{{Short description|Hindu ritual}} {{Hinduism}}{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}} {{italic title}} The '''Haviryaga''' (ISO: {{Transliteration|sa|ISO|Haviryāga}}) or '''Haviryagna''' ({{Langx|sa|हविर्यज्ञ|translit=Haviryajña}}) is a Hindu ritual.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rituals – प्रमुख वैदिक यज्ञोंका क्रम एवं उनका संक्षिप्त विवरण {{!}} Vedic Heritage Portal |url=https://vedicheritage.gov.in/rituals/ |access-date=2024-08-12 |website=vedicheritage.gov.in}}</ref> It is a type of Yajna associated with the Vedic sacrifices of uncooked offering, and regarded to achieve various spiritual and material benefits.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Smith |first=Brian K. |date=1986 |title=THE UNITY OF RITUAL: The Place of the Domestic Sacrifice in Vedic Ritualism |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24654536 |journal=Indo-Iranian Journal |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=79–96 |doi=10.1163/000000086790082154 |jstor=24654536 |issn=0019-7246|url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Gopathabrahmana |url=http://archive.org/details/gopathabrahmanao00gopauoft |title=The Gopatha Brahmana of the Atharva Veda. Edited by Rajendralala Mitra and Harachandra Vidyabhushana |last2=Mitra |first2=Rajendralala |last3=Harachandra Vidyabhushana |date=1872 |publisher=Calcutta Asiatic Society of Bengal |others=Robarts - University of Toronto}}</ref>
The term "''Haviryaga''" means "a sacrifice in which ''havis'', i.e. uncooked food is used" . Unlike other types of sacrifices, such as Somayajna, which involve the offering of soma juice, a Haviryaga utilizes food materials such as rice, barley, ghee, and milk. The main purpose of such sacrifices is to invoke blessings and ensure material prosperity and happiness in life.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yegnasubramanian |first=S. |title=Vaidika Samskaras |url=https://svbf.org/wp-content/uploads/vaidika-samskaras/6_VaidikaSamskaras.pdf |access-date=August 12, 2024 |website=svbf.org}}</ref>
== Types == The seven types of Haviryaga are:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhat |first=Prof. N. Radhakrishna |title=Vedic Ritual Tradition of Karnataka |url=https://vedicheritage.gov.in/Vedic_tradition_karnataka.pdf |access-date=August 12, 2024 |website=vedicheritage.gov.in}}</ref>
* ''Agnyadhana'' * ''Agnihotra-Homa'' * ''Darsa-purnamasa Istis'' * ''Agrayanesti'' * ''Caturmasya'' * ''Nirudha Pasubandha'' * ''Sautramani''
=== Agnyadhana === A Vedic sacrifice requires three sacred fires namely ''Ahavaniya'', ''Garhapatya'' and ''Daksinagni''. The purpose of ''Adhana'' is to entertain these three sacred fires.
It has regular precribed procedure for its function. The fire is constantly maintained in ''Garhapatya'' to later utilize it to distribute fire to the rest two fire places for sacrifice as per he rules mentioned in the Srauta Sutras.
Almost the entirety of ''Homas'' is performed in the ''Ahavaniya'' fire. The sacrificial fire is later called ''Ahitagni'' from the day of ''Adhana.'' If the fire of ''Garhapatya'' gets extinguished, the process of ''Punaradhana'' is carried out, and the ''Ahitagni'' has to go through the process of ''Adhana'' once again.
=== Agnihotra-Homa === It is an everyday sacrifice that is performed both at the twilight by ''Ahitagni'' along with his wife. The ''Havis'' is offered to the Agni along with prayers. The offering can have either rice or milk along with ''Ajya'' (Ghee). This yajna is termed as a lifelong ''Sattra'', i.e. it is never to be closed on any account. It can be broken only due to old age or demise.
=== Darsa-purnamasa Istis === It is performed once in every two weeks, when it is either the full moon or the new moon day.
=== Agrayanesti === It is performed twice every year, when its the time for the arrival of fresh grain in the fields. In includes the ''Prayanesti'', which is performed during Somayajna. It signifies the onset of ''Somayagna''.
=== Chaturmasya === It is performed once in every four months over the year. The day falls on the full moon day and this includes certain sacrifices. Therefore, it is termed as ''Chaturmasya'' i.e. happening every four months.
=== Nirudha Pasubandha === The person who performs sacrifice is assisted by six priests while offering ''Pasu''. In contemporary days, produce of ''Pasus'' offered instead of ''Pasus'' directly, in the form of dairy products like ghee or milk.
=== Sautramani === It is the seventh Haviryaga. It can be performed in two ways for different outcomes. ''Kaukila Sautramani'' is performed for the happiness in the present world, while ''Caraka Sautramani'' is performed to get the Svarga.
== See also == * Vedas * Yajna
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Hindudharma}}
Category:Yajna Category:Hindu rituals Category:Vedic customs