Introduction to The Vedic Karmas as detailed in the Scriptures and People who perform those
“Vedo akhilo Dharma Moolam” is the ordinance of Sanathana Dharma. The meaning of this verse is “ Vedas are the roots of all Dharma”. Vedas are also called as “Sruthi” because it has been transmitted from the Guru to the Student through oral recitation and intent hearing. The Rig , Sama and the Yajur Vedas start with intent to expound Agni the god of fire. All through the texts , the main deity to whom most prayers are directed is again God Agni. The worshipping of Agni as per the injunctions in the Sruti ie. the Vedas is called Srauta Karma i.e Karmas ordained in the Sruti.
A person who is knowledgeable in performing this ritual as per Vedic injunctions is called a Srautin. Shrauta Karmas are largely the Agni Hotra Worship , The Ishtis and the Soma Yagnas. Agni Hotra in general is worshipping Three Fires namely in the form of Brahma , Vishnu and Siva in specific shaped Agni Kundas ( fire places) , twice daily with the Brahma fire being kept burning for the life time of the worshipper. Such a person is called as an Agni Hothree.
The next higher level of Srauta Karma are the Ishtis. These are miniature Yagnas that are performed of the Prathma day ( ie the day after amavasya and the day after Pornami) by the Agnihothree. These are called as Darsa and Paurnamasa Ishtis and are called as Havir Yagnas .A person performing these are called as Havir Yajee. There are about 200 Ishtis that are specified to be performed to reap a specific desire. A few are listed below with details of the names and the offerings along with the deities etc as stated in the Vedas :
| Sl No. | Name of the Ishti | Nature of offering | Deity | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brahmanaspathey Iyshti | Rice Powder cakes | Brahmanaspathi (Ganapathi) | Prosperity |
| 2 | Saraswathey Iyshti | Rice with Butter | Saraswathi | Learning |
| 3 | Amhomchey Iyshti | Rice Powder cakes | Indra | Wiping Sin |
| 4 | Tra Haviskreya Iyshti | Rice Powder cakes | Agni ( 3 powered ) | Good Health |
| 5 | Tra Haviskreya Iyshti | Rice Powder cakes | Indra ( 3 powered ) | Property |
| 6 | Mrugari iyshti | Ten Dishes | Many (10) | Wiping Sin |
| 7 | Pavatrey Iyshti | Rice Powder cakes - 5 | Many (10) | Wiping Sin |
| 8 | Ati Pavatrey Iyshti | Rice Powder cakes - 10 | Many (20) | Wiping Sin |
| 9 | Swastijaney iyshti | Rice Powder cakes | Many (10) | Welfare |
| 10 | Chakshuskamey iyshti | Rice Powder cakes, Rice | Agni , surya | Eye health |
| 11 | Vratapathey Iyshti | Rice Powder cakes | Agni | Vrata Success |
| 12 | Vaishvanari Iyshti | Rice Powder cakes | Agni | Wiping Sin |
| 13 | Kareri Iyshti | Black Rice Powder cake etc | Agni , surya,vayu etc | Rain |
| 14 | Spardamana Iyshti | Rice Powder cakes | Indra , agni | Friendship |
| 15 | AiendraVarunair Iyshti | Rice Powder Cake , Paneer | Indravaruna , agni | Indriya bala |
| 16 | Traidhathaviya Iyshti | Rice Power Cake , Paneer | Agni , Indra etc | Wishes |
The third and the most complex Srauta Karma are the Soma Yagas. Agnistoma is the first among the seven Soma Yagnas. A person who does a Somayaga is called as a Somayajee.
There are Seven Somayagas namely
1. Agnishtoma
2. Athyagnistoma
3. Uktya
4. Ati rathra
5. Apthorya
6. Sodashi
7. Vajapeya
Vajapeeya is one of the seven Soma Yagas too but the performer of this gets the title as Vajapayee as this is one of the most complex and elaborate Somayaga.
There are certain Somayagas that are performed with a larger Yagnasala having a Eagle formation on to which all the procedures are conducted. A person who has performed these get the title Maha Agni Chit. The formations are of many shapes
1. Ratha Chakra
2. Kurma
3. Garuda
The most commonly practiced form of chayana is the Garuda chayana as detailed in the below picture :
The vessels used for performing these austerities are very specific and are varied in shapes and are made of different wood types. As per the yagna performed and the desire associated with it the vessel that is prescriped is put to use . A sample photgraph of the patris ( vessels ) is as per photograph below.
All the Srauta Karmas are meant for the benefit of the society at large. Though the individual who is involved in performing these gets a title as detailed above, the benefits of these are actually reaped by the society. It is required of a person who performs these Srauta Karma to be having three things ie “ Artho Samarthee Vidwan ie Welth , Health and Deep Knowledge in Vedas”. These Karmas involve the “ Mana – Mind, Vacha- Speech and Kaya- Body” of the performer simultaneously while performing the worship. The Procedural Complexities require the person who performs this to be a thorough Veda Vidwan. Right from specifying the name of the Yagna / Iyshti , the Devatas ( gods) worshipped in these , the kind of materials to be used as offerings into the fire , the quantity of the materials to be used ,the dakshina (fees) to be paid to the performers , the fruits of the yagna etc are directly detailed in the Vedas and hence the need for the performer to be knowledgeable in the Vedas. It is not possible nor admissible to entertain any deviation from the specifications while performing these rituals.
It all starts with the Agni Hotra and goes On and On to higher and more complex Soma Yagnas. In Ramayana it is claimed that Bhagava Rama had performed the great yagnas like Vajapaaya many times as also the very difficult and huge Yagna called as Paundrika. It is stated that the Moon and Sun will retain their glow in the skies as long as there are Srauta Karmas performed on earth.
To sustain this great heritage, Agnihothra Sadas (three day event) is being held every year with the blessings of His Holiness Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Shri Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham during Chaturmasya, wherein Agnihotris from all over India participate.
In a country like India , where Vedas are regarded as the absolute texts of authority , we have only about 128 such Srauta Ritual Performers or Aahitaaginis. The number does not even meet the ratio of one to a crore with respect to the population in our country.
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