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Yajna (Samskrit : यज्ञः) or Vedic ritual is the most important feature of vaidika karmas. It occupies a very important position in Bharatiya samskriti, literature and way of life.     

Yajna (Samskrit : यज्ञः) or Vedic ritual is one of the distinguishing features of vaidika karmas. It occupies a very important place in Bharatiya samskriti, literature and way of life. A deep study of yajnas (shrauta and smartha) is quite essential for the proper understanding of the vedic literature, the development and stratification of the different portions of that literature, and for the influence that the literature exerted on the varnas and the caste-system, on the splitting up of the brahmanas themselves among several sub-castes and on the institution of gotras and pravaras.<ref name=":0">Kane, Pandurang Vaman. (1941) ''History of Dharmasastra (Ancient and Medieval Religious and Civil Law) Volume 2, Part 2.'' Poona : Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute</ref>   

 

Early European scholars generally paid scant attention for an in depth study of Yajnas and endeavoured to understand the meaning of Vedas principally by reference to grammar, comparative philology and the comparison of several passages containing the same word or words. Chronology given by them was based mostly on subjective consideration and prompted by the great prejudice felt by the European scholars generally against admitting any great antiquity for the Vedas. It is beyond the scope of this work to enter into any discussion about the dates of various sections of the Vedic Literature.<ref name=":0" />    

== व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology ==

== व्युत्पत्तिः ॥ Etymology ==

‘अध्वर Adhvara’, ‘Kratu’, ‘Makha’, ‘Yaga’ and ‘Medha’ are other words used as synonyms for the term ‘Yajna’ in general sense though there are many features which differ among themselves. These play a great role in shaping our civilization order and peace.

‘अध्वर Adhvara’, ‘Kratu’, ‘Makha’, ‘Yaga’ and ‘Medha’ are other words used as synonyms for the term ‘Yajna’ in general sense though there are many features which differ among themselves. These play a great role in shaping our civilization order and peace.

== Classsification of Yajnas ==

== Classsification of Yajnas ==

The Yajna is classified into three types namely  

The Yajna is classified into three types based on the time when they are performed, namely  

# Nitya (Daily): is that action which is performed daily. The following are included   

# Nitya (Daily): is that action which is performed daily. The following are included   

#* Sandhyavandanam

#* Sandhyavandanam

#* Varuna yagam

#* Varuna yagam

#* Kareeresthi

#* Kareeresthi

== Yagna Vidhis in Kalpa ==

== कल्पः ॥ Kalpa ==

‘Vedanga Kalpa’ mainly deals with Vedic rituals. The very name itself means ‘Kalpyate Samarthyate Yaga Prayogo Atra’ which means “The practice of Vedic ritual traditions are explained here”. Kalpa Vedanga deals with four types of sutras namely,   

In the Vedangas, Kalpas (कल्पः) mainly deal with explaining Vedic Yajna procedures. The very name itself means ‘Kalpyate Samarthyate Yaga Prayogo Atra’ which means “The practice of Vedic ritual traditions are explained here”.  

* Sulvasutras : Practical manuals with mathematical measurements necessary for construction of yagna vedi (sacrificial altar).   

 

* Srautasutras : Contain rules for the conduct of great sacrifices lasting for many days.   

Kalpa Vedanga deals with four types of sutras namely,   

* Dharmasutras : Contain spiritual and worldly laws   

* '''Sulvasutras''' : Practical manuals with mathematical measurements necessary for construction of yagna vedi (sacrificial altar).   

* Grhyasutras : Lays down rules for the ceremonies and yagnas involved in everyday life.   

* '''Srautasutras''' : Contain rules for the conduct of great sacrifices lasting for many days.   

The ‘Sulvasutras’ and ‘Srautasutras’ directly deal with the performance of Vedic rituals. These texts provide guidance for the performance of Vedic sacrifices. The performance of Vedic rituals is being continued even to modern period especially in South India.   

* '''Dharmasutras''' : Contain spiritual and worldly laws   

* '''Grhyasutras''' : Lays down rules for the ceremonies and yagnas involved in everyday life.   

The ‘Sulvasutras’ and ‘Srautasutras’ directly deal with the performance of Vedic rituals. These texts provide guidance for the performance of Vedic sacrifices. The performance of Vedic rituals is being continued even to modern period especially in South India.<ref name=":022" />  

Srauta, as the name suggest, refers to the texts which have been derived from the Sruti or the Vedas. Although they are memorial texts (Smriti), their source is Sruti. They also serve as the source of Kalpa. The Srauta rituals cover a whole gamut of rituals from the simplest to the most complicated. Most of them are no more practiced, but their study is useful for historical reasons.   

Shrauta, as the name suggest, refers to the texts which have been derived from the Shruti or the Vedas. The Shrauta rituals cover a whole gamut of rituals from the simplest to the most complicated. Most of them are no more practiced, but their study is useful for historical reasons.   

According to Prof. Radhakrishna Bhat,<blockquote>"Most of the ‘Haviryajnas’, ‘Agnihotra’, ‘Darsapurnamasa’ and ‘Caturmasya’ sacrifices, the basic ‘Somayajnas’, ‘Agnistomas’ and its varieties, and some culturally and historically important sacrifices like ‘Vajapeya’, “Asvamedha’, ‘Sarvamedha’ etc are found in ‘Yajurveda’ (Adhvaryuveda). Later in ‘Puranas’ the references to Vedic rituals and practices are found. In classical Sanskrit literature some references to Vedic rituals and practices are mentioned. This shows that the Vedic ritual tradition is continued to modern period too without any interruption". <ref name=":022">Radhakrishna Bhat, N. ''[http://vedicheritage.gov.in/pdf/Vedic_tradition_karnataka.pdf Vedic Ritual Tradition of Karnataka]'', Vedic Heritage Portal.</ref></blockquote>

According to Prof. Radhakrishna Bhat,<blockquote>"Most of the ‘Haviryajnas’, ‘Agnihotra’, ‘Darsapurnamasa’ and ‘Caturmasya’ sacrifices, the basic ‘Somayajnas’, ‘Agnistomas’ and its varieties, and some culturally and historically important sacrifices like ‘Vajapeya’, “Asvamedha’, ‘Sarvamedha’ etc are found in ‘Yajurveda’ (Adhvaryuveda). Later in ‘Puranas’ the references to Vedic rituals and practices are found. In classical Sanskrit literature some references to Vedic rituals and practices are mentioned. This shows that the Vedic ritual tradition is continued to modern period too without any interruption". <ref name=":022">Radhakrishna Bhat, N. ''[http://vedicheritage.gov.in/pdf/Vedic_tradition_karnataka.pdf Vedic Ritual Tradition of Karnataka]'', Vedic Heritage Portal.</ref></blockquote>