On the eve of RSA Ashwamedh Yagya; Yagya, Mahayagya and Ashwamedh Yagya

May - Jun 2006

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   In ancient times, simple yajnas used to play an important role in inner refinement and self-purification. The mahayajnas used to be performed to purify the social life. But, when the need for complete renovation of the nation (RaÌtra) and that of the environment was felt, there was a tradition of Ashvamedha yajnas at the universal level. Thus, the yajnas have been classified into three categories; viz, yajna, mahayajna and Ashvamedha yajna. The magnitude of their results also increases in the same order.

The importance of yajna has been described in detail in SHrimad Bhagwat Puraña. Several such events have been described in this scripture, which acquaint us fully with the enormous power of yajna. According to this Puraña, the universe was created with the help of yajna. This phenomenon has been described as follows.

In an answer to a query, Brahmaji describes the form of yajna as follows —

“Yadasya nabhyam …………… caturhortram ca sattam”
- Bhagwat, Skandha 2, Addhyaya 6, shlokas 22,23,24.

Meaning — “When I was born from the navel of the all-pervading Brahm, I did not see any articles for oblation except the body of the PuruÌ (the male God). Therefore, I created the animals, vegetables, Kusha (a sacred grass), the sacred land where gods can perform yajna and the time, which is full of virtues (meaning the time in which the virtues are worshipped). Then I created all the ingredients of yajna, herbs, milk fats, sweetmeats, metals like gold, clay (earth), water, four Vedas (Rig, Yaju, Sama and Atharva), four Brahmañs, and such procedures too by which the yajna may be performed.”

There is description in the Brahma Puraña (Purva Bhag,Addhyaya 1, shloka 5,6,7) that in the beginning of the Kalpa, a very sacred mahayajna was performed for one thousand years. The organizer of this mahayajna was Brahmaji himself accompanied by His wife Ila. The role of Shamitraka was performed by intelligent and radiant Mrityudev himself.

The king Daksha felt very sorry when his yajna was spoiled by her daughter Sati by her self-immolation. After begging pardon from Shiva, he organized Vishad yajna as atonement for his sin. Its description is found in shlokas 16 to 18 of seventh chapter in the fourth Skandha of Bhagwat; as follows —

Thus Daksha got his sin pardoned, and after consulting Brahmaji, he expanded the work of yajna, beautifully, by taking into account all the aspects, e.g. upadhyaya, —itvija, agni for yajna, etc. A Purodasha (an oblation made of ground rice and offered in kapalas or vessels) of three kapalas was offered to Lord Vishnu. In order to complete the yajna, offerings were given to virtuous Brahmañs to purify the chief stalwarts. When the Adhwaryu took the Havi in his hand and meditated on God after performing havan with pure intelligence along with the Yajman, he sighted the Virat PuruÌ (Lord Vishnu)”.

Rishabhdev is considered the incarnation of God. This country has been named as Bharatvarsha in the memory of his son Bharat. The latter made this country a sacred land through the performance of mahayajnas.

Wherever the mahayajnas were performed, Tirthas (holy places) were established. After removing the suffix ‘pra’ from ‘Prayag’ , what remains is the word ‘yag’, (which means yajna). This place has become Tartharaj (the king of Tirthas) because a large number of yajnas have been performed there. The Dashashvamedha Ghat (a bathing place on the bank of the river Ganga) in Kashi (Varanasi) is a proof of the fact that ten major yajnas had been performed there. This is why so much holiness has been attributed to this place. It is mentioned in part 4 of Skand Puraña that the king of Kashi, Divodas performed yajan of the Lord Mahayagyeshwar in Kashi city by ten Ashvamedha yajnas. From that day, that place became famous as Dashashvamedha Tirtha. Previously, it was known as Rudrasarovar.
The sages asked reverend Sootaji about the place, time, type etc of the first mahayajna. Whatever Sootaji said, in an answer to this question, is described in the second chapter in the first part of “Vayu Puraña”, as follows —

“The creator in the primordial state (i.e. before the actual creation of this universe), performed the sacred yajna for thousands of years with an aim to create this world. In this mahayajna, indeed Tapa (penance) was Yajman and Brahmaji Himself was Brahma of the yajna. In this long and grand yajna of great souls, the ‘Nemi’ (wheel) of Dharma revolved so much that it shattered and hence that area which was worshipped by the sages and saints, was named as NaimiÌarañya.

The fourth shloka in the first chapter in first skandha of Bhagwat says —

NaimiÌe niniÌikshetre —Ìaya¡ shaunkadaya¡|
Satra swargaya lokaya sahastra samamasat||

Meaning — Once upon a time, 88000 sages including Shaunak performed a 10,000 years long mahayajna in the sacred area of NaimiÌarañya, with a desire to achieve Heaven. It is the sacred effect of these yajnas that this area is supposed to be sacred even today.

A description is found about Ayodhya - that this city was the capital of Suryavanshi (descendants of Sun) king Vaivashwat Manu, who established himself as a universal monarch. He used to indulge himself always in Mahayajnas and Dana (donations). That is why in his reign no one suffered from the pangs of death, disease and old age, in the city of Ayodhya.

The rewards of Ashvamedha yajna are far more purifying. In the medieval period, Ashvamedha was thought to be the war for the expansion of the empire, whereas it used to be a special mahayajna performed for the benefit of the society and the nation, in the earlier ages.

The pages of Vedas, UpaniÌads, Darshans and Purañas are filled with the description of the importance of these Ashvamedha yajnas. In ancient times, they were performed to achieve ecological balance, to seek the grace of God and to unite the nation. The writer of a scripture says that one gets the same sacred reward by participating in Ashvamedha yajna as that achieved by visiting the holy place Gaya, taking a holy dip in rivers Ganga and Yamuna and performing one crore oblations (—Matsya Puraña).

