Evidence of Vedic Yagna in Indus seal

inscriptions.

These two symbols indicates the type of Yajna performed.

The first symbol is the Chakra Yajna and the second symbol is
the Havis Yajna. (A Havis is offering into the fire for the benefit of
gods). In addition to that it is also noted that the Chakra symbol
is found in association with this third symbol . This third symbol
could be indicating the Fire sticks (araNi) associated with igniting
the fire of yajna ceremony. All these symbols in combination or on
individual basis conveys the idea of a Yajna. Two seals are
produced here down below as examples to show that majority of
Indus seals starts with the combination of these graphemes.
There is a possibility that these two graphemes could be
indicating two different gods. My experience so far shows that
names of gods are not fitting well to the other graphemes in
inscriptions but the idea of Yajna is fitting very well.

Figure 1
Picture courtesy (Sullivan, 2011)

Figure 2
Picture courtesy (Sullivan, 2011)
There is no word called Chakra Yajna
is Sanskrit
dictionary as on today. Just to explain the idea I have coined this
term as a temporary measure till the final word is ascertained.
There is a possibility that this chakra symbol could be indicating
the Garhapatya or Domestic Fire. (Refer to figure-5) In this
figure-5, it is clearly depicted that a circle symbol indicates a
Grahapatya Yajna. Grahapatya Yajna means fire started from
the fire maintained in the house of a sacrifice. The first three days
of the Yajna are conducted in the smaller shed of the Yajnasala(figure-5)
The concept of Chakra Yajna can be supported by few
words occurring in Sanskrit dictionary (spokensanskrit.de,
2015) .The word ParicAyya gives the meaning Sacrificial fire
arranged in a circle. Other words with similar or related meanings
are as given below:
ParicAyya
samAtRs-chakraVAla

matrR mandala

Sacrificial fire arranged in a

circle
Circle of mothers -(Attended
by whole circle of divine
mothers)
circle of mothers

Mandalaka
Yajja mandal
ApAGga
pariveSana
vRtta (circular)

Sacred circle
Circle (or) place of sacrifice
Sectorial mark (or) circlet on
the fore head
Attendance, distributing food
Deceased, Dead, kind of
metre, kind of drug, final
rhythm, means of life,
subsistence, event, mode of
life, occurred and taken place.

The meaning of Chakra Symbol could be anything out of

the above said many meanings, however all these words revolve
around some ceremony, where people sit around a fire and some
final ceremony is done for some deceased person.
Similarly, the diamond shape symbol
also does not have a
proper explanation so far. I assume that it indicates Havis Yajna
(A Havis is offering into the fire for the benefit of gods). I have
come to this conclusion based on my readings from Kabul
Manuscript, where this

diamond symbol conveys the sound of

ha. (Jeyakumar.R, 2014). Further, it is likely that this symbol

indicates a Havan kund. See the figure-5, given below (Simplified
plan of the sacrificial area). There are havan kunds in different
shapes within the Yagna-sala. This diagram (Figure-5) is only
simplified plan of the sacrificial area. I am of the feeling there will
be some Havan kund with diamond shape. Most probably this
diamond kund indicates the Havir-dana kund in the middle of the
bigger Mahavedi -yagna-sala.
The above said perception of Yajna can very well be
substantiated with inscriptions on another seal and different
grapheme.

Figure 3
Picture courtesy (Sullivan, 2011)
See the above given seal and its inscription. The inscription
should be read from right to left (The side, which the bull is
facing). The Great bird symbol indicates the Agnicayana Yajna,
and the second symbol is the modified form of fire sticks
(araNi).

Figure 4

Picture courtesy (wikipedia, 2015)

The entire ritual of Agnicayana takes twelve days to perform,

in the course of which a great bird-shaped altar, the uttaravedi
"northern altar" is built out of 1005 bricks. The liturgical text is in
chapter 20 to 25th of Krishna yajurveda. The immediate purpose
of the Agnicayana is to build up for the sacrificer an immortal
body that is permanently beyond the reach of the transitoriness,
suffering, and death that, according to this rite, characterize
man's mortal existence. (wikipedia, 2015). One important thing to
be noted here is that Agnicayana Yajna is specifically related to

death. This inscription in the figure-3 supports my view that Indus

excavation sites are necropolises and not megapolises as claimed
so far. (Jeyakumar.R,
Necropolis_theory_on_Indus_Valley_Civilization, 2009)

