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Yajna Upakaranas (Samskrit: यज्ञोपकरणानि) deals with the specialized implements, containers and utensils (upakaranas) used during the conduct of yajnas. A large number of specialized storage vessels, buckets, leather bags for storing liquids, spoons and ladles, mixing vessels, strainer, sieves, grinding stones, mortar and pestle, knives, winnowing baskets, pounders are a few common names of utensils of various types used since ancient times. They are made of metals or wood mostly, as revealed by the archaeological excavations in many sites of India. The ample references of these upakaranas in Vedas are mentioned as required instruments or implements for the performance of yajnas such as Somayaga, Asvamedha yajna and Pashuyajnas which were quite elaborate.  

Yajna Upakaranas (Samskrit: यज्ञोपकरणानि) deals with the specialized implements, containers and utensils (upakaranas) used during the conduct of yajnas. A large number of specialized storage vessels, buckets, leather bags for storing liquids, spoons and ladles, mixing vessels, strainer, sieves, grinding stones, mortar and pestle, knives, winnowing baskets, pounders are a few common names of utensils of various types used since ancient times. They are made of metals or wood mostly, as revealed by the archaeological excavations in many sites of India. The ample references of these upakaranas in Vedas are mentioned as required instruments or implements for the performance of yajnas such as Somayaga, Asvamedha yajna and Pashuyajnas which were quite elaborate.  

It is interesting to note that preparing these vessels or implements would require the knowledge of ganita shastra, geometry, and of metallurgy and alloys which appears to be of advanced nature.

It is interesting to note that preparing these vessels or implements would require the knowledge of ganita shastra, geometry, and of metallurgy and alloys which appears to be of advanced nature.

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|+Containers used in the Yajnas<ref name=":1">Bag, A. K. (1997) ''History of Technology in India, Vol. 1, From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D.'' New Delhi: Indian National Science Academy. Chapter: Technology of Food by K. T. Achaya (Pages 448 - )</ref>

|+Containers used in the Yajnas<ref name=":1">Bag, A. K. (1997) ''History of Technology in India, Vol. 1, From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D.'' New Delhi: Indian National Science Academy. Chapter: Technology of Food by K. T. Achaya (Pages 448 - )</ref><ref>Courtesy: Vaidika Samshodhana Mandala, Pune.</ref>

!

!

!Name

!Name

|1

|1

|Patra

|Patra

|wooden vessels, placed in pairs on

|wooden vessels, placed in pairs on the yajnika grass, and of five kinds (upamsu-, urdhva-, rtu-, sukra- and manthi-) for different uses

 

the yajnika grass, and of five kinds (upamsu-,

 

urdhva-, rtu-, sukra- and manthi-) for different

 

uses

|-

|-

|2

|2

|Sambharani

|Sambharani

|wooden vessel in which is placed the wet,

|wooden vessel in which is placed the wet, pounded soma stalks

 

pounded soma stalks

|-

|-

|3

|3

|dronakalasa

|dronakalasa

|bucket-type vessel covered with a filter to

|bucket-type vessel covered with a filter to receive strained soma juice

 

receive strained soma juice

|-

|-

|4

|4

|5

|5

|Chamasa

|Chamasa

|oblong tub with handle, of ten types, for use by

|oblong tub with handle, of ten types, for use by different priests for various purposes, such as; holding soma, drinking soma (by the priest); holding sacred water; and holding food in the vow rite

 

different priests for various purposes, such as;

 

holding soma, drinking soma (by the priest);

 

holding sacred water; and holding food in the

 

vow rite

|-

|-

|6

|6

|agrayanasthali

|agrayanasthali

|vessel to receive strained soma juice in the

|vessel to receive strained soma juice in the agricultural rite when new fruits are eaten

 

agricultural rite when new fruits are eaten

|-

|-

|7

|7

|sarava

|sarava

|earthen dish holding water with which a new

|earthen dish holding water with which a new mother is sprinkled

 

mother is sprinkled

|-

|-

|8

|8

|11

|11

|ninahya

|ninahya

|earthen

|earthen waterpot buried in the ground to keep its contents cool

 

waterpot buried in the ground to keep

 

its contents cool

|}

|}

The rites for somayajna were performed three times a day, and employed twelve main vessels for various types of cooking, like sthalipaka, cooking in a pot, and sutagrava, roasting on a spit. The pravargya rite, which is part of the somayajna, required the making each time of a special, round, fired clay vessel with a wide mouth called a mahavira which is heated intensely in the course of the rite.

The rites for somayajna were performed three times a day, and employed twelve main vessels for various types of cooking, like sthalipaka, cooking in a pot, and sutagrava, roasting on a spit. The pravargya rite, which is part of the somayajna, required the making each time of a special, round, fired clay vessel with a wide mouth called a mahavira which is heated intensely in the course of the rite.