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PURUSHA SUKTHAM
The ancient Veda Brahmanas and the Shrauta Shastras describe various types of yajna rites, some so elaborate as to require hundreds of priests, whose powerful chanting resounds for miles. These major yajnas are performed in large, open-air structures called yagashala.
- Domestic yajnas, prescribed in the Grihya Shastras, are performed in the family compound or courtyard. Yajna requires four components, none of which may be omitted: dravya, sacrificial substances; tyaga, the spirit of sacrificing all to God; devata, the celestial beings who receive the sacrifice; and mantra, the empowering word or chant.
- While puja (worship in temples with water, lights and flowers) has largely replaced the yajna, this ancient rite still continues, and its specialized priestly training is carried on in schools in India.
- Yajnas of a grand scale are performed for special occasions, beseeching the Gods for rain during drought, or for peace during bloody civil war. Even in temples, yajna has its Agamic equivalent in the agnikaraka, the homa or havana ceremony, held in a fire pit (homakunda) in an outer mandapa of a temple as part of elaborate puja rites."
Yajna: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary on Yajna gives the following:
Yajna was essentially a Vedic ritual usually used to appease a higher being or god. Hence it is easy to see the Brahmininc interpolation here. The sacrificial beast itself is the Purusha the cosmic Person who is identified as Isa. The beings that performed the sacrifice was the Devas (the gods). So the Devas were in existence then. It was done in time through spring, summer and autumn.
Thus it appears that we have the description of the divine world of sons of God and the two lower angelic world already in existence. Divine world is generated not created. The sentients here are the Sons of God, Divine and are called the Devas. The other two lower worlds are filled with angels. Now comes the creation of the manifest world - the material world. This is probably what is intended here.
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