Yajna

यज्ञ
(Offering)

Yajna means an offering to God. It is generally misunderstood as sacrificing animals in the name of God.

There are many kinds of yajnas to gain different objects in life, material or spiritual. Normally, a sacrificial fire is set up and offerings are poured into the fire to the accompaniment of mantras. But in the Geetaa, the Lord gives a wider meaning to the sacred ritual. Whatever you do and whenever you do it, do it with a pure and sincere heart, as an offering to please God and not for selfish gains. Such actions benefit others and your gain is whatever God gives you.

The Lord lists out many unconvential yajnas - like karmayajna (offering results of all your actions to God), tapoyajna (yajna through rigorous tapasyaa), jnaanayajna (learning and imparting knowledge) and all other activities in life. God is upprermost in mind all through the day, all through life.

Animal sacrifice is considered barbaric. Our elders, with their deep faith, did not view it that way. The idea that it raises the passions fo people witnessing animal sacrifices is not valid. Killing animals for flesh to eat is equally abominable.

Animal sacrifice was an accepted social practice in olden days. Ahimsa began with Buddha but the practised continued. Christianity raised bogey of bloodletting in the name of God, as if killing animals behind God is acceptable. If flesh is not good for offering to God how can man eat it?

A wicked man who sees wicked scenes gets a kick and his passions take over. But devotion gives no place for rise of passions. In the modern days, with no animal sacrifice type of Yajna, how does the passion to kill arise, with rich countries kill humans all over the world?

Note:
Like animal sacrifice, ordeal by fire was another practice of olden days. Truth prevents fire from harming tbe innocent and pure. Raama ordering Seetaa to prove Her chastity is taken as a blot against Him. But Raama Who knew of Her chastity and that fire would not be able to burn even a single hair on Her head, had no hesitation. Seetaa staked Her chastity and came out of the fire unscathed. Later, when Her sons were united with their father, She staked Her chastity again and entered the womb of Her mother - Mother Earth. In the former case, her mission on earth had not been completed, but now, Her mission was over and She chose to depart.