(“sacrifice to Brahman”) One of the five
great sacrifices (panchamahayajna)
prescribed in the texts on religious duty
(Dharma Shastras). These five great
sacrifices are prescribed daily religious
observances for a “twice-born” householder, that is, a householder who has
been born into one of three groups in
Indian society—brahmin, kshatriya, or
vaishya. Such men are eligible for the
adolescent religious initiation known as
the “second birth.” Each of the five sacrifices (yajna) is directed toward a different class of beings, from the Ultimate
Reality down to animals, and is satisfied
by different actions. The brahmayajna is
directed toward the Ultimate Reality
(Brahman) and is satisfied by teaching
and studying the Vedas, the oldest
Hindu religious texts. In the time since
the Dharma Shastras were composed,
Hindu life has undergone significant
change, but many brahmins still study
the Veda—if not daily, at some point in
their youth.
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Brahmasutra Bhashya