Ima nu kam bhuvana siÌadhamendrashca vishve ca deva¡|
Âdityairindra¡ sagaño marudbhirasmabhyam bheÌaja karat|
Yajnam ca nastanvam ca prajam cadityairindra¡ - SahasiÌadhati||
-Yajurveda 25-46

Meaning — Certainly, the whole world gets joy (by performing Ashvamedha yajna). Indra and all the Gods alongwith their Gañas (attendants), accompanied by twelve Adityas and forty nine Marutas make the herbs beneficial. Majestic Indrayajna (for ecological balance) surcharges the bodies of the performers and their children with superior virtues.

- Mahidhar BhaÌya.
Sarvan ha vai kaman apnoti|
Yo Ashvamedhen yajate||
—Shatpatha13/4/1/1

Meaning-Those who perform Ashvamedha yajna, all their desires are fulfilled.

Yajnenashvamedhenayu¡ kalpatam  ……….
One’s life span is increased by performing Ashvamedha yajna.
- Mahidhar BhaÌya 22-23

Oh dear! The sacred reward of participating in that Ashvamedha yajna is matchless, in which the body of Nakul (a mongoose) became golden after it rolled its body in the water left over after eating by —tvijas (priests) who came to conduct the
Ashvamedha yajna there.

-Mahabharata.
RaÌtram va Ashvamedha¡|  Viryam va ashva¡|
- SHatapatha Brahmaña 13/1/6.

-  The aim of Ashvamedha is to increase the power and strength of the habitants of the nation, and the nations at large.
The king Vasu performed the Ashvamedha. Vrahaspati Upadhyay was its Hota. The three sons of Prajapati, the superior sages Kapil, Katha, Taittari, Kanva, etc were its —tvikas. This sacred yajna was completed without hurting anyone. “Na tatra pashu ghatoabhuta” - (meaning) no animal was sacrificed therein.

- Mahabharata shantiparva (3/336).

The following description is found in chapter 14 of fourth Skandha of Bhagwat Mahapuraña. The king Vena had forbidden the performance of yajna etc in his kingdom. He said — “All the gods reside in the king and hence the people should praise and worship me only”. In reply to this the sages tried to convince the king Vena thus –

“Oh king! The entire universe and the gods reside in the yajna. The priests perform yajan of the God who is full of Vedas (knowledge), wealth and devotion, through unique yajnas performed by different methods for your benefit and the prosperity of the people. You are in a position to help in such yajnas. Oh brave man if the people in your kingdom perform yajna, all the gods, who are indeed the different forms of Sri Narayana, will get satisfied and will grant the desired result to all. Therefore, you should not disregard these yajnas”.
When he did not agree even after much persuasion and still remained adamant in his opposition to yajna, the sages cursed him so that king Vena died. After that, his arms were churned which gave birth to king Prithu.

“Adhadikshat  raja tu hayamedha shatena sa¡|
Brahmavartta mana¡kshetre yatra praci saraswati”|

Meaning: After that Prithu promised to organize one hundred Ashvamedha yajnas. These yajnas were performed where the river Saraswati flows towards the west and which is the area of Brahma and Manu, normally called Brahmavarta.

It is a sad story that in the medieval period confusion was created about animal sacrifice in these yajnas; partly due to the foreign invasions and partly due to the gradual decline of the true vedic culture. In this context, Pandit Beniramji in his hook “Yagya mimansa” and reverend Satavalekarji have given the correct clarification. The learned Satvalekarji, in his book, writes –

“The gods of upright thinking and the demon animals of evil tendencies, both exist in the human body. They are shapeless in the human body, but when the evil tendencies, assume the form they become the animals of the visible world.

That is to say —“It is the evil motives that condemn the human soul to slide back to sub-human (animal) forms. The arrogance results in the shape of hawk. The vulture is the representative of greed. The cunningness leads to birth as a dog. The ignorant souls have to go in the form of owl or donkey. When the animal-like tendencies become universal and assume the powerful shape as that of a horse, the Ashvamedha yajnas are organized. The mode of sacrificing these animal- like tendencies is called Ashvamedha”.

The references, about the purity of preparation of Ashvamedha yajna that are available in the ancient scriptures also do not enjoin the killing of any creature in these yajnas.

The Hindu Dharma Kosha States —

“Three IÌtis (worships) of Savita (the Sun) used to be performed daily in the morning, afternoon and evening from the day the horse of Ashvamedha used to be sent for global conquest. Savita used to be worshipped by the name of Satya-prasava in the morning, by the name of Prasavita in the afternoon and by the name of Âsavita in the evening. This fact has been described in Ashwalayan shroutsutra (10/6/8), Latyayan shroutsutra (9/9/10) and Katyayan shroutsutra (20/2/6). “This means that Gayatri used to be worshipped for the entire year, following which Ashvamedha yajna used to be performed for three days.

Gandharvo asya rashanam gribhañat
Suradashwam vasvo nirataÌÚa.
- Rigveda 1/163/2.

- Vasus have created the horse of yajna through the Sun. (It is, therefore, necessary to worship Sun (Gayatri) for the success of Ashvamedha).

It is in this form that one should participate in the Ashvamedha yajnas and attain peace and happiness in one’s life.
[An elaborate discussion on various aspects of Ashvamedha Yajna may be found in the special issue on Ashvamedha Yajna (Vol. 3, issue 4, July- August 2005)]


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