Symbolism of Yajna
It is necessary at the outset to understand some symbolic meaning messages hidden behind the YagyAgni (sacred fire in the sacrificial altar). Main points are highlighted as follows:
- Every oblation/offering in YagyAgni (the sacrificial altar) is not mere burning, rather it spreads in the atmosphere in molecular form. The Message is that "don’t hoard", rather go on giving and distributing everything like YagyAgni, whatever you have got, for the sake of universal wellbeing of all.
- Anything that comes into the contact of fire gets changed into fire itself. Fire never rejects anything, howsoever bad it may be. Fire has a capacity to bring qualitative transformation to change everything coming in contact. That is why Agni (sacred fire) has been called "Purohit", i.e. a Master teacher who never rejects any disciple and brings a qualitative transformation in their personality
- Fire always moves upwards. Likewise one must rise higher and higher in all dimensions of life and consciousness. Even if you try to press the fire down, it lifts itself upwards again and again. Likewise, We too should try to lift ourselves upwards again and again, specially when we are pressed own by adversities and adversaries.
- Fire never abandon its virtues of "light" and "heat" till the end. Similarly, we should never leave our good virtues of knowledge, action, devotion, service etc. We should unceasingly and unfailingly express the "light of knowledge" and "heat of dynamic action" till the very end.
- Fire is turned into the ashes at the end. All of us and everything on this earth is going to turn into ashes one day. We should always be in remembrance of this "inevitable end" try to be virtuous.
The ritual of Yajna is a symbolic rehearsal of the whole process of life. The basic principle of life is sacrifice. As we offer valuable oblations/offerings in the YagyAgni , so also we should always sacrifice our good resources and treasures for the universal wellbeing. We should use our talents, intellect, power, position, treasures and every possession for the selfless service of others. Once this directive principle of morality is accepted the path of all progress and wellbeing is automatically unlocked.
Selfless sacrifice is the path of eternal bliss, as the great Rishi Yajnavalkya has rightly said in BrihadAranyaka Upanishad:
"Oh Maitreyi ! not by treasure & riches but by sacrifice and renunciation only immortal bliss can be achieved."
A combination of Gayatri and Yajna by way of Gayatri-Yajna will certainly prove to be effective for bringing the lasting transformation in contemporary tumultuous society, that’s so urgently needed to remove the environment of despair and global conflicts. The path of righteous reason and righteous action. It is the foremost duty of every Dharmic individual to understand the philosophy of Yajna and practice the same.
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