Basic terminologies of Vedic Yagna rituals

(Anamika, 2015)
First of all we should understand the various terminology
used in the Vedic ritual Yajna. There are four commonly used
words, they are Yajna, Yaaga, Homa and Havis. These four terms
generally refer to a sacrificial act, often in a sacrificial offering in a
fire, but have various connotations. A Yajna may mean
(appropriate to the context) a sacrifice, sacrificial rite, an act of
worship, any pious or devotional act, or spiritual offering or
endeavour.
Yajna
There are fivefold yajnas charged on householders, they are
as given below:
1. Bhoota Yajna is for the welfare of all beings- human and
animal.
2. PitRu Yajna is the offering to the departed elders.
3. Deva Yajna is offerings made to all gods.
4. ManuShya Yajna is offerings made to people and
hospitable reception of guests.
5. Brahma Yajna is for teaching and reciting Vedas.
Yaaga
This is a public Yajna, on a very large scale, generally
arranged by kings. Specialist priests for different specific duties
(Advaryu as supervising priest, Hotra for reciting Rugveda,
Udgaata for chantings hymns from Saamaveda, and up to 16
priests). Kratu is a yaaga in which animal sacrifice is prescribed.

Homa
A Homa is a Yajna on a smaller scale, domestic in nature,
performed with oblations for deities. Part of Devayajna. Recitation
of PuruShasookta and of the Geetaa, etc.
Havis
A Havis is offering into the fire. (Anamika, 2015)

Procedures of Vedic Yajna ritual

(Houben, 2015)
Initially, the ritual acts are performed in the Pracinavamsa or
"hut with top beam that is directed eastward". On the day
immediately preceding the pressing day (minimally the fourth
day) the centre of ritual action shifts to the Mahavedi, or large
offering space, that has been measured out with much precision.
The fire is then brought in a solemn procession from the offering
altar in the Pracinavamsa to the Uttaravedi, the altar in the east
of the Mahavedi.
The pressing of the Soma, the offering of the Soma beverage
to the gods by putting it into the fire of the Uttaravedi, and the
consuming of the remaining Soma beverage: this all takes place
on the Mahavedi, on the pressing day. On the Mahavedi special
grass has been spread which should serve as seat for the gods
and for the priests. Two sheds have been built on the Mahavedi,
one mainly for the chants and recitations, the other for the
pressing of the Soma. After the concluding bath the grass and the
sheds on the Mahavedi are burnt with the fire of the Uttaravedi.
Next, the fire of the three altars in the remaining old offering
hut, the Pracinavamsa, is made to ascend again into the Aranis

(fire board and stick) of the sacrificer, and the sacrifice and his
wife return home. Here fire is made from the Aranis. From then
on, the sacrificer and his wife continue with their daily Agnihotra,
evening and morning. (Houben, 2015)

Figure 5
Simplified plan of the sacrificial area.
Reference and acknowledgements are due to (Houben,
2015)
Legends
Garh. = Garhapatya or Domestic Fire
Ahav. = Ahavaniya or Offering Fire
Daksin. = Daksinagni or Southern Fire
R. = Rajasandi, the King's Throne for the Soma stalks
S. = Samrad-asandi, the Emperor's Throne for the Pravargya
vessels

m. = methi and mayukhas, the peg and pins for the cow, the
calf, the she-goat and the lamb
kh. = khara or mound
Utt.v. = Uttaravedi
n. = nabhi

Anamika. (2015, Feb). yajna-yaaga-homa-havis-. Retrieved from

aanobhadraah.blogspot.in:
http://aanobhadraah.blogspot.in/2007/07/yajna-yaaga-homahavis-yajna-yaaga.html
Houben, J. (2015, Feb). jyotistoma. Retrieved from jyotistoma.nl:
http://www.jyotistoma.nl/EN/default.html
Jeyakumar.R. (2009).
Necropolis_theory_on_Indus_Valley_Civilization. Retrieved
from www.academia.edu:
https://www.academia.edu/7773502/Necropolis_theory_on_In
dus_Valley_Civilization
Jeyakumar.R. (2014). Kabul_Manuscript_deciphered. Retrieved
from academia.edu:
https://www.academia.edu/8529724/_Line1_Kabul_Manuscript_deciphered
spokensanskrit.de. (2015, Feb). paricAyya. Retrieved from
spokensanskrit.de/: http://www.spokensanskrit.de/index.php?
tinput=paricAyya&direction=SE&script=HK&link=yes&begin
ning=0
Sullivan, S. (2011). Indus Script Dictionary. Suzanne Redalia.
wikipedia. (2015, Feb). Agnicayana. Retrieved from wikipedia.:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agnicayana