However, these are not to be to mankind.

He commanded,
dissociated from each other. In "O man behold, Yajnya is
fact, all five disciplines put Kamadhenu (All giver).
together makes one single Practice Yajnya with utter
unit. devotion using your body,
speech and mind. Yajnya is for
It is an ideal way of life in your happiness and welfare.
which one strives to practice all Your life is dependent on the
these disciplines at one time. five elements of the nature. By
The essence of Vedas is offered the practice of Yajnya the cycle
to you in the most simple of nature is balanced. Thus,
manner at your doorstep. even your life will be happy. If
There is no chance for nature bestows abundance
confusion. upon you, you must repay it
Let us understand the five with a feeling of gratitude in
principles in short. the form of Yajnya. One who
does not perform Yajnya is
1. Yajnya selfish".
Yajnya is first principle of Five
A common man finds himself
Fold Path. It is the process of
confused about the path to be
purification of atmosphere with
followed. For the benefit of
the agency of element fire.
mankind Shreeji has
Yajnya involves offering of
bestowed us with Five Fold
specific organic substances into
path. It is the essence of
the fire accompanied by
Vedas. These are the
chanting of mantra vibrations
fundamental principles of
and nurturing the feeling of
Satyadharma of Vedas.
total surrender to the will of
They are presented in simple, Almighty. This is the secret of
Along with creation the
lucid, eloquent and easily practice of Yajnya. Yajnya are
Almighty father ordained the
practicable manner. Fivefold based on various rhythms of
practice of Yajnya (Agnihotra)
path consists of five principles.
nature. They are divided in to cleanses the negative effects of At Sunrise:
two types. pollution on Prana. It relaxes
1.Sooryaya Swaha, Sooryaya
the mind and unburdens the
(1) Nitya (Daily) and (2) mind of all stress and strain. Idam Na Mama (Make the
Naimittika (coinciding with Regular practice of Agnihotra first offering)
special occasion). Some activates a healing cycle, 2.Prajapatayae Svaha,
Yajnyas are performed on full making plants, animals happy
moon and no moon days or on Prajapataye Idam Na Mama
and peaceful in it. Agnihotra is (Make the second offering)
the advent or rise of various the simplest and easily
stars (Nakshatra Ishti) or the practicable discipline for At Sunset:
advent of specific seasons such nurturing Total Surrender
as summer etc. During some 1.Agnaye Svaha, Agnaye
(Ishwar Pranidhan). Ishwar
Yajnyas the juice of the Idam Na Mama (Make the
Pranidhan has been regarded
medicinal herb Soma is offered first offering)
as an alternative to the
to the fire, which has practice of Yoga and all other 2.Prajapatayae Svaha,
tremendous purifying and disciplines aimed at liberation. Prajapataye Idam Na Mama
healing effect on the This is stated by the great seer (Make the second offering)
atmosphere. Agnihotra is to be Patanjali.
performed daily and hence it is
Nitya Yajnya. It is performed at The performance of Agnihotra
2. Daan
sunrise and sunset times which involves actually little time and
are the two most important expenditure. Exactly at local
circadian biorhythms of of sunrise and sunset timings a
nature. Agnihotra is ordained small fire is prepared out of
to be performed to coincide dried cow dung cakes in a
exactly with these vitally semi-pyramid shaped copper
important transitional or clay pot. Two offerings of
movements. raw rice smeared with a few
drops of cow`s ghee are
The performance of Agnihotra offered into the fire with the
creates pure, clean and Daan is the second aspect of
chanting of following mantras.
medicinal atmosphere. It five fold path. It means sharing

