________________
KARMA YOGA IN THE GITA
The righteous who eat the remnant of the sacrifice, are freed from all sins; but the unholy men who cook for their own sake, verily eat sin. The remnant of the sacrifice is Amrita or ambrosia. It is nectar. Those who eat the remnant of the sacrifice after performing them to the gods, are freed from all sins committed at the five places of slaughter of animate beings— the fire-place, the water-jar, the pestal and mortar, the grindstone, and the broom. Small creatures are unconsciously killed at these five places. That is the reason why the Pancha Maha Yajnas or the five daily sacrifices are prescribed for householders to wash off these sins.
The five daily sacrifices are: 1. Deva Yajna--offering sacrifice to the gods.
2 Brahma Yajna—Teaching and reciting the scriptures.
3. Pitru Yajna—Tarpan or offering libation of water to the manes or forefathers.
4. Manushya Yajna-feeding the poor or the hungry and the guests.
5. Bhuta Yajna--feeding birds, animals and fish.
The performance of the Bhuta Yajna aims at the development of mercy and realizing the unity of life and consciousness. It helps the performer to see and feel the one Satchidananda in all, and all in the One. It brings in Adwaitic realization of oneness or unity or identity in the end. If one does this Yajna with Prem, Shraddha and Bhav, he will have the same
283
