Pancha yajnas

Pancha Maha Yajnas (the five great offerings)

In our Vedas and Bhagavad Gita, the Karma Khanda or Karma Yoga is given prominence and Karma or Action is verily exhorted as a means to purify our inner self to attain different Purusharthas like Dharma, Artha, Kama and even preparing ourselves to get Jnana for Moksha or Liberation. 

Karma Yoga is considered as a great opportunity for human beings to serve humanity and this nature where we have taken birth to make our lives more purposeful and meaningful. Of the different Karmas, the Pancha Maha Yajnas are given special prominence for all especially Grihasthas (one who is leading family life) and though Vedas and Gita talk about them, it is in Taittariya Aranyakam they are specifically named and enumerated.

Yajna in classical definition usually means a Vedic ritual often involving fire and oblations to appease Gods and elements. However in today's world, we can interpret Yajna as any offering to God (if you are a believer) through service to humanity and the Nature. Any unconditional and non expectant (without expecting any return favour) service rendered often as an offering to God (if you are believer) can be termed a Yajna. The five Maha Yajnas are 

Bhuta Yajna (offerings to all beings)

Pitr Yajna (offerings to our forefathers)

Manushya Yajna (offerings to fellow human beings)

Deva Yajna (offerings to Ishta Devatas and Elements of Nature)

Brahma Yajna (offerings to Consciousness or Brahman)

In Vedic literature these are specified through different instructions like Bhuta Yajna are worshipping special plants and animals (like cows) and offering to them, Pitr Yajna are Shraddha, Tarpanam, etc offered as Naimittika Karmas, Manushya Yajna are Dana or Donations of different kinds to needy people, Deva Yajna is our daily Puja and Parayana or Upasana including Nityakarmas and Brahma Yajna is Dhyana (meditation), Veda Parayana (studying and chanting Vedas) and Shravana/Manana (listening to Acharyas and contemplating upon Brahman) including Atma Vichara (self enquiry).

However, even in today's world we can adapt these and practise regardless of whether we follow Sanatana Dharma or not, and even for non-believers in God. We can consider this whole Universe as a manifestation of the Parabrahman and offer our service through our Karma to the five systems that we see in and around us. They are 

The Ecological system (Flora and Fauna - the trees, plants and animals)

The Family system (our immediate and extended family)

The social system (the community where we live and operate)

The environmental system (the nature and its elements like air, water, earth etc)

The mind-body-consciousness system (the subtle inner features inside us)

Any service offered to the ecology like growing plants and caring animals and birds like feeding them is Bhuta Yajna only. Any support given to our family and friends including moral and mental support not just financial and resources is Pitr Yajna only. Any selfless service offered to community and the poor is Manushya Yajna only. Any action taken to improve the environment - like sanitation, cleaning (of surroundings,

rivers, mountains), afforestation, reducing pollution and such are Deva Yajna only. And finally any effort taken to restore our mental health and balance like daily physical exercises, Yoga, Meditation, Reading, Teaching, Counselling others and such are all Brahma Yajna only. 

In short an ethical and moral living as per our Dharma would automatically ensure we are doing all the Pancha Maha Yajnas in our daily lives even without being aware of it. So it doesn't take any great effort or special mission to do this. Thirumoolar (the Saivite Tamil saint) has very simply said this in one of his very popular verses

யாவர்க்குமாம் இறைவற்கு ஒரு பச்சிலை

யாவர்க்குமாம் பசுவுக்கு ஒரு வாயுறை

யாவர்க்குமாம் உண்ணும் போதொரு கைப்பிடி

யாவர்க்குமாம் பிறர்க்கு இன்னுரை தானே.

One green leaf to be offered to God everyday

One animal (including birds) to be fed everyday

One morsel to be shared (with others) everyday 

One sweet word spoken (to others) everyday 

Such a simple and effective way to convey the Pancha Maha Yajnas that our Vedas exhort us to, that everyone of us can easily follow whether we know Vedas or not.