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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.  

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 : ===

=== देवयज्ञः || 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.  According to Saayana, "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 : ===

=== पितृयज्ञः || Pitru Yagna  ===

<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.   

<blockquote>"तत्र पिण्डदानासंभवे जलमात्रमपि पितृभ्यः स्वधाऽस्त्विति स्वधाशब्देन यद्ददाति सोऽयं पितृयज्ञः ---" (Saya. Bhas)</blockquote>According to Saayana, Pitri-Yajna, is where Pindapradhana (offering of pindas made of rice) 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 : ===

=== भूतयज्ञ: || Bhuta Yagna  ===

<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.   

<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: || (Saya. Bhas)</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.   

=== Manushya Yagna : ===

=== मनुष्ययज्ञ: || Manushya Yagna  ===

<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>"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.

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.   

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.   

=== Brahma Yagna : ===

=== ब्रह्मयज्ञ: || Brahma Yagna  ===

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

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