What is yagya-- in the modern day context?
Question by:Snigdha Mishra, M.Com Applied Economics
Dear Snigdha, this is the most misunderstood term for the western mind as it sees only a fire burning at the centre of a geometrical configuration and some persons pouring fat and grains into the fire uttering some mystical words. There is divinely scented air all around. But, this is just a ritual, which hides the principle. Why the principle has been hidden? It is because the gurus of the Vedic rishi culture wanted to save the highest form of refined act from the evil-minded.
Dear Snigdha, this is the most misunderstood term for the western mind as it sees only a fire burning at the centre of a geometrical configuration and some persons pouring fat and grains into the fire uttering some mystical words. There is divinely scented air all around. But, this is just a ritual, which hides the principle. Why the principle has been hidden? It is because the gurus of the Vedic rishi culture wanted to save the highest form of refined act from the evil-minded.
The reason has been simple---certain acts are purely based on natural principles which, if made use of by evil minds, may end up doing more harm to Nature and society than a natural calamity. You must have heard in the Puranic lore about some demons performing yagyas to wipe out gods and even disrupting those being conducted by the latter. This was one of the reasons why the rishis kept the principle part of the yagya secret and promoted the ritual part. The aim was to hide the principle from the unworthy and yet allow the principle to be passed on from generation to generation, which only the deserving could discover from the layers of the rituals.
But, for academic understanding of the term, we can simply take it as a ritualistic tool to unite with the Creator. The word has come from the Sanskrit root युज् which means to unite. Therefore, any act which makes us unite with the object of action is called yagya. It is the most refined kind of an action, which works on natural principles. The entire creation is working on the principle, which has the fire at the centre. In the modern context, if you are passionate about animals and serve them food and shelter, then the passion becomes the fire and your act of providing food and shelter becomes oblations into the fire. The oblations keep the fire burning in the form of animals getting healthy life and you satisfaction. This is also a kind of yagya. Krishna says in Chapter 3 of the Gita, यज्ञार्थात्करमणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धन: --actions other than those performed for yagya are the cause of bondage. तदर्थ कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसंग: समाचर: --therefore, act without attachment and with equanimity of mind. This action is called yagya.
Therefore, yagya is not just fire burning in the centre of a geometrical configuration. It, in fact, is the principle on which the entire universe is functioning. Two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen make water...this is the principle. But, the scientists aren't able to make artificial drinkable water yet! Because, they have not performed the yagya-- the principle action! They have just imitated Nature without understanding the principle!--VS
