[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930) › v2.c35.3 # History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c35.3 History of Dharmaśāstra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v2.c35.3 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c35.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c35.3) From early Vedic times five daily observances called \*mahāyajñas\* were prescribed. The Śat. Br. (XI 5. 6. 1.)¹⁶⁶⁴ says '\*there are only\* five mahāyajñas, they are like great sacrificial sessions, viz. the sacrifice to beings, the sacrifice to men, the sacrifice to the