquote><blockquote>tadyadagnau juhoti sa devayajño yadbaliṅkaroti sa bhūtayajño yatpitṛbhyo dadāti sa pitṛyajño yatsvādhyāyamadhīyate sa brahmayajño yanmanuṣyebhyo dadāti sa manuṣyayajña iti | 3 tānetānyajñānaharahaḥ kurvīta | 4 (Asva. Grhy. Sutr. 3.1.1 to 4)<ref name=":2">[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Asvalaayana Grhya Sutras]</ref> </blockquote>Meaning : Now the Panchayajnas. The yajna for devatas, yajna for (other living) beings, yajna for forefathers, yajna for Brahma, yajna for human beings. Here, when offerings are made in Agni, this yajna is for the devatas. That which is offered as bali, is the yajna for other beings. That (pindas) which is given for forefathers, is the pitru yajna. That study (of the vedas) is the brahma yajna, and that which gives to men, is the manushya yajna. These five yajnas are to be performed everyday.

* The ancient rishis have prescribed these Panchamahayagnas in Taittriya Aranyaka (Prapathaka 2 and Anuvaka 10 given along with Sayanacharya's bhashyam) <ref name=":12">[http://www.vedamu.org/PageViewerImage.aspx?DivId=998 Taittriya Aranyaka] (2.10) with Sayanabhashyam in Pages 144 to 146</ref> for removal of the sins accrued by the grihasta.

* The ancient rishis have prescribed these Panchamahayagnas in Taittriya Aranyaka (Prapathaka 2 and Anuvaka 10 given along with Sayanacharya's bhashyam) <ref name=":12">[http://www.vedamu.org/PageViewerImage.aspx?DivId=998 Taittriya Aranyaka] (2.10) with Sayanabhashyam in Pages 144 to 146</ref> for removal of the sins accrued by the grihasta.

<blockquote>तद्विधिप्रसङ्गेन पञ्चमहायज्ञान्विधत्ते |  </blockquote><blockquote>tadvidhiprasaṅgena pañcamahāyajñānvidhatte | </blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : The procedure to perform panchamahayajnas is now given</blockquote><blockquote>पञ्च वा एते महायज्ञा: संतति प्रतायन्ते सतति संतिष्ठन्ते | देवयज्ञ: पितृयज्ञो भूतयज्ञो मनुष्ययज्ञो ब्रह्मयज्ञो इति-, इति || </blockquote><blockquote>pañca vā ete mahāyajñā: saṃtati pratāyante satati saṃtiṣṭhante | devayajña: pitṛyajño bhūtayajño manuṣyayajño brahmayajño iti-, iti || </blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : Five of these mahayajnas are observed and completed day after day, on a daily basis. They are Devayajna, Pitruyajna, Bhutayajna, Manushyayajna and Brahmayajna.</blockquote>

<blockquote>तद्विधिप्रसङ्गेन पञ्चमहायज्ञान्विधत्ते |  </blockquote><blockquote>tadvidhiprasaṅgena pañcamahāyajñānvidhatte | </blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : The procedure to perform panchamahayajnas is now given</blockquote><blockquote>पञ्च वा एते महायज्ञा: संतति प्रतायन्ते सतति संतिष्ठन्ते | देवयज्ञ: पितृयज्ञो भूतयज्ञो मनुष्ययज्ञो ब्रह्मयज्ञो इति-, इति || </blockquote><blockquote>pañca vā ete mahāyajñā: saṃtati pratāyante satati saṃtiṣṭhante | devayajña: pitṛyajño bhūtayajño manuṣyayajño brahmayajño iti-, iti || </blockquote>Meaning : Five of these mahayajnas are observed and completed day after day, on a daily basis. They are Devayajna, Pitruyajna, Bhutayajna, Manushyayajna and Brahmayajna.

=== देवयज्ञः || Deva Yajna  ===

=== देवयज्ञः || Deva Yajna  ===

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

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

=== मनुष्ययज्ञ: || Manushya Yajna  ===

=== मनुष्ययज्ञ: || Manushya Yajna  ===

<blockquote>मनुष्ययज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यद्ब्राह्मणेभ्योऽन्नं ददाति तन्मनुष्ययज्ञ: संतिष्ठते -, इति ||</blockquote><blockquote>manuṣyayajñasya lakṣaṇamāha - yadbrāṃhmaṇebhyo'nnaṃ dadāti tanmanuṣyayajña: saṃtiṣṭhate -, iti ||</blockquote>Meaning : Characteristics of the Manushyayajna is now said - when अन्नम् ॥ annam (food) is given to ब्राह्मणाः ॥ Brahmanas, that completes the Manushyayajna.

<blockquote>मनुष्ययज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यद्ब्राह्मणेभ्योऽन्नं ददाति तन्मनुष्ययज्ञ: संतिष्ठते -, इति ||<ref name=":12" /></blockquote><blockquote>manuṣyayajñasya lakṣaṇamāha - yadbrāṃhmaṇebhyo'nnaṃ dadāti tanmanuṣyayajña: saṃtiṣṭhate -, iti ||</blockquote>Meaning : Characteristics of the Manushyayajna is now said - when अन्नम् ॥ annam (food) is given to ब्राह्मणाः ॥ Brahmanas, that completes the Manushyayajna.

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.   

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: संतिष्ठते - , 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>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>ब्रह्मयज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यत्स्वाध्यायमधीयीतैकामप्यृचं यजु: सामं  वा तद्ब्रह्मयज्ञ: संतिष्ठते - , इति ||</blockquote><blockquote>स्वस्यासाधारणत्वेन पितृपितामहादिपरम्परया प्राप्ता वेदशाखा स्वाध्यायः | तत्र विद्यमानमृगादीनामन्यतममेकमपि वाक्यमधीयीतेति यत्सोऽयं ब्रह्मयज्ञः--- || (Saya. Bhas)<ref name=":12" /></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>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.

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

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