Devayajna

(“sacrifice to the gods”) One of the
Five Great Sacrifices (panchamahayajna) that is prescribed in the texts on
religious duty (dharma literature).
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 the three twice-born groups in
Indian society—brahmin, kshatriya,
or vaishya—and who has received 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
Absolute Reality down to animals—
and is satisfied by different actions.
The devayajna is directed toward the
gods and is satisfied by homa, the
offerings of clarified butter into the
sacred fire. In the time since these
texts were composed, Hindu life has
undergone significant changes, and
since most Hindu homes no longer
maintain a sacred fire, this particular
rite has been largely omitted.