Yajna Dictionary

Asvamedha-yajna - a horse-sacrifice of antiquity in which vast wealth is spent. Formerly the brahmanas were so highly qualified by purity and in the skill of chanting mantras that the life of the animal would be rejuvenated. By performing one hundred such sacrifices one could attain the post of Indra. This sacrifice is forbidden in the age of Kali as there are no qualified brahmanas to perform it properly.

(See also: Asvamedha-yajna , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Yajna (Sanskrit) In Vedic literature, worship, devotion, prayer, praise; in post-Vedic literature, an act of worship or devotion, an oblation, sacrifice, also sacrifice personified or fire.

'The Yajna,' say the Brahmans, 'exists from eternity, for it proceeded from the Supreme, in whom it lay dormant from no beginning.' It is the key to the Trai-Vidya, the thrice sacred science contained in the Rig-Veda verses, which teaches the Yajna or sacrificial mysteries. As Haug states in his Introduction to the Aitareya Brahmana -- the Yajna exists as an invisible presence at all times, extending from the Ahavaniya or sacrificial fire to the heavens, forming a bridge or ladder by means of which the sacrificer can communicate with the world of devas, 'and even ascend when alive to their abodes.' It is one of the forms of Akasa, within which the mystic Word (or its underlying 'Sound') calls it into existence. Pronounced by the Priest-Initiate or Yogi, this Word receives creative powers, and is communicated as an impulse on the terrestrial plane through a trained Will-power" (TG 375).

(See also: Yajna , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Rajasuya-Yajna:

Rajasuya-Yajna: a sacrifice performed by a  monarch as a mark of his subduing all other Kings.

(See also: Rajasuya-Yajna , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Atma-yajna:

Atma-yajna (Aathma-yajna). Self-sacrifice.

(See also: Atma-yajna , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Sautramani-yajna - a particular sacrifice in honor of Indra which is described in the Yajur Veda. It is said that by performing this yajna, one obtains a place in the heavenly planets. Although drinking wine is forbidden for brahmanas, this yajna involves the acceptance of wine in a manner that does not result in a brahmana’s falldown.

(See also: Sautramani-yajna , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Aswamedha-:

Aswamedha-(yajna): Horse sacrifice (BV-4), (BV-5), (RRV-7a).

 - A Vedic horse sacrifice; At the end of life or a period of government of a king, a horse with a plaque around his neck is sent out into the kingdom accompanied by an army; Anyone who challenges the honor of the king will be disputed.

 - Method to separate from wordly detachment and status.

(See also: Aswamedha- , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Yajna-vidya (Sanskrit) [from yajna sacrifice + vidya knowledge]

The knowledge or science of sacrificial rites. These religious rites are performed by the Brahmins to produce certain results, although the esoteric significance of the true yajna has been lost sight of. The four vidyas are yajna-vidya, maha-vidya (the great magic knowledge, now degenerated into Tantric worship), guhya-vidya (the science of mantras, etc.), and atma-vidya (true spiritual and divine wisdom), the last of which contains the keys to the other three.

(See also: Yajna-vidya , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

jnana-yajna:

jnana-yajna (jnaana-yajna). Sacrifice involving spiritual wisdom.

(See also: jnana-yajna , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Yajna-Sarathi:

Yajna-Sarathi (-Saarathi). The charioteer for the sacrifice; name for Agni, the God of Fire.

(See also: Yajna-Sarathi , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

RAJASUYA-YAJNA: A sacrifice performed by a monarch as a mark of his subduing all other kings.

(See also: RAJASUYA-YAJNA ,Yoga, Yoga Dictionary)

yoga-yajna:

yoga-yajna. The practice of yogic discipline as a sacrificial act.

(See also: yoga-yajna , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

seva-yajna:

seva-yajna. The sacrifice of selfless service.

(See also: seva-yajna , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

yajna-sala:

yajna-sala (-shaalaa). Sacrificial hall.

(See also: yajna-sala , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

puja: (Sanskrit) "Worship, adoration."

An Agamic rite of worship performed in the home, temple or shrine, to the murti, sri paduka, or other consecrated object, or to a person, such as the satguru. Its inner purpose is to purify the atmosphere around the object worshiped, establish a connection with the inner worlds and invoke the presence of God, Gods or one's guru.

During puja, the officiant (pujari) recites various chants praising the Divine and beseeching divine blessings, while making offerings in accordance with established traditions. Puja, the worship of a murti through water, lights and flowers in temples and shrines, is the Agamic counterpart of the Vedic yajna rite, in which offerings are conveyed through the sacred homa fire. These are the two great streams of adoration and communion in Hinduism.

Central steps of puja include:

1)    achamana, water sipping for purification;

2)    Ganapati prarthana, prayers to Ganesha;

3)    sankalpa, declaration of intent;

4)    ghanta, ringing bell, inviting devas and dismissing asuras;

5)    avahana, inviting the Deity ;

6)    mantras and dhyana, meditating on the Deity;

7)    svagata, welcoming;

8)    namaskara, obeisance;

9)    arghyam, water offerings;

10) pradakshina, circumambulation;

11) abhisheka, bathing the murti;

12) dhupa, incense-offering;

13) dipa, offering lights;

14) 1naivedya, offering food;

15) archana, chanting holy names;

16) arati, final offering of lights;

17) prarthana, personal requests;

18) visarjana, dismissal-farewell.

