Gayatri and Yagya1

This ancient tradition of Yagya incorporates the principles of theoretical knowledge and applied science and contains in it all the elements of material elements in seed form. It is a sacred process conducive to the welfare and happiness of the individual as well as the society.

The meaning or purport of the word Yagya is an act or celebration of self-giving which aims at the highest universal good, an act which is generous, magnificent, noble and magnanimous. Yagya is a Sanskrit word which has three meanings; divinity, organization and charity. These three virtues can be said to be triple divine currents of individual and social transformation. Divinity means refined personality, divine virtues. Organization implies unity, cooperation team-spirit. Charity implies generous sharing, devotion to society, and considering the entire universe as one's own family. All these three tendencies are thus combined in Yagya and it can be said to be the flaming torch of knowledge. It inspires man to translate higher sentiments and motives into righteous deeds. Coordination of knowledge and action created the ground for making progress. Righteous deeds, which is known as tap, and true knowledge, which is known as Yoga, are the basis of spiritual progress.

The philosophy underlying Jeevan (life) - Yagya is to make a man great by adopting the philosophy of self-sacrifice. It has been stated in the Geeta that a man who eats without giving to others is a thief, he commits sin. A man should eat the leftover of Yagya.

According to Geeta 3/31 Devtas (divine beings) attain divinity only by Yagya. This is nothing but propounding the fact that in individual life man should not be selfish or self-centered and in his actions and behavior, he should demonstrate sincere devotion for the welfare and upliftment of the society. This is a highway leading to all-round happiness, progress, peace and tranquility of the individual as well as society.

There is no other religious medium as powerful as Yagya to educate the public mind by explaining the subtle implications of sacrifice, generosity and benevolence for purifying the individual and making the society capable and competent. According to Rig-Veda, the fire of Yagya, although speechless, acts as Purohit (spiritual priest) and inspires people in achieving all-round progress, happiness and peace. If the philosophy of Yagya is fully understood and assimilated in practical life circumstances can be created for the emergence of divinity in man and descent of heaven on the earth. These ideals have to be lived for changing the present era and building a bright future.

It is said that Devtas performed Yagya and attained divinity. Emergence of Brahman elements in man is possible only by Yagya. Otherwise, devoid of it, man is no better than an animal. Performance of Yagya has been said to be the main function of a Brahman. The essence of Yagya is common good, universal peace and happiness. The chariot of human life runs smoothly so long as different parts of the body work in cooperation with each other. Every thing will be topsy-turvy if selfishness or non-cooperation pre-dominates in social life. Take, for instance, the example of the cycle of water. Clouds get water from the sea, earth gets water from the clouds, rivers get water from the earth, and sea gets it from the rivers and thus there is growth of vegetation and greenery everywhere and the thirst of all living beings is quenched. If there is any interruption anywhere in this cycle of unhindered giving or sacrifice this earth will become like a hot iron plate. Similarly, living beings thrive on different vegetations which get their nourishment nad diet from urine and feces (excrements) of the former. Living beings inhale oxygen emitted by the trees and the latter thrive on carbon-di-oxide exhaled by the former. There is also a similar mutual give and take between human beings and animals. This is the philosophy of Yagya, of give and take, around which the entire universe revolves.