Interdisciplinary Journal of Yagya Research

Panch Mahayagya – A Mode of Spiritual Counselling

Aarti Kaivart — 2024-11-25

In Sanatan Hindu Dharma, Yagya holds great significance and is considered a prime symbol of Indian culture. It is impossible to imagine our daily lives without Yagya. Maharishi Dayanand, emphasizing the importance of the five great Yagyas (Pancha Mahayagya) for a successful daily life, elaborated on them in detail in *Satyarth Prakash*. The Matsya Purana also states that one who performs Yagya selflessly surely attains the Supreme Being (Parabrahman).

According to Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya, by performing the Pancha Mahayagya, consuming the offerings of Yagya (Yagya-shishta), one can become free of sin and worthy of attaining the Divine. The *Manusmriti* explains that during the daily activities of household life, individuals may unknowingly commit sins, for which atonement is possible through good deeds. Manu referred to these good deeds as the Pancha Mahayagya, making them essential for all beings.

Similarly, the discipline of spiritual counseling paves the way for inner transformation, and the inspirations drawn from the Pancha Mahayagya serve as spiritual guidance for personal growth, healing, and a better understanding of the surrounding world. Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya has extensively described the Pancha Mahayagya in several of his writings, including the *Vangmaya* series and various issues of the *Akhand Jyoti* monthly magazine. Referring to Yagya as the "Father" and Gayatri as the "Mother," he emphasized that Yagya is a necessity for human life.

सनातन हिन्दू धर्म में यज्ञ का बड़ा महत्त्व माना गया है, यज्ञ भारतीय संस्कृति का आदि प्रतीक है। यज्ञ के बिना हमारे दैनिक जीवन की कल्पना भी नहीं की जा सकती। महर्षि दयानन्द ने दैनिक जीवन को सफल बनाने के लिए पञ्च महायज्ञ को आवश्यक बताते हुए विस्तार से इसका वर्णन सत्यार्थप्रकाश में किया है। मत्स्य पुराण में भी कहा गया है कि निष्काम भाव से यज्ञ करने वाले को निश्चय ही परब्रह्म की प्राप्ति होती है। पं. श्रीराम शर्मा आचार्य के अनुसार पञ्च महायज्ञ करते हुए यज्ञशिष्ट भोगकर, निष्पाप और भगवद् प्राप्ति योग्य बना जा सकता है। मनुस्मृति के अनुसार गृहस्थाश्रम में दैनिक कार्यों को करते हुए मनुष्य जाने-अनजाने पापकर्म कर बैठता है जिसका प्रायश्चित सत्कार्म्रो के द्वारा संभव है इन सत्कर्मों को ही मनु ने पञ्च महायज्ञ कहा है। अतः प्राणियों के लिए यह अति आवश्यक है। इसी प्रकार आध्यात्मिक परामर्श की विधा आंतरिक परिवर्तन का मार्ग प्रशस्त करती है और पञ्च महायज्ञ की प्रेरणाएं आध्यात्मिक परामर्श के रूप में व्यक्तिगत विकास, उपचार और आस-पास की दुनिया की बेहतर समझ की दिशा में मार्गदर्शन करती है। पंडित श्री राम शर्मा आचार्य जी ने अपने कई साहित्यों में, वांगमय में एवं अखंड ज्योति मासिक पत्रिका के कई अंकों में पञ्च महायज्ञ का वर्णन किया है, यज्ञ पिता गायत्री माता कहकर इसे मानवीय जीवन की आवश्यकता बतलाया है।

Ashwamedha Yagya: A Medium for Nation-Building and Cultural Unity

Ipsit Pratap Singh — 2024-11-25

The Ashwamedha Yagya, an ancient Vedic ritual, embodies profound cultural, social, and spiritual significance, transcending its historical roots. This article examines its pivotal role in fostering unity and cultural cohesion as a means of peaceful integration, rather than conquest. Through insights from historical texts and interpretations by scholars like Sri Aurobindo and Pt. Shriram Sharma Acharya, the ritual is unveiled as a symbol of intellect, unity, and ecological harmony.

Far from being a mere assertion of sovereignty, the Ashwamedha Yagya promoted communal participation and collective responsibility, uniting diverse populations under shared cultural values. Its legacy continues to be the cornerstone of Sanatan Sanskriti, bridging historical traditions with modern efforts to foster global unity. Organizations like All World Gayatri Pariwar exemplify this renaissance, with the 47th Ashwamedha Yagya in 2024 continuing to inspire millions toward cultural solidarity and collective welfare.

Ashwamedha Yagya as Interpreted by Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya: A Unique Experiment in Mass Communication

Neha Singh — 2024-11-25

Yagya is the primordial symbol of Indian culture. In Sanatan Dharma, Yagya holds special significance, and no religious or ceremonial act is considered complete without it. The first mantra of the Rigveda begins with a prayer to Agni (fire), where Agni is referred to as the priest. In the Vedic era, Gayatri worship and Yagya were considered complementary, with Gayatri being regarded as the mother and Yagya as the father. Among the ancient scriptures, the Ashwamedha Yagya is considered the most significant. While it has been associated with animal sacrifice, evidence for this practice is rare. References to it can be found in the Rigveda, Shatapatha Brahmana, Mahabharata, and Ramayana.

Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya described the Ashwamedha Yagya as a spiritual experiment aimed at ecological balance and environmental purification. The purpose of this research is to present his Yagya events as a medium of mass communication. Through platforms like discourse forums, Yagya venues, literature centers, and exhibitions, contemporary ideas and principles are disseminated. Yagya fosters a sense of community, righteous actions, and selflessness, inspiring positive change in society and the nation. The Ashwamedha Yagya, as interpreted by Acharya Ji, serves as a unique medium of mass communication.

