पंचमहायज्ञ

यन्त्रोपारोपितकोशांशः

Purana Encyclopedia

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

PAÑCAMAHĀYAJÑA : For a Gṛhasthāśramī (house- holder) the following five apparatuses are unavoidable: A sifter, a grinding stone, a broom, a wooden mortar and a water-pot. It is believed that a sin is committed when each of these is used and to remove the sins thus committed the ancient sages have prescribed five yajñas and these five yajñas are called the Pañcamahā- yajñas. They are the Brahmayajña, Pitṛyajña, Devayajña, Bhūtayajña and the Mānuṣayajña. Reciting of Vedas is Brahmayajña. Pleasing the manes by offering rice or libations of water is called Pitṛyajña. Giving offerings to the demi-gods in the sacrificial fire is called Devayajña and religious offerings of rice to the crows is called Bhūtayajña. Giving food for the guests is Mānuṣayajña. One who does not do the Pañcamahāyajñas is no better than dead. Some scholars have classified the Pañcamahāyajñas as Huta, Prahuta, Brāhmyahuta, Prāśita and Ahuta.

Japo huto huto homaḥ
Prahuto bhautiko baliḥ //
Brāhmyaṁ hutaṁ dvijāgnyarccā
Prāsitam pitṛtarpaṇam. //


Ahuta is Brahmayajña, huta is devayajña, prahuta is bhūtayajña, brāhmyahuta is mānuṣikayajña and prāśita is pitṛyajña. Even if at times one finds it not possible to do mānuṣikayajña one must perform daily brahmayajña and daivayajña. The offerings given to gods in the sacrificial fire go to the Sun. The Sun sends rains to the earth which in turn make the plants flourish. Vedas say that thus living beings increase. Just as all animals and objects depend on life-breath for living, a Brahmacārī, a Vānaprastha and a Sannyāsī depend upon a gṛhastha for sustenance. Therefore, the Gṛhasthāśrama is the best of all āśramas. (Chapter 3, Manūsmṛti).


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*2nd word in right half of page 552 (+offset) in original book.