YUGGIC (VEDIC) MEANING OF YAJNA AND HAVANA
YAJÑA
It is impossible to truly translate this Vedic term yajña in any language. It is very technical. Many a time a Vedic term seems to mean an object, but actually, in Veda, it means a certain system or phenomena. Vedic term Yajña is one of them. It has a complex meaning.
Modern orthodox scholars translate Yajña as “Sacrifice”, more so do the westerns. Many indigenous scholars express it as a ritual in which fire is made, and in which, various oblations are offered, while hymns are recited in the praise of some gods or deities either to please them or to appease their anger. The offerings may be some useful medicinal herbs and many aromatic materials, or it could be some animal offerings.
We can understand why the western scholars would, translate Yajña of Veda as sacrifice, because Yajña were performed on a ‘Vedi’, which is a raised platform like the altar on which sacrifice in the west were offered.
Further more, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, devoutly believe that sacrificial test as a sign of total faith was an essential feature for revelation of God to his chosen person. Relative study of religions shows that their sacrifice and other features are closely paralled to those of many pagan nations.
The westerns, biased by such a back ground, could not help but look in Vedic hymns some references which would sound as sacrifice to please their gods.
In Veda, the term Yajña is found to mean in many different fields. It means, God, primordial matter, various cosmic forces and interactions, and all coordinated social blissful acts. We now put forward the real Vedic concept of yajña.
Great Vedic etymologist Yaaska once expressed:-
“YAJÑA KASMAAT”
(Nirukta, Vol.2, Devaat Khand, Adhyay-7, Paad-1, Khand-6)
“What is to be called a yajña? Or what is meant by the term Yajña.”
This word Yajña is derived from the root Yaja1. Which consists of three phases, namely:-
1. YAJA – DhatuPath Bhawadiga
1. “Yaja Deva Poojaa” – Devotional Service between the host and the workers. In
physical fields strong affinity & compatibility between the particles.
2. “Sangati Karan” – union, synthesis and compounding and working together.
3. “Daana” – to produce and contribute a beneficial product or effect.
These three, together, complete the system of yajña.
Yajur Veda, the Veda of yajñas, qualifies Yajña in its opening hymn:-
“Sresthatamaaya karmana” (Yajur Veda I-1)
“Yajña is the noblest, most beneficial deed, done for greatest good, to the greatest number of people.” All collective, coordinated, beneficial efforts come under this term. It is not a single person’s effort, it is a collective work. It can be on small or cosmic scales.
1. On a smallest scale a yajña is a daily obligation of each family to purify the
atmosphere of the house and the surroundings by making fire and offering
medicated, aromatic herbs for proper fumigation. Fumigation is the best method
of disinfection, recognized even today. This deed is done by the whole family
members collectively.
2.It is not essential in Yajña to always make fire and put oblation in it Yajña as mentioned before has a very wide application just as:-
a) The “Gomedha Yajña“
It means to improve cultivation & agriculture & husbandry. “Go” means – the moving earth, the land and soil. It also means a ‘Cow’ and the domestic animals like ox, horse, camel, buffalow, mule etc. who can pull the ploughs. Today a tractor is also a ‘gow’ because anything that moves or makes others move is called a ‘gow’2
So, ‘Gomedha’ covers, all research in improving cultivation, in the soil-chemistry,
seed research etc. to improve the quality and quantity of foods, not only improvement of cereals but also of all edibles, vegetable, fruit etc. as such fire making ritual is not needed.
It also covers all branches of husbandry and how to improve breeds of the cattle, their race, life and health.
2. ‘GOW‘ – Etymologically it is “gachchhati yo, yayaa vaa” That what goes or moves or by what moves, is gow (Unaadikosh Dwitye Paad/68)
MEDHAA = Aashugrahane Dhatupath Kawvaadigan – To quickly beget
b) SHILPA Yajña
Shilpa Yajña also covers all industry, under the caption of ‘Shilpa’. Various scientists and technicians of state are made to jointly and devotedly work to develop, light and heavy industry. The word, Vishvedevaa, performing various Yajñas, mean various specialists and experts supplying various expertise and working in various fields of technology and industries, in big laboratories and Prayoga Shaalaas and factories. All such collective working in various (Kalaa Kaushalas) machines and factories are known as “Shilpa Yajñas”.UK 3/28
c) ASHVA MEDHA YAJÑA
Ansh, kvan =Ashva is a horse (Shabdkosh)
At times when the state needs to raise man-power, as in wars or at timings of great state calamities, it is called “Ashva medha Yajña”. It is called Ashva because, ashve means a horse, which is a symbol of power, as horse power etc. Ashve-Medha, therefore, is collecting or raising the manpower for the state.
People have a misconception, that only a fire ritual is a Yajña. Various facts mentioned above, do not mean, that by just performing the fire ritual and recitation of Vedic hymns, shall be enough to accomplish, all that we have mentioned above. Orthodox people have wrongly confined Yajña to the fire-receptable (Kunda) only. Yajñas has vast fields and need experts, working collectively to develop and advance the country’s civilization and culture.
“Havana”
Allied to Yajña is ‘Havana’, which is supposed to be a Yajña on a small scale in which fire is kindled and oblations offered and hymns recited.
Havana is derived from the root ‘Hu 3’ which means Daana 4 to give, Adan 5 to consume and Aadaana 6 to give back. These three phases compose a ‘havana’; in different fields. In ordinary ‘fire’ which then consumes and burns in to a gas and fumes, many times the volume of the oblation put in. This process of give and take is Havan.
Many such processes are being performed in nature on a much bigger or cosmic scale. Earth’s gigantic atmosphere is constantly being purified by the process of Havan. The poisonous gases like carbon-dioxide and monoxide etc. being produced by respiration of the living beings, combustion of various fuels on large scale on the earth, make the atmosphere very toxic for the living. There is such a hue and cry about ecology today for this reason. But nature, by Havan, purifies it. These poisonous gases are given out to the earth’s vegetations, the trees, shrubs, bushes, grass etc. which absorb all these poisonous gases through their leaves and with water and salt from the earth’s soil and by absorbing sun’s rays (the photons etc.) they synthesize the carbon dioxide with hydrogen and oxygen of water and, Chlorophyll, various carbohydrates, sugars etc. for themselves as their food for their growth but at the same time give back oxygen, into the atmosphere for the living beings, who give them back the carbon. This is a cycle for mutual good and this phenomenon is called ‘Havan’ in Veda.
3. HU – DhatuPath Juhotyadiga: Hu means
4.DAAN to give DhatuPath Bhawadigan
5. ADANA – to consume. DhatuPath Adadigan
6. ADAAN – to give back
Again, water of seas and rivers, huge lakes etc. are offered to the sun, who, as if, consumes it, assimilates as vapour and clouds, carry it to cold regions and pour it back as rain, which pass back to the rivers, canals and help the world in the growth and proliferation of vegetation and food. This cycle is another performance of Havan in nature. What amount of good and bliss these natural ‘Havans’ contribute to the world.
So Havans, Yajñas are deeds, for contribution of greatest good to the world.
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Writer: Shri Daksha Bharadwaj is a spiritual writer and can be reached at – studio.bba2011@gmail.com
