Talk:The Brahmayajña

By Vishal Agarwal

This religious act involves the daily study of scriptures (and other branches of knowledge) and teaching them to others. This keeps us connected to the collected wisdom of our sages, and also helps in transmitting it to future generations.

The deva-s please the performer of Brahma-yajña with a long life, with tejas (energy), varcas (strength), riches and felicities, fame, the power of Brahman (brahmavarchas) and with food (or goods for enjoyment). Yajurveda, Taittirīya Āraṇyaka 2.10.8

Therefore, as the student prepared to leave studentship and get married, i.e., during the convocation ceremony, the Vedic teacher exhorted his student to continue studying and teaching the scriptures every day even after graduation. The Upaniṣad says that while performing various religious duties and practicing virtues, we must at all times continue svādhyāya (self-study) and pravacana (teaching to others):

Righteousness, and study and teaching (are to be practiced). Truth (should be adhered to), and study and teaching (are to be practiced). Austerity, and study and teaching (are to be practiced). Control over senses, and study and teaching (are to be practiced). Control over the mind, and study and teaching (are to be practiced). The Vedic ceremonial fires (are to be kept lit), and learning and teaching (are to be practiced). The Agnihotra or Vedic twilight worship (is to be performed), and study and teaching (are to be practiced). The guests, scholars, and the needy (are to be served), and study and teaching (are to be practiced). Humans (should be served and interacted with appropriately), and study and learning (are to be practiced). Yajurveda, Taittirīya Upaniṣad 1.9

Śāstras equate the study of scriptures to acts of worship, and the fruit of studying and reciting scriptures is said to be considerable. They even say that it can substitute the performance of the deva-yajña:

They studied the Ṛks and thereby offered milk to the deva-s. The deva-s then manifested. With the study of Yajus, the ṛṣis made the offerings of clarified butter; with Sāmans, made an offering of Soma; with the Atharvāṅgiras, they made the offering of honey. With the study of Brāhmaṇas, Itihāsa, Nārāśaṃsī, Gāthā, Kalpa and Purāṇa, they offered animal fat to the deva-s. When the deva-s manifested, they destroyed hunger and other evils, and then returned to heaven. By means of this Brahmayajña, the ṛṣis attained proximity to the Supreme Being. Yajurveda, Taittirīya Āraṇyaka 2.9.2

If a twice-born recites the Ṛgveda daily, he offers milk and honey (so to speak) to the deva-s and honey and ghee to his ancestors. If he studies the Yajurveda daily, he offers ghee and water to the deva-s, and grains and honey to his ancestors. If he studies the Sāmaveda daily, he satisfies the deva-s with Soma and ghee, and satisfies his ancestors with honey and ghee. If he studies the Atharvaveda daily, he offers butter to the deva-s and honey and ghee to the ancestors. He who studies the Vākovākya, Purāṇas, Nārāśaṃsī (ballads), Gāthās, Itihāsas and different sciences offers meat, milk, honey and porridge to the ancestors. Satisfied with these offerings, the deva-s and ancestors bestow desired fruits to the regular student of the scriptures. He who is ever devoted to the study of scriptures obtains the fruit of whatever yajña he performs, the fruit of donating the entire earth filled with treasures and food thrice, and obtains the fruit of performing numerous austerities. Yājñavalkya Smṛti 1.41–48