2
of ones assets in the spirit of that you are doing it for some is Daan. You should share your
service and humility. one else's benefit, but for your assets with a needy person
Attachments to material own sake. Daan should be who is not likely to spend the
possessions burdens the mind. practiced without the asset for indulgence in
A man continuously clings expectation of name or fame. negative acts (Akarma). This is
mentally to his worldly One should not expect called Satpatra Daan. Daan is
possessions. This burdens him anything in return out of the universal act because
physically and mentally. A poor act of Daan . A pure act of attachment is universal. It is
man does not have wealth and Daan is practiced with the the duty of both the rich and
riches so he perpetually thinks feeling of humility. Otherwise, poor alike. Attachment gives
about acquiring that object and it becomes a commercial rise to stress and creates
for that purpose physically donation or advertisement. hindrance to the state of
strains himself. This carving happiness. A rich man is
puts a lot of negative pressure Lord Jesus describes Daan in a attached to his abundant
on his mind and body. Having perfect way "But when thou wealth so is the poor man to
acquired he does not rest. He doest alms let not thy left hand his tiny fortune. Daan is
strives to retain it and acquire know what thy right hand necessary for both of them.
more. This is true also in the doeth. That thine alms may be Bhagwat Gita ( Chap 17, 20-22
case of a rich man. The mind is in secret and the father which ) describes Daan in a lucid
never satisfied. Wants and seeth in secret Himself shall manner.
attachments continuously keep reward thee openly" - T.
everybody on the strenuous Matthew 6-3 & 4. "To perform Daan is my pure
move and keep the mind duty - a Daan practiced with
Daan should be practiced with this idea, in a proper and
strained and stressed. Daan wealth accumulated by sincere
develops a feeling of fitting place and time and to a
efforts and earning. The wealth worthy person without
nonattachment to worldly should not be accumulated by
possessions thus it is a great expecting any returns from
immoral means. Daan should him is known to be Sattvika
aid for unburdening and be given to a needy person.
reliving stress on the mind. Daan.
Giving food to a hungry being
Daan should be practiced for or allowing shelter to homeless That Daan which is practiced
helping our own mind and not or sharing water with a thirsty with a view to receiving in
for obliging others. It should

3
return or looking towards its anger (Krodha), pride(Mada), Think, are these things really
fruits or practiced grudgingly, attachment (Moha), necessary? Your mind is acting
is said to be Rajasika Daan. envy(Matsar), greed(Lobha), like a wild animal, like a spoilt
etc. which harass our mind are child. It is undisciplined. It
The Daan that is practiced at a burnt. Our mind and body are needs training and imposition
wrong place and time to any like spoilt children. Actually of rules and regulations. The
unworthy person, without their basic wants and needs for need of disciplining our mind
regard or disdainfully is said to functioning are minimal. How and body is our own choice, it
be Tamasika Daan." much food does our body is a self imposed task and
require to live? How much endeavor. It is born out of
3. Tapa space does our body need for personal necessity. This self-
protection? Is there any special disciplining is called Tapa.
cloth that our body needs to Each and every person needs
continue breathing? All these to follow tapa in one own way
basic need are minimal and or another irrespective of
simple. A poor man lives in a class, sex, creed or anything.
simple hut and rich person To be happy we must decide
having physically the same who is the master. Is it our
make-up lives in a palatial body or is it our mind or is
house. What is the difference? there a third entity residing in
It is our mind that creates the the body which is the master?
difference. If we develop a Yes, the atman (soul) is the
(Self Discipline):-Tapa is the habit of living in a palace. master. Body and mind are its
third aspect of Five Fold Path Sleeping on soft and smooth slaves. These slaves have
for happy living. Tapa is a self- beds, eating sumptuous food, exploited their master and
imposed discipline over body, our body and mind will have started acting like wild
mind and speech. Tapa is the continuously crave for it. If animals. They have started
mental and intellectual fire denied these perks, the body harassing and unnecessarily
burnt by continuous and and mind will revolt against burdening their master by
strenuous effort in which the the condition and make you creating stress and strain. Tapa
six crocodiles, passion (Kama), unhappy, sad and miserable. is the means to tame them.