Philosophical Insights of Yagya from Srimad Bhagavad Gita

Pramod Kumar Mandal — 2024-11-25

Yagya, a cornerstone of Indian culture, is deeply embedded in the Vedic philosophy and rituals that have evolved over time. Initially simple domestic practices, these rituals became complex ceremonial sacrifices, reflecting their importance in promoting social, political, and cultural harmony. The Bhagavad Gita, delivered by Lord Krishna during the Mahabharata war, articulates Yagya's profound meaning as both a physical and an existential act of sacrifice. It teaches that selfless actions performed without personal desire embody Yagya, leading to liberation from the bond of selfishness.

This manuscript explores the historical evolution of Yagya, its philosophical foundations in the Bhagavad Gita, and the thirteen types of Yagya described within the text. By examining these elements, the study underscores Yagya's enduring relevance in contemporary Indian society, where it remains integral to significant life events. Ultimately, Yagya serves as a guiding principle for leading a purposeful and harmonious life.

Yagya conveys enlightening philosophical teachings and is also a high level science

Saurabh Mishra — 2024-11-25

This article presents English translation and discussion of some excerpts of a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya (Acharyashri), in which, with reference to the Vedic and other ancient scriptures, Acharyashri explains in detail various enlightening philosophical teachings (which include righteous knowledge, diligent endeavors, virtuous emotions thoughts actions, propagation of virtues, generosity, caring, etc.) and scientific principles (purification of the physical and subtle environment, sharing, therapy for physical or mental or spiritual ailments, creation of parjanya (prana - vital life force), leaving vicious tendencies and adopting virtuous tendencies, etc.), associated with the physical and subtle virtuous conduct of the fire-ritual of yagya, which can lead to the awakening of divinity (virtuous tendencies) in human beings, and revival of the ancient era of truth and harmony (Satyug) on the earth; this in turn can lead to the solution of various problems faced by humanity today, both at the individual and the global level.

Perspective on a discourse of Revered Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya (in Hindi language) on the topic “यज्ञ एक शिक्षण भी, उच्चस्तरीय विज्ञान भी" (which can be translated as ‘Yagya conveys enlightening philosophical teachings and is also a high level science’) – the Hindi text of this discourse is available in the April 2008 to July 2008 issues of the Akhand Jyoti (Hindi) magazine, and the audio file of this discourse is available in reference.

Editorial

Editor — 2024-11-22

Interdisciplinary Journal of Yagya Research (IJYR), published by Dev Sanskriti University, Haridwar, continues to fulfill its core mission of providing a platform for interdisciplinary research on Yagya, blending science and spirituality. Inspired by the visionary principles of Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, the University strives to integrate education, research, and the values of Vedic culture to nurture enlightened and compassionate individuals. This journal serves as an essential medium to explore and disseminate knowledge in the field of Yagya, promoting its relevance in contemporary society.

The current issue, Volume 7, Issue 2 (2024), presents a rich collection of contributions highlighting diverse perspectives on Yagya, reflecting its cultural, philosophical, and scientific dimensions.

The first research article, authored by Aarti Kaivart and Satish Chandra Kaivart, explores \begin{hindi} “पंच महायज्ञ - आध्यात्मिक परामर्श की एक विधा.” \end{hindi} The authors delve into the Panch Mahayagya, elucidating its role as a spiritual practice fostering inner transformation and personal growth. Drawing from ancient scriptures and the teachings of Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya, the study demonstrates how Panch Mahayagya serves as a tool for individual development and spiritual counseling.

The second research article by Ipsit Pratap Singh, “Ashwamedha Yagya: A Medium for Nation-Building and Cultural Unity,” examines the Ashwamedha Yagya as a historical ritual of profound significance. Highlighting its cultural and social aspects, the paper reveals how this Vedic ritual transcended its ancient roots to become a symbol of unity, ecological harmony, and collective welfare, inspiring modern movements like the All World Gayatri Pariwar.

The third research article, \begin{hindi} “पंडित श्रीराम शर्मा आचार्य द्वारा विवेचित अश्वमेध यज्ञ : जनसंचार का एक अनोखा प्रयोग,” \end{hindi} by Neha Singh and Jwalant Bhavsar, investigates Ashwamedha Yagya through the lens of mass communication. The authors present a unique perspective on how this ritual has been utilized as a medium for disseminating spiritual and ecological ideas, fostering societal change, and inspiring collective consciousness.

The first perspective article, “Philosophical Insights of Yagya from Srimad Bhagavad Gita,” by Pramod Kumar Mandal, offers a reflective analysis of Yagya as presented in the Bhagavad Gita. The article explores the philosophical underpinnings and ethical teachings of Yagya, emphasizing its relevance as a guide for leading a selfless, harmonious life in today’s world.

The second perspective article, “Yagya Conveys Enlightening Philosophical Teachings and Is Also a High-Level Science,” authored by Saurabh Mishra and Alka Mishra, provides an insightful discourse based on the teachings of Pandit Shriram Sharma Acharya. The authors discuss the philosophical and scientific aspects of Yagya, highlighting its potential to address individual and global challenges through environmental purification, fostering virtues, and reviving harmony.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the reviewers, authors, and contributors whose efforts have enriched this issue. We hope the articles will inspire researchers, educators, and practitioners to delve deeper into the profound legacy of Yagya. We also invite feedback from our readers to further enhance the journal’s impact and reach.

Enjoy reading and may this issue enlighten and inspire your journey in exploring the intersection of tradition and modernity.