The word Yajna is used many times in Prasthana Traya,
the three authoritative primary sources namely Upanishads, Brahmasutras and Bhagavad
Gita. Yajna in simple word is Sacrifice; it is misunderstood to be a ritual
where offerings are made to Devas through Agni, the Fire God. Though it is one
of the aspects of Yajna, it is not the one and only. The basic idea of Yajna
according to the Vedic thought is for the human to be happy and have a prosperous
life living in harmony with Prakriti (Material Nature) and the Purusha (Spiritual
Nature). Hence just a selfless performance of our prescribed duty for the
welfare of all beings will account as Yajna.
There are different kinds of Yajnas to be done of
which the Dravya Yajna and Jnana Yajna seem to be important. Whatever action we
undertake to transform Matter into Food it becomes Dravya Yajna which is also
termed as Karma Yajna. In the daily work we perform we fulfil our basic
necessity called “Annam” (Food) and help others to garner the same for themselves
and their family this is Dravya Yajna. The
quest to analyse and acquire knowledge from various scriptures or to achieve it
by experience is called as Jnana Yajna.
In Dravya Yajna, I am a part of the Brahmanda (Macrocosm)
in working for the well being of all my co-existing entities. Collective
Consciousness is at work here. It is important for every being to be a part of anything and everything that is happening which is ensuring the harmony and wellness of the society. My factory is the Yajna Kunda (Offering Place). The raw
material at my factory is made into finished product by adding some value to it. In this process there is acquiring
of wealth by righteous means for my living and giving an opportunity for others
to be a part of it and aid them to make their living as well, this is taking part in Dravya Yajna.
While a part of our scriptures gives importance to
Dravya Yajna there is another part which encourages us to go for Jnana Yajna. Jnana
Yagna implies to gaining knowledge by enlightening ourselves to know what is not known about our own Self.
In Jnana Yagna, I am a part of the Pindananda (Microcosm) working for the betterment
of my existence and be aware of it. There is my Consciousness from within at work here. My five
Jnanendriyas namely Shotra
(Sense of Hearing), Tvak (Sense of Touch), Chakshu (Sense of Sight), Jivha (Sense
of Taste) and Gahana (Sense of Smell) become the Yajna Kunda (Offering Place) where
those which I listen, feel, see, eat and sniff become the Ahuti (offerings). Buddhi
(Intellect) is the Ghee which is the supporter of combustion to know Self. The
question “Who I am?” is the Fire. In this process there is acquiring knowledge of Self and to be Self-aware by becoming one with it.
Both the Dravya Yajna as well as Jnana Yajna is
required just as how both Hardware and Software are required to run a programme
in our computer.
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