Yagna

Yajna (Sanskrit: यज्ञ, romanized: yajña, lit

 ‘sacrifice, devotion, worship, offering’) refers in Hinduism to any ritual done in front of a sacred fire, often with mantras

Yajna has been a Vedic tradition, described in a layer of Vedic literature called Brahmanas, as well as Yajurveda

The tradition has evolved from offering oblations and libations into sacred fire to symbolic offerings in the presence of sacred fire (Agni)

Yajna rituals-related texts have been called the Karma-kanda (ritual works) portion of the Vedic literature, in contrast to Jnana-kanda (knowledge) portion contained in the Vedic Upanishads

The proper completion of Yajna-like rituals was the focus of Mimansa school of Hindu philosophy

Yajna have continued to play a central role in a Hindu’s rites of passage, such as weddings

Modern major Hindu temple ceremonies, Hindu community celebrations, or monastic initiations may also include Vedic Yajna rites, or alternatively be based on Agamic rituals