Yajna, Havan, Homa & Yagya – The Fire Rituals

In Hinduism, one of the essential constituents of religious rites is Yajna (यज्ञ). Yajna, a fire ritual is an act of gratitude to divine and to seek his blessings. Yajna brings material, environmental, psychological and spiritual benefits. Yajna can be performed with a specific desire in mind (sakama yajna), or without any desire, for the benefit of humanity in general (nishkama yajna). Yajna is larger public fire rituals. Homa or Havana is private ritual around a symbolic fire, such as those observed at a wedding.
 
The primary constituents of a Yajña are the inspiration or urge of the doer (भावना), learning (स्वाध्याय), rites involved (कर्म), offerings (त्याग), deity (देवता) and the results (फल). The process of Yajna is learnt from Vedas & Vedangas. Yajna involves three kinds of offering viz. sacrifice (याग), donation (दान) and offering (होम).
 
The word Yajna is derived from “Yaj” of Sanskrit which means "to worship, adore, honour, revere". The Yajna has its roots in Rigveda, Yayurveda, and Karma Mimansa. Kalpa Sūtrās deal with the rules, regulations and austerities of yajña, the geometry of altars, and the rites to be undertaken at each stage of life. Shulba sutra describes the geometric ratios of Vedi altar, with mathematical precision and geometric theorems.
 
According to Vedic scholars, the main kinds of yajnas are: paka yajna, havi yajna, (pancha) maha yajna, ati yajna and shiro yajna. Each yajna offers a way to purify the senses, mind, mental archetypes, tattwas (elements), gunas or the entire ecological system.
 
Homas are performed in those designated places to the corresponding devatas, according to the rites of the respective Vedas. Major Yajnas/yāgas are performed in premises meant for them, called yāga śālās.
 
The duration of Yajna depending on the type, may vary from a few hours to few months. Depending on the periodicity, the rites (karma) are classified as Nitya karma (done regularly. for e.g. nitya karma is Agni hotra - the homa done thrice a day); Naimittika karma (done on specific occasions. For e.g. pitru tarpana) and Kāmya karma (done optionally with specific purpose e.g. soma yāga and vājapeya).
 
Yajnas are discussed in detail (benefits, constituents, processes, types and relevant Hindu scriptures) as under:-

 
Benefits of Yajnas
Yajna brings material, environmental, psychological and spiritual benefits such as:

1. Fulfilment of specific desires such as to gain wealth, power, prosperity, offspring, intelligence, rainfall, food grains etc.
2. Inspiration to follow the path of purity and righteousness
3. Purification of air benefits to large number of people
4. Welfare of living beings, in general. The mantra of oblation and many other mantras recited while offering oblations end with words “Idam Na Mama” i.e. it is not for me or belongs to me (alone) but is dedicated to God (for the benefit of all).
5. Yajna as Nishkaam karma, helps in getting rid of all pains and attaining liberation.

 
Constituents of Yajnas
The primary constituents of a Yajña are the inspiration or urge of the doer (bhāvana), learning (svādhyāya), rites involved (karma), offerings (tyāga), devata and the results (phala).  The various requirements for Yajna are as under:

1. Yāga Sāla or mandapa 
2. A square fire alter called Vedi or havan kunda, is set up in a mandapa. Vedi is generally made of brick or stone or copper.
3. Sacred fire or Agni (one or three) is kindled in the centre during Yajna. Agni is of two types viz. Viharaṇīyā (those that can be moved) and Upastheya (those that are fixed/deposited at a place). Each of these two has eight sub-categories and are positioned in different places in the premises where sacrifice is performed.
4. Mantras are recited. Yajurveda is composed of Yajus or the mantras used for yajña.
5. Samidhaa (wood) and the Dravya (materials), ghee, milk, grains, rice, corn, blades of grass, milk, curd, materials from plants and trees etc. are offered as oblations (havi, sacrifice) into sacred fire.
6. The result (phala) of each rite creates visible or invisible effect which is called apurva. Visible (प्रत्यक्ष) and invisible (अलौकिक) gains are material or otherwise and begetting heaven or mukti respectively.
7. Participants of a Yāga  

