What Are the Five Sacrifices (Pancha Yajnaas)?

[Shri Balaji asked: What are the five Sacrifices (Pancha Yajnas)? If somebody misses Sadguru, who is to be worshipped in the first Brahma yajna, shall he perform it or not? If the real Sadguru is not available, will the performance of these five sacrifices take the soul to the highest step?]

Swami replied:  In fact, there are seven sacrifices (Sapta Yajnas): 1) Brahma yajna in which the contemporary human incarnation or Sadguru is to be worshipped. 2) Deva yajna in which the devotees are to be worshipped. 3) Rushi yajna in which the scholars preaching deep spiritual knowledge are to be worshipped. 4) Pitru yajna in which the elders of the family are to be worshipped. 5) Manushya yajna in which human guests are to be worshipped. 6) Bhuuta yajna in which hungry soft natured animals and birds are to be worshipped. 7) Aatma yajna in which the life of self is to be protected and maintained by taking food. These seven sacrifices are shortlisted as the five sacrifices by mixing Rushi yajna with Deva yajna and by neglecting the last sacrifice, which will be naturally done by any soul.

You asked that if the Sadguru is missing, shall we neglect the performance of the first sacrifice? It can be done so provided he is sure of the non-availability of Sadguru because human incarnation of God comes in every generation since He does not show partiality of His close contact with devotees for few generations only. If one is not sure of this and thinks that some Guru himself is Sadguru, he can perform the first sacrifice worshipping such selected Guru.

The highest step is achievement of full Grace of God. Performance of these five sacrifices is certainly a higher step. When the first sacrifice is done with the availability of Sadguru, the highest step is achieved. The Sadguru is not only your guide, but also the goal itself. Recognition of Sadguru itself is very difficult and worship of such Sadguru is very very difficult because of repulsion between common human media of God and soul. Recognition of Sadguru with real theoretical love proved by service and sacrifice is the highest step to attain His full grace.

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