4
Sincere desire and efforts to in attaining the state of straightforwardness, non
discipline ourselves, hard work happiness. indulgence in sex, nonviolence
and intellect are our weapons. are physical Tapa.
Absolute concentration in using Illustrations of Tapa are
these weapons is necessary. difficult to quote. What act in Speech that does not hurt
context of one person is Tapa, others and which is truthful,
A common man has a peculiar may not be Tapa in case of agreeable and beneficial, as
impression about the word other person. If a person is also study of Vedas are said to
Tapa. They feel that to practice attached to food then he may be Tapa practiced with speech.
Tapa you must go to a forest, think of disciplining himself by
wear loin cloth or tree bark, following food Tapa i.e., Serenity of mind, kindliness,
live in a hut, grow a beard, controlling the intake of food. silence, self-control, and purity
have a sad look on your face But the fellow next door may of heart are said to be mental
etc. No. This is not true. The be poor or sick and may be Tapa. This three fold Tapa
enemy is within your body. It is naturally consuming less food. practiced with great faith by
so close to you, then why go to Thus can we say that this men who are not desirous of
a forest? Close your eyes and person is also practicing food fruit is said to be Sattvika
you will be in solitude. There Tapa ? No. The idea is to Tapa.
are no prerequisites for the eradicate attachment and That Tapa which is practiced to
practice of Tapa. It can be carving. The other person may gain respect, honour,
practiced in your own house be addicted to alcohol. Food adoration, and that with
while fulfilling your worldly may not be his problem. The ostentation and which is
duties without even allowing point is that the weakness and unsteady is said to be Rajasika
others to know it. The idea is targets for practice of Tapa Tapa.
to minimize wants and needs should be identified and
of the body, control the decided by the person himself. That Tapa which is practiced
outgoing tendency of the mind According to Gita (17, 14 - 8) out of foolish notion, with self-
and discipline your sense there are three types of Tapa: torture or for the purpose of
organs. The reason is simply "Nurturing devotion and regard ruining others is termed as
because these things burden towards holy persons, teachers Tamsika.
our mind and create hindrance etc. purity,

5
The practice of Tapa should be revolving around trying to universally accepted,
continued with courage. The satisfy them. One sensual elementary law of physics.
battle between the mind and desire fulfilled triggers another. Each result or action has a
intellect is perpetual and By resorting to Tapa we can cause behind. If you create
unending. The mind is very get out of this circle. It is by friction it will give rise to heat.
powerful and cunning. It harps eradication of desires that If you create collision of two
on a person's weakness and happiness is achieved and not objects it will give rise to
shortcomings. It knows how to by gratification. One has to noise. If this principle is
shatter the fortress of our perceive the difference transposed to the realms of
plans. One has to fight the between need and desire. Tapa philosophy it takes the shape
battle of Tapa with endurance, purifies the body and makes it of ' Law of Karma '. It is
strong will power and a suitable instrument of the described as " reap as you sow
strenuous efforts. If your mind Divine. ". Each action begets its fruits.
deceives you and breaks you Right action naturally begets
down, even then you must 4.Karma good fruit; on the contrary,
start afresh with out feeling wrong action begets bad or
sad, march towards the goal, miserable fruit. A good action
the practice of Tapa should be is called Karma and bad action
continued. as akarma. Resultant to good
Karma one experiences love,
Even in the past without Tapa peace and happiness opposite
no one has attained knowledge to which Akarma creates
of the self. By practice of Tapa misery and sorrow. Naturally if
will power is developed and you sow good, tasty and
nourished. It improves our healthy seeds, you will expect
perception and grants a special good fruits. You cannot expect
insight to see beyond the Karma is the fourth aspect of
tasty and good fruits from bad,
material world. Five Fold path of Vedas. Karma
diseased and poisoned seeds.
means right action performed
Desires are unending. It is like All that has been stated here is
with out attachment. Its
a vicious circle. The circle pur e sense and logic. This the
purpose is self-purification.
never ends. One keeps simple but important law of
Cause and effect is the

