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38 Jaina Religion: Its Historical journey of evolution
definitions of yajñas. Uttarādhyayana has discussed and elucidated the spiritual essence of yajñas and has said, "Tapas (self-control) is fire Atman is the altar, the activities of mind, speech and body are the ladles and the burning of karmas the oblation. It is this yajña replete with self-control that brings peace and happiness; the sages have praised this kind of yajña". As a result not only the Jaina tradition, but the Buddhist and the Vedic tradition also have denounced the outward sacrificial aspect of yajña and presented a spiritual picture of it in the same way in which it is discussed in Uttaradhyayana. In Anguttara-nikāya while describing the spiritual nature of yajña, Buddha says, "Oh Brāhmaṇa! These three fires are worth renouncing and worth changing; they should not be in use. Oh Brāhmaṇa! Following three fires should be respected, worshipped and they should be fully and happily taken care of. Which are these fires? - Āhvānīyāgni, Gārhapatyāgni and Dakṣiṇāgni. Parents should be respected and adored like Āhvānīyāgni. Śramaṇas and Brāhmaṇas should be respected like Dakṣinägni. This fire of wood needs to be burnt sometimes and sometimes needs to be ignored while at another time needs to be extinguished. But these fires are always and everywhere respected and worshipped. Likewise
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