Yajňa Rite & Inner Yajňa

Sin, Evil, Hostile Forces and Purification

The sophistication of the Vedic thinkers can be seen in their handling of this topic. As Sri Aurobindo states, “the crude conception of sin as a result of natural wickedness of man...

Benefits of Yajna

A common question posed by the moderns is whether the outer yajňa yields the benefits mentioned by Sāyaņa. We have to recognize that the final result of any action is...

Symbolism of Worlds

We shall proceed to symbolism behind the system of the worlds. First there are the worlds denoted by the three vyāhŗtis, bhūĥ, bhuvaĥ and svaĥ. Bhūĥ also known as pŗthvi is the earth, bhuvaĥ is the mid-region antarikşha and suvaĥ, otherwise...

Symbolism of Offerings

Now the substances or offerings also are to be understood as symbolic. Just as the derivation of the names of ritviks gives us their symbolic meaning of Gods etc., in the inner yajňa, so...

Symbolism of Priests

Hotŗ Priest Adhvaryu Priest Udgāta Priest Brahma Priest Hotŗ Priest: SummonerThere are four orders or groups of these ritviks in the soma yāga (worship) viz., hotŗ, adhvaryu, udgāta, and brahma. Each of these groups has four ritviks and hence they all total to sixteen. As...

The Outer Ritual, Yajňa, and its Inner or Subtl...

It has been stated that all that is external is symbolic of the internal. Therefore the outer sacrifice yajňa also becomes the symbol of inner sacrifice yajňa. We shall first state the symbolic significance...