6
Karma of the Vedic Fivefold bondage it is not practical to pure thoughts (Shiva-
Path. Vedic scriptures state in avoid performing actions. The sankalpa), Sharing with needy
concrete, unambiguous and ancient Yogis and Sages like (Daan), pure way of life,
clear words what is good Janaka, etc. have attained celibacy or non indulgence in
action, what is bad action. For perfection while performing sex (Bhramacharya),
that matter all scriptures, their ordained duties. They abstinence from anger, alcohol,
revelations, sayings of have never run away from theft, etc. are some ideal
prophets, masters, avatars, duties due to fear of Karmic Karmas ordained by Vedas. At
saints, etc. based on the Vedas bondage. Having shunned your every step Vedas guide us as
clearly state the right actions. sense organs from exterior to what is good Karma and
One should follow these action, if you mentally indulge what is an evil Karma. There is
directions in day-to-day life. It in pleasures of sensual organs a list of such " Do's and don'ts
is easy and there can be no then it is clear hypocrisy. It is " handed down by our
confusion. better to perform the actions scriptures. One has to follow
of your body without being them with alertness and mind
For even a single fraction of a attached to them. The Vedic fullness. When we achieve this
moment one can never remain secret of Karma is that a state then all our actions or
without committing an action. person must undertake all Karma yields self-purification.
Action is ever present. You necessary and ordained It then ceases to be bondage.
move, speak, laugh, hear, eat, Karmas in his life. The only This is the state of Karmayogi.
run and breath every moment thing is that he is to alertly
of your existence. follow the injunctions of Vedas Vedas ordain performance of
to reason what is good action Yajnyas ( Agnihotra ) as the
A living being is compelled to first and foremost action. It is
perform actions continuously. and what is bad-action. While
performing Karma one has to stated that if you indulge in
Vedas state that one must Karma for the performance of
perform all necessary Karma. stay away from expectations of
the fruits of one's Karma. Yajnya you are not bound by
One should thoroughly and the resultant bondage. The
mindfully perceive the Practice of truth (Satya), non- Karma involved in the
difference between good violence (Ahimsa), compassion performance of Yajnya leads to
Karma and negative Karma. (Daya), pondering on holy or surrender and self-realization.
Because Karma creates

7
It is such because the Almighty cosmic - self (paramatman). It meditation on Vedas and the
Father has ordained Yajnya is the study and meditation of scriptures relating to Vedas
simultaneously with the whom we call 'me' or 'I' in its handed down by masters,
creation of the Universe. real sense. Is the body 'me' or yogis, prophets and
is my mind 'me' or is there an messengers.
5.Swadhyaya additional entity in the body
governing my thinking pattern Swadhyaya means
and impeding me towards understanding the real nature
indulgence in action? Which is of Karma. We have to apply
'I' in the real sense? Is my our power of discrimination to
body and mind the master of differentiate between right and
my 'self' or is it my 'self' that is wrong, good and evil.
the main entity which has Meditating on this is
assumed the human form with Swadhyaya.
body and mind? What is the Our sense organs give us a
Swadhyaya is the fifth aspect
purpose of my assuming the tremendous pull towards their
of Five Fold Path. The word
body and mind? How can I objects of enjoyment. We are
Swadhyaya comes from the
liberate my 'self ' from the forced by our mind and body
combination of two Sanskrit
bonds and cycles of birth and towards objects of sensual
words i.e. 'Swa' (self or
rebirth? What is the real nature pleasures. But once having
pertaining to self), Adhyaya
of the universe? Is it real or attained that experience do our
(study): hence, it means self
unreal? Is it eternal or organs feel satisfied or
study for attainment of
perishable? What is the aim of gratified? No every satisfaction
liberation. The Yoga tradition of
my life? All these questions are of desire gives rise to many
Patanjalii includes Swadhyaya
dealt in the personal more carvings. Then what is
in Kriyayoga.
Swadhyaya. Meditating on the means of controlling our
Swadhyaya means the study of these themes is Swadhyaya. needs and carvings of desire?
"who am I". It is the Perfect guidance on these This is Swadhyaya.
understanding of and matters can be authoritatively
experiencing the true nature of given only by Vedas. Thus Swadhyaya can be practiced by
the self (atman) and the Swadhyaya means study an d means of repetition of any

8
Vedic or Guru-ordained Mantra
with absolute attention. It is
not mere Mechanical recitation
but is an effort of identifying
with the purport of mantras
simultaneously with repetition.
This automatically unlocks
abundant mental energies,
Resultant to which one
experiences peace and bliss.
The Gayatri Mantra is a
mantra, which has tremendous
vibrational efficacy. One may
recite this mantra as a part of
his Swadhyaya. Continuous
repetition of mantra unlocks
subtle energies of the mind
and answers to many
questions of Swadhyaya are
experienced.