The Traditional performance of the Pañcamahāyajñas in Assamese society as Reflected in the Dharmasūtras : An Observation

The Dharmasūtras are the supplements of the Kalpavedāṅga, the ritual expositions of the Vedic literature, written in the sūtra style and dealing with the dharma. The word dharma indicates the meaning of law, justice, religion, duty, virtue, etc. The source of dharma, the duties of the four āśramas, various types of saṁskāras, viz., upanayana, vivāha, etc., are the basic subject-matters of the Dharmasūtras. These are considered as the compendium of Indian cultural heritage, where the socio-religious performances and traditional activities of the then Indians are reflected.Among various topics of the Dharmasūtra, the Pañcamahāyajñas are the compulsory duties of a gṛhastha or householder to be performed everyday. These Pañcamahāyajñas are viz., Brahmayajña, Devayajña, Bhūtayajña, Pitṛyajña and Manuṣyayajña. The Brahmayajña is the sacrifice to the Brahman or the study of Vedic text; the Devayajña is the sacrifice to the Gods; the Bhūtayajña, which means the sacrifice to the other created beings; the Pitṛyajña, i.e., the sacrifice to the forefathers, and lastly the Manuṣyayajña or Nṛyajña is the sacrifice to fellow human being. The performance of these five great sacrifices is a part of the most important socio-religious duty of each householder to be performed everyday, although in reality they consist only in small offerings and a few, simple ceremonies. Here, in the present research paper, it is focused on the relevant and impact of the Pañcamahāyajñas as the socio-religious performance of a householder in Assamese society with an analytical point of view.. The present research paper is an humble attempt to observe the concept of each of the five great sacrifices as enjoined in the four principal Dharmasūtras, viz., the Vasiṣṭhadharmasūtra, the Baudhāyanadharmasūtra, the Āpastambadharmasūtra and the Gautamadharmasūtra, which generates the interest for the further depth study on traditional knowledge of ancient India.