Also central are pranayama (breath control), guru vandana (adoration of the preceptor), nyasa (empowerment through touching) and mudra (mystic gestures). Puja offerings also include pushpa (flowers), arghya (water), tambula (betel leaf) and chandana (sandalpaste).

-       atmartha puja: Karana Agama, v. 2, states: Atmartha cha parartha cha puja dvividhamuchyate, "Worship is two-fold: for the benefit of oneself and for the benefit of others." Atmartha puja is done for oneself and immediate family, usually at home in a private shrine.

-       parartha puja: "Puja for others." Parartha puja is public puja, performed by authorized or ordained priests in a public shrine or temple.

See: pujari, puja, yajna.

(See also: Puja , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

yajna-vahana:

yajna-vahana (-vaahana). Having the Vedic rituals as one's vehicle.

(See also: yajna-vahana , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

sacrifice: Yajna.

1)    Making offerings to a Deity as an expression of homage and devotion.

2)    Giving up something, often one's own possession, advantage or preference, to serve a higher purpose.

The literal meaning of sacrifice is "to make sacred," implying an act of worship. It is the most common translation of the term yajna, from the verb yuj, "to worship." In Hinduism, all of life is a sacrifice - called jivayajna, a giving of oneself - through which comes true spiritual fulfillment. Tyaga, the power of detachment, is an essential quality of true sacrifice.

See: tyaga, yajna.

(See also: Sacrifice , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

agnikaraka: (Sanskrit) "Fire ritual." The Agamic term for yajna. See: yajna.

(See also: Agnikaraka , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

agni: (Sanskrit) "Fire." 1) One of the five elements, panchabhuta. 2) God of the element fire, invoked through Vedic ritual known as yajna, agnikaraka, homa and havana. The God Agni is the divine messenger who receives prayers and oblations and conveys them to the heavenly spheres. See: yajna.

(See also: Agni , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

mantra: (Sanskrit) "Mystic formula."

A sound, syllable, word or phrase endowed with special power, usually drawn from scripture. Mantras are chanted loudly during puja to invoke the Gods and establish a force field. Certain mantras are repeated softly or mentally for japa, the subtle tones quieting the mind, harmonizing the inner bodies and stimulating latent spiritual qualities. Hinduism's universal mantra is Aum. To be truly effective, such mantras must be given by the preceptor through initiation.

See: Aum, incantation, japa, puja, yajna, mantra, mantra yoga, meditation.

(See also: Mantra , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

bhakti yoga: n (Sanskrit) "Union through devotion." Bhakti yoga is the practice of devotional disciplines, worship, prayer, chanting and singing with the aim of awakening love in the heart and opening oneself to God's grace. Bhakti may be directed toward God, Gods or one's spiritual preceptor.

Bhakti yoga seeks communion and ever closer rapport with the Divine, developing qualities that make communion possible, such as love, selflessness and purity. Saint Sambandar described bhakti as religion's essence and the surest means to divine union and liberation. He advised heartfelt worship, unstinting devotion and complete surrender to God in humble, committed service. From the beginning practice of bhakti to advanced devotion, called prapatti, self-effacement is an intricate part of Hindu, even all Indian, culture.

Bhakti yoga is embodied in Patanjali's Yoga Darshana in the second limb, niyamas (observances), as devotion (Ishvarapranidhana). Bhakti yoga is practiced in many Hindu schools, and highly developed in Vaishnavism as a spiritual path in itself, leading to perfection and liberation. In Saiva Siddhanta, its cultivation is the primary focus during the kriya pada (stage of worship).

See: bhakti yoga, prapatti, sacrifice, surrender, yajna.

(See also: Bhakti yoga , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Atma-vidya (Sanskrit) (from atma self + vidya knowledge)

Knowledge of the self; the highest form of spiritual-divine wisdom, because the fundamental or essential self is a flame or spark of the kosmic self. "Of the four Vidyas -- out of the seven branches of Knowledge mentioned in the Puranas -- namely, 'Yajna-Vidya' (the performance of religious rites in order to produce certain results); 'Maha-Vidya,' the great (Magic) knowledge, now degenerated into Tantrika worship; 'Guhya-Vidya,' the science of Mantras and their true rhythm or chanting, of mystical incantations, etc. -- it is only the last one, 'Atma-Vidya,' or the true Spiritual and Divine wisdom, which can throw absolute and final light upon the teachings of the three first named. Without the help of Atma-Vidya, the other three remain no better than surface sciences, geometrical magnitudes having length and breadth, but no thickness.

They are like the soul, limbs, and mind of a sleeping man: capable of mechanical motions, of chaotic dreams and even sleep-walking, of producing visible effects, but stimulated by instinctual not intellectual causes, least of all by fully conscious spiritual impulses. A good deal can be given out and explained from the three first-named sciences. But unless the key to their teachings is furnished by Atma-Vidya, they will remain for ever like the fragments of a mangled text-book, like the adumbrations of great truths, dimly perceived by the most spiritual, but distorted out of all proportion by those who would nail every shadow to the wall" (SD 1:168-9).

Called by Purucker the last of the seven jewels, the keynote running all through this jewel of wisdom being how the One becomes the many.

(See also: Atma-vidya , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)