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Generally तर्पणम् || tarpana (offering of water and pinda or offering of rice) is made to the ancestors with the utterance of Svadha. Offering of तिलः ॥ Tila (sesame) to pitrudevatas is also practiced.   

Generally तर्पणम् || tarpana (offering of water and pinda or offering of rice) is made to the ancestors with the utterance of Svadha. Offering of तिलः ॥ Tila (sesame) to pitrudevatas is also practiced.   

=== भूतयज्ञ: || Bhuta Yajna  ===

=== भूतयज्ञ: || Bhuta Yajna  ===

<blockquote>भूतयज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यद्भूतेभ्यो बलिँ् हरति तद्भूतयज्ञ: संतिष्ठते -, इति ||<ref name=":12" /></blockquote><blockquote>bhūtayajñasya lakṣaṇamāha - yadbhatebhyo balim̐ harati tadbhūtayajña: saṃtiṣṭhate -, iti ||</blockquote>Meaning: Characteristics of Bhutayajna is now said - that bali offered to Bhutas (other life forms); that completes the bhutayajna.<blockquote>वैश्वदेवानुष्ठानादूर्ध्वं बहिर्देशे वायसादिभ्यो भूतेभ्यो यद्बलिप्रदानं सोऽयं भूतयज्ञ: || (Saya. Bhas)<ref name=":12" /></blockquote><blockquote>vaiśvadevānuṣṭhānādūrdhvaṃ bahirdeśe vāyasādibhyo bhūtebhyo yadbalipradānaṃ so'yaṃ bhūtayajña: ||</blockquote>वैश्वदेवः || 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 बलिप्रदानम् || Balipradana.

<blockquote>भूतयज्ञस्य लक्षणमाह - यद्भूतेभ्यो बलिँ् हरति तद्भूतयज्ञ: संतिष्ठते -, इति ||<ref name=":12" /></blockquote><blockquote>bhūtayajñasya lakṣaṇamāha - yadbhatebhyo balim̐ harati tadbhūtayajña: saṃtiṣṭhate -, iti ||</blockquote>Meaning: Characteristics of Bhutayajna is now said - that bali offered to Bhutas (other life forms); that completes the bhutayajna.<blockquote>वैश्वदेवानुष्ठानादूर्ध्वं बहिर्देशे वायसादिभ्यो भूतेभ्यो यद्बलिप्रदानं सोऽयं भूतयज्ञ: || (Saya. Bhas)<ref name=":12" /></blockquote><blockquote>vaiśvadevānuṣṭhānādūrdhvaṃ bahirdeśe vāyasādibhyo bhūtebhyo yadbalipradānaṃ so'yaṃ bhūtayajña: ||</blockquote>वैश्वदेवः || 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 बलिप्रदानम् || Balipradana.

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.   

<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.

<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 (guest). 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)<ref name=":12" /></blockquote><blockquote>brahmayajñasya lakṣaṇamāha - yatsvādhyāyamadhīyītaikāmapyṛcaṃ yaju: sāmaṃ vā tadbrahmayajña: saṃtiṃṣṭhate - , iti ||</blockquote><blockquote>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 ||</blockquote><blockquote>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 or Sama veda is 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.  

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 (अध्यापनम् ॥ adhyapana).

These five functions are imperatives on every householder and they are rightly regarded as Mahayajnas (great sacrifices).  These are the dharmas of a person in Grhasta ashrama.     

These five functions are imperatives on every householder and they are rightly regarded as Mahayajnas (great sacrifices).  These are the dharmas of a person in Grhastha ashrama.     

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 this is the cause for the living beings to increase. 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. 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).  

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 this is the cause for the living beings to increase. 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. 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).