Karma Yoga- Part 2- Karma as Yajna

Chapter 3 Part 2

Do Karma as Yajna: The Bhagavad Gita

What is yajna? Every karma which is done with no attachment to its result can be considered as yajna. Karma that is done like this and with clear thathwa bodha destroys karma vasana. So every karma that is done by growing jnana(knowledge) and by weakening vasana can be called as yajna. The karma done not as yajna produces  karma vasana. This causes rebirths.

Ritualistic Yajna

Yajna is karma done without attachment. But for common men it will be very difficult to do karma as yajna. So, some other means were proposed to attain truth. Thus the concept of deities and several ritualistic yajna were implemented. Ritual yajna is believed to yield prosperity and it helps in achieving desires in life. But even this yajna, if it is done by keeping attachment to its result, can produce vasana. Only if yajna is done as an offering to deity or god can help in spiritual progress.

The Bhagavad Gita shows 'Symbiotic Existence'

In every celestial objects like sun, moon and in every human, animals and birds, the one and only Brahma or soul is filled in. This is the ultimate truth. But all are not capable of seeing soul as the truth of everything in this universe. They are incapable of believing beyond senses. Deity worship and yajna are recommended by Rishis for such people to uplift them to the truth. They asked to imagine deities in cosmic phenomena like sun, moon, air, fire, water etc. It is very understandable that these cosmic things influence the existence of everybody. So, karma done as offerings to these deities can help to avoid attachment to karma. Here karma (yajna) is done as offering and result is believed to be given by deities. This will gradually purify mind to help in seeing the truth.

All the things in the universe is originated because of prana spandana(energy vibration). When prana started to vibrate the pancha bhuta(space, air, fire, water and earth) had originated and mixed in different proportions to form various things. Prana and bhuta are inter connected. If there is no prana spandana, there is no bhuta. If there is no bhuta then there is no prana spandana. Similarly the five bhuta are also interconnected and they are seen as existing by depending on each other. Our bodies are formed from pancha bhuta. So our body and its existence is closely connected to the existence of pancha-bhuta. It is from this knowledge the concept of deities and yajna had arouse. But we humans are not ready to accept this. We live and exploit all natural resources by neglecting  the various components of nature. Those who forgets this inter connection and consumes everything that are given by the nature without offering it back in some way, is indeed a thief. So, whoever is incapable of doing own karma as yajna surely has to do at least ritualistic yajna. This will gradually purify mind and helps to get thatwa bodha.

Karma as Yajna: The Bhagavad Gita shows the way.

Karma done as yajna, releases one from karma vasana: Those who aims at realization do karma as yajna. They are definite in accepting soul realization as the goal of life. They do their karma as swadharma without fail.They do karma as offerings to god without attachment to its result. When the result comes they accept it in equal mentality even if it is favorable or not. They do not have the feeling of 'doer-ship' or 'enjoyer-ship'. Because of all these traits no karma vasana are produced as raaga or dwesha(likes or dislikes). Such persons becomes free from all karma vasana.

When karma is done with the feeling of doer-ship and enjoyer-ship, vasana are produced in the form of likes and dislikes(raaga-dwesha). They have to take births repeatedly. Through every births they do selfish karma and happen to experience karmaphala.