Duties and responsibilities of the Hindu life has been classified into five great Yajnas or the Pancha Mahayajnas (Taittiriya Aranyaka 2.10). It is imperative on the part of every householder to perform the following five sacrifices:
- Rishi-yajna — honouring Rishis by the study of holy sciptures.
- Deva-yajna — worship of the celestials (devas) by pouring oblations into the sacred fire. This is done during the twilight prayers (sandhya), aupasana, and agnihotra yajnas.
- Pitri-yajna — offering libations to ancestors or pitrs.
- Manushya-yajna — charitable offerings of food to fellow humans.
- Bhuta-yajna — feeding animals, especially cows and birds.
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