 
Process of Yajnas

1. The performance of sacrifice or prayoga, to perform yajña -There are different stages viz. cleaning the place and building the altar, acquiring of dravya, invitation of priest, altar is decorated,  Agni invoked, homas (in the fire) and danas (alms etc) are done. The sacrifice concludes with cleaning up the place and taking the fruit of sacrifice.
2. Homas are performed in those designated places to the corresponding devatas, according to the rites of the respective Vedas.
3. Major yāgas are performed in premises meant for them, called yāga śālās. Yāga sāla follows a specific architecture/layout. It has four entrances, representing the four Vedas. These are decorated with the leaves of four kinds of trees, viz. Nyagrodha, Aswattha, Audumbara and Plaksha. In the four directions altars are built in shapes specified according to the Śrauta Śūtras. The eight Dikpālakas preside over the eight (four directions and four corners) positions of the yāga sāla.
4. Rites (Karma) – These are two types of rites in a sacrifice, principal (artha karma) and subsidiary (guna karma). In artha karma, the rite is primary and material is subsidiary to the rite. In guṇa karma, material is primary and rite secondary to it.

Artha Karma - These are three types.

• Nitya karma, done regularly. For e.g. nitya karma is Agni hotra (the homa done thrice a day).
• Naimittika karma, done on specific occasions. For e.g. pitru tarpana.
• Kāmya karma, done optionally with specific purpose. E.g. soma yāga and vājapeya.

Guna Karma - These are four types:

• utpatti (origination) – for instance creating fire for the sacrifice
• āpti (obtaining/attaining) – for instance learning required to perform the rite.
• vikṛti (modification) – for instance husking or cooking rice for sacrifice.
• samskṛti (consecration/purification) – for instance purifying the material by sprinkling water and/or through mantra.
  1. The owner or yajamani is the one who performs it. A dvija performs regular rites himself. However any major yāga requires the yajamāni to be accompanied by his consort, she should offer the fire (Āpastamba Sūtras). In case of a kāmya prayoga, a rtvija (priest) is involved. In major yāgas, there are at least four rtviks involved. Vedic (Shrauta) yajnas are typically performed by four priests’ viz. the hotri (recites invocations drawn from Rigveda), the adhvaryu (incharge of physical details as given in Yajurveda), the udgatar (chant hymn from Samaveda) and the Brahmin (superintendent of the entire performance).
  2. Oblations or homa are offered into the fire and it is said to carry those to the Devatas. Each Devata is propitiated with a specific kind of food, cooked with specific ingredients to the like of the Devata. The same is consecrated and consumed. Rishis mandated that animals will not be offered in yajña. Seers like Sankara advocated symbolic bali. The offerings are of two types’ viz. para (pertaining to Devatas) and apara (pertaining to Pitris). The presiding deities of these two kinds of offerings are Svāha and Swatha respectively.
  3. Devata consume the havis offered in sacrifice and give result of sacrifice performed.

 
Types of yajnas
The Yajnas done at a household level are called gṛhya rites. The ones performed at a collective level are called śrauta rites. Kalpa Sutras mention 33 types of Yajnas. Yajñas can also be classified based on periodicity. Some Yajñas are performed every day. Other yajñas are performed fortnightly, monthly, and yearly or even once in a life time.
 
Samskāra is a rite that involves mantra. There are forty samskāras or rites performed in one’s lifetime by householder:

1. Paka Yajñas (seven Yajnas, daily) involve consecrating cooked items.
2. Soma Yajñas (seven Yajnas) involve the extraction, utility and consumption of Soma (in the general sense nectar, but extract of a particular tree specifically)
3. Havir Yajñas (seven Yajnas) involve offering havis (other than food).
4. Vedavratas (four) are done during Vedic education.
5. At different stages in life (garbhādhānā to vivāha, ten Yajnas)
6. Pancha mahā Yajñās (five Yajnas) include Brahma yajna, deva yajna, pitri yajna, manushya yajna and bhoota yajna. In Brahma yajna (occasionally) the body, wealth, mind and emotions are surrendered to the creator; in deva yajna (daily) offerings are made to various deities like Indra, Varuna, Shiva, Devi, etc.; in pitri yajna (daily) obeisance is paid to forefathers and superiors; in manushya (daily) yajna the essence is service to humanity (represented by service to guests); and bhoota yajna (daily) is appeasing lower species.

