Types of Yajnas
Four hundred yajnas are described in the Vedas, of which 21 are deemed compulsory. These compulsory Yajnas are also called nityakarmas. The rest of the yajnas are optional and are performed for kamyakarma (particular wishes and benefits). The Aupasana Yajna, though not a part of these 21, is still compulsory .
Out of the 21 nityakarmas, only the Agnihotra and the Aupasana are to be performed twice daily, at dawn and at dusk. The remaining Yajnas are performed over the course of the year. The more complicated the yajna, the less frequently it is performed. The most complex ones need to be performed only once in a lifetime. The first seven yajnas are called pākayajnas or cooked sacrifices. The next seven are called haviryajnas or oblations(burnt offerings) related sacrifices and the remaining seven are called somayajnas or the Soma sacrifices. Some of the yajnas performed during a person's lifetime are:
- The Pakayajnas — They are the aṣtaka, sthālipāka, parvana, srāvaṇi, āgrahayani, caitri and āsvīyuji. These yajnas involve consecrating cooked items.
- Soma Yajnas — Agnistoma, atyagnistoma, uktya, shodasi, vājapeya, atirātra and aptoryama are the Soma Yajnas. These involve the extraction, utility and consumption of Soma (an extract of a particular chosen tree) is called Soma Yajña.
- Havir Yajnas — They are the agniyādhāna, agni hotra, Darśa-Pūrṇamāsa, āgrayana, cāturmāsya, niruudha paśu bandha, sautrāmaṇi. These involve offering havis or oblations.
- The five panca mahā Yajñās, which are mentioned below.
- Vedavratas, which are four in number and are done during Vedic education.
- The remaining sixteen Yajnas, which are one-time samskāras or rituals with mantras, that are done at different stages in life. They are garbhādhānā, pumsavana, sīmanta, jātakarma,nāmakaraṇa, annaprāśana,chudākarma/caula,niskramana,karnavedha,vidyaarambha, upanayana,keshanta, snātaka and vivāha,nisheka,antyeshti. These are specified by the gṛhya sūtrās. Some gṛhya sūtrās like Vaikhanasa prescribe 2 more samskaras, the Vishnu bali and the Pravasagamana/Pindavardhana.
Yajnas such as Putrakameshti (for begetting sons), Ashvamedha (to rule), Rajasuya (royal consecration) etc. are among those sacrifices of the 400 which are not compulsory.
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