YAJYA / YAJNA / HAWAN
Its meaning and purpose
Yajya (Yagya or Yajna) is the name
given to a practice that is performed on the basis
of true knowledge. It is basically of five types,
among which one is commonly known as Havan, wherein
we make purifying offerings to the sacred fire for
mental and physical well-being.
Havan has two-fold significance – spiritual
and materialistic.
The spiritual significance lies in
remembering, praising and thanking God and His Supreme
Nature, praying for wisdom to perform the right actions,
and praying for abolition of our imperfections and
inculcation of positive qualities.
The materialistic significance of
Havan is illustrated by the fact that it is a process
of purification of the atmosphere as a cumulative
effect of various scientific principles harnessed
to give rise to an unparalled purifying and healing
phenomenon.
The simultaneous functioning of subtle
scientific principles like the effect of chanting
of specific sounds on the atmosphere and mind, energies
emanating from the pyramid-shape of havan-kund and
the nutritional effect of burning of medicinal ingredients,
together not only lead to a fulfilling spiritual experience
but also sterilize the environment, making it free
of germs and infection.
The basis of life has been said to
be food. The basis of food is earth. The basis of
earth is water and the basis of water is air. If air
will be pure, all elements of the chain will become
pure, thus purifying and cleansing life itself.
Yajya is also a method of giving
back to the environment what we have taken from it.
We do not miss a chance to return a favour that anyone
does for us. So, what about the environment that gives
us pure breathing air to sustain our life every day?
All that we return to it at the end of each day is
waste – waste air, solid waste, sweat, carbon
dioxide etc. It is an act of gratitude to perform
Havan and a means of repaying our debt and thus justifying
our use of pure resources.
Imagine the effect of strong chillies
burnt in fire in the centre of a room! The magnifying
nature of fire will result in the pungent smell all
over the place. This characteristic of fire is put
to use when we perform Havan by offering purifying
substances having medicinal values, that help create
a pure, disinfected and relaxed atmosphere. The ghee
(butter) made out of cow’s milk has been referred
to as an antidote of poison in our Vedas and it is
one of the most important offerings in Havan.
Yajya has its origin in the Vedas.
Vedas are the most ancient treasure-house of knowledge
known to humanity. The word Veda comes from the sanskrit
root word "VID" which means "to know".
Veda means "pure knowledge". This knowledge
is given at the time of creation for the entire humanity.
Hence it is universal. It is the most precious intellectual
wealth of everyone, irrespective of caste, creed,
religion, sect, colour, creed or country.
Havan is also known in Sanskrit as Agnihotra. In English
Agni means Fire and Hotra means healing, so Agnihotra
means healing-fire.
Havan symbolizes the three D’s
of discipline, devotion and dedication. It teaches
us to give without expecting anything in return, because
this is what fire does. While performing Havan, we
make our offerings by saying the word ‘Swaaha’.
The word ‘Swaaha’ symbolizes: soft-spokenness
and politeness; truth; not being possessive of any
object other than one’s own; being consistent
in thoughts and words; and an eagerness to sacrifice
– even one’s most beloved objects!
Agni or fire holds inspirational
value for the soul through its features of light,
speed and motion. It inspires us souls to become bright
and radiant. It inspires us to burn out our mental
and intellectual imperfections. Fire always tends
to rise upwards. When we make our offerings to this
fire and pray in front of it, we are actually seeking
the Lord’s blessings to help us rise and progress
forever in life and stop not till the goal is achieved.
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