Yajna Tradition

Swami Satyananda Saraswati

A yajna is a fire ceremony. The tradition of yajna is well known in India, as it is the most ancient of Vedic rituals, which Indians have carried on till the present day. In fact this ancient form of worship was prevalent throughout the world before the advent of diverse cultural sects. It was the ritual of our forefathers, whereby through the power of mantras and offerings specific deities were invoked to shower their benevolence on mankind. So you have a vedic yajna, tantric yajna, pauranic yajna and even darshanic (philosophical) yajnas. During the treta yuga, king Dasarath conducted the Putreshti yajna whereby Agni was invoked, we all know he got not one, but four, each more brilliant than the other. Other Vedic yajnas such as Somayana, Jyotistoma, Ashwamedha, Rajasuya, Vajapeya, are well known. Yajnas such as Gayatri Yajna, Vishnu Yajna and Chandi Yajna were also conducted during the Pauranic era. Srimad Bhagawad Gita refers to Darshanic yajnas which are more philosophical in nature where even an act of charity, austerity, japa or swadhyaya can be performed in the spirit of a yajna. The form and importance of yajna differed according to the times depending on the aptitude and needs. In today's situation we may even talk about a blood donation yajna or an eye camp yajna or even a refugee crisis yajna! Despite the fact that there are several kinds of yajnas the underlying factor common to all yajnas is that through this ritual the invisible forces (devatas) that are interspersed in the atmosphere consolidate and collect in the area where it is conducted. Just as the vapour in the air becomes water through a process of condensation in the same way these divine forces that are pervading the akasha condense and crystallise at one place. It is for this reason that a yajna is considered a very powerful and potent means for positively influencing the atmosphere which surrounds us. Yajna's are known to ward off malefic events. The world situation being what it is today, it would therefore be appropriate to conduct yajnas in these troubled times. Yajnas have an element of mystery in them. This is because the effects of a yajna are felt on not just the physical, mental, psychic or spiritual levels but on the supramental levels as well. A Yajna is an esoteric act and thus penetrates deep into the area of mysticism. The yajnas conducted during Sita Kalyanam are tantric. The rites and rituals, which will be observed at these yajnas are drawn from the traditions preserved in the Agamas (Tantras). These rituals will differ from yajna to yajna. There are different types of fire-places (vedi) for each yajna, the herbs and materials offered also differ. Different mantras are chanted in each yajna. Every item offered for sacrifice in these yajnas is pure because it is drawn from nature. Waters from seven seas and rivers will be offered as oblation in these yajnas. In the nine days preceding Sita Vivah the following yajnas will be conducted: 1) Ganapati yajna, 2) Navgraha yajna, 3) Saraswati yajna, 4) Sudarshan yajna, 5) Maha Vishnu/Laxmi yajna, 6) Gita yajna, 7) Rudra/Durga yajna, 8) Saundarya Lahiri yajna, and 9) Lalita yajna. Swami Satyananda has said, "Yajna is a very common thing in India. In fact we don't invite anyone for yajnas, people come on their own. The moment they hear there is a yajna in Calcutta, people go from here because the belief of the people is that when you perform a yajna the celestial beings pervade that area. Not only the material and physical environment but also the spiritual environment of that place is purified. Just as you feel the coolness when you enter an air-conditioned apartment, because the room is cool, in the same way if a particular area is charged with a highly spiritual environment then as you enter that area your mind becomes peaceful, pure and is elevated." For a yajna to become efficacious it is most important that the acharyas (pundits) who conduct it are carefully chosen. Adept Yoginis from the sannyasa tradition to which Swami Satyananda belongs have been chosen by him to conduct the yajnas as per the tantric tradition of Dakshina Path (South India). Yajna in the life of a householder is very important, Swami Satyananda has said, "In the Vedas, Puranas and Smritis we are advised that householders should perform yajna. Yajna, according to the Gita, does not mean just a ritual where some items of the puja are consigned to flames and dedicated to God. The word yajna is constituted of three syllables ya, ja, and na which refer to three processes of every act we perform viz. utpadan, uparjan and vitarana i.e. production (ya), earning (ja), distribution (na). "In the life of every householder sharing one's wealth with others is of topmost value. It is the first duty of each householder. Whatever he gets from his farms, from his trade and commerce, whatever he earns from his job, must be shared with other members of society. He should not forget that his wealth owes a share to the needy members of society. Remember and don't forget that you do not have an exclusive right over the wealth you call your own."