Dravyayajña
By Swami Harshananda
Dravyayajña literally means ‘sacrifice with wealth’.
Yajña or performing sacrifices is an ancient institution. According to the scriptures like the Bhagavadgītā[1] it was created by Prajāpati (father of creation) in the beginning of creation as a link between the gods and the human beings. It is an age-old belief that humans should satiate the gods like Indra through yajña to bestow rain and other things needed by him.
Though Śrī Kṛṣṇa has accepted this basic system, he has expanded its scope considerably in the Bhagavadgitā.[2] In this connection he has used the word ‘dravyayajña’.[3] It is interpreted as giving money or things to the worthy and deserving persons at the appropriate time, place, and manner.
The most important act in a yajña is sacrificing the individual good for social or universal good. Any action conducted to achieve such spirit is elevated to the level of a yajña.
References[edit]
- ↑ Bhagavadgītā 3.10
- ↑ Bhagavadgitā 4.25- 33
- ↑ Bhagavadgitā 4.28
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore