Sri Krishna gives a lot of great thoughts in Bhagavad Gita. But one thought many of us have neglected to see is this one - The concept of Yajna, Danam, Tapas. Why it is so important is what this small write up is about. Sri Krishna calls these three as great purifiers. Purifying what? What in yajna, what in danam, what in tapas qualify these three as agents of purification? If these three are purifying what are the impurities in us which these address?
First, Yajna. What is this? Perhaps a large open space, some geometric shapes in the center, perhaps some fire lit, some ghee poured in with chanting. This is the picture that may come to our mind on hearing the word. But no. That was one form of doing it, people chose to do so in some period of time. It was ritualistic. But if we go deep into the concept it is interesting.
Yajna means that you sacrifice something of yours to get something better or reach something more satisfactory. When you do this openly, stating your intention and readiness to wait and requesting others' cooperation towards achieving that aim, you are more or less entering into a contract with yourself and others. Since you discuss your intentions openly, your wishes and plans become conducive to the common good and definitely selfish exploitations are avoided even at the outset. This is the way of achieving your personal goals, purified of all malicious and vested interests and discussed with others in your immediate contexts. Achieving what one wants, justly and in tune with and never against the common good is the way of yajna.
Was this understood in the past in the exact terms in which I express, is a question. But the real import and the original motive of whoever found out this concept seem to be nearly like what I say. This we can see if we study deeply the srauta-sutras, mimamsa-sutras and their commentaries. It is not that we need to go back to the old forms. But understanding the essence of the concept and applying that in our contexts will surely enhance our relationship with nature and human beings. Since there is no dark area in our dealings or thoughts, this yajna is purifying. Ordinary actions anybody can do and are doing. Some with malicious intent, some as a waste, some with an exploiting motive neatly hidden. Yea actions do happen all the while with all sorts of psychology behind. That is why Sri Krishna says ordinary actions do bind us and are having a cheapening effect on the soul. But actions done as yajna are always auspicious, in the sense it brings about goodness to you and goodness to others. i.e., Subham.
Now some of you might have thought when we were saying about yajna, what guarantees a person to behave all truly even in yajna. He may state something in public but he may be having his own plans. Yea here comes the concept of Tapas. Individual betterment in mind and thinking. This tapas is a culture of introspection and openness to oneself, which is inculcated even from small years. This tapas helps improve the human being from inside out. An exercise of blossoming towards light. The person is inducted into a culture of light-loving rather than being addicted to darkness. This tapas is what makes a human being or draws out more and more the real human being out of potentiality.
Individuals may be made or allowed to blossom forth by Tapas, so that their actions become yajna and never mere raw actions prone to all ills. But the others with whom the human being relates and the society which consists of all types of others for all the members, they form a community or a society. What educates the society towards individuals and what educates the individuals towards the society is what is called Danam. We may think in a too-commonplace manner that danam is charity. May be, it is right in one way. But it is not what danam is really about. Danam is sharing between the individuals and the society, the society learning from individuals, the individuals imbibing culture from the heritage coming down and preserved by the society. It is educating the individual from the biological to the cultural. And more so, the individuals lifting the social from getting mired in dead habits and customs to more creative expressions. It is dynamical both ways. If it is not so, then the danam is not working properly. Properly restoring danam meaningfully brings in purity into the parity of individual vs society.
If these three are in pure shape, yajna, tapas, danam, then the whole picture is healthy. Positive cycles go on. Negativity is resolved. The goals of individuals and society are complimentary and creative. That is why Sri Krishna is saying in Bhagavad Gita
Yajna dAna tapa: karma na tyAjyam kAryam Eva tat |
yajnO dAnam tapas chaiva pAvanAni maneeshiNAm ||
Yajnam, Danam, Tapas are actions that must never be given up. Because these three Yajnam, Danam, Tapas are always purifying for the human beings who use mind.
Srirangam Mohanarangan
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