 

1. Rajasooya, ashvamedha and vajapeya yajnas constitute ati yajna. Such yajnas were performed on a large scale by kings and involve immense manpower and resources. In Rajasooya yajnas, complaints of people were attended and activities of royal officers were evaluated. Vajapeya yajna was essentially an assemblage of learned scholars, enlightened sages and spiritual mendicants to discuss various issues and to formulate policies as well as the means to implement them. Shiro yajna is also referred to as dharma yaga.
2. There were other yajnas such as Vishvadeva yajna in which the entire cosmos (vishva) is considered the divine manifestation and is worshipped as such. Purushamedha yajna was performed as self-sacrifice, gomedha yajna was performed for the welfare of cattle, and sarvamedha yajna involved sacrificing the interests of a smaller community for a broader and nobler cause.
3. Ashvamedha yajna: Only an undisputed sovereign was qualified to conduct an ashvamedha yajna. The royal horse, signifying the power and sovereignty of the king, was sent to different kingdoms. If the horse was captured, it was seen as a challenge for the king to prove his skills. If the horse came back unopposed, it was a clear sign of the sovereignty of the monarch. This enabled him to establish his empire on a firm basis.

Yajnas in Scriptures of Hinduism
Yajna find mention in sacred Hindu scriptures such as the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana, Srimad Bhagavatam and other Mahapuranas. Pūrva Mīmāmsa or Karma Mimansa deals extensively the philosophy of yajña. Some details are as under:

1. The Yajur Veda (3:63) describes yajna as the greatest benefactor of the human race, bestowing life, wealth, food, energy, prosperity and happiness.
2. In the Kathopanishad (chapter 1), Yama reveals Nachiketa about yajna that enables an aspirant to experience heavenly bliss and attain the highest goal in life.
3. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna that the results of yajna are equivalent to nectar, which when drunk by yogis elevates them to a state of perennial bliss. It is said that all actions, excluding yajna, are the cause of bondage and it is only through performance of yajna that one attains liberation from the bondage of karma (3:9). Yajna is also related to the act of creation by Brahma (3:10). The whole cosmos is created out of agni tattwa (the fire element), which is the greatest scientific application of yajna, establishing the fact that fire or light is the quintessence of creation.
4. The epic Mahabharata is replete with examples testifying that yajna was an indispensable activity for kings and emperors. Dushyanta, son of Bharata, completed 100 ashvamedha yajnas, Bhagiratha performed several more, and King Dilip completed 1000 such rituals of fire. King Yudhishthira too conducted an ashvamedha yajna.
5. In epic Ramayana & Ramacharitramanas, King Dasharatha performed a putreshti yajna on the advice of Sage Vashishtha, to beget progeny. As a result, he was blessed with four sons, the eldest being Rama. The demon king Ravana was a great scholar who accumulated power, wealth and prosperity through his expertise in the art of yajnas. After destroying Ravana and returning to Ayodhya, Rama performed rajasooya yajna.
6. In the Koorma Purana, the demon king Bali is seen worshipping Lord Vishnu through yajna. In the Narada Purana, there is a description of the ashvamedha yajna performed by King Bahu. In the Bhavishya Purana, Rishi Chyavana appeased the Ashvini Kumaras.

​Reference:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
2. https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-Significance-of-Yajnas-in-Hindu-Mythology-Scriptures
3. http://www.yogamag.net/archives/2007/bfeb07/vedic.shtml
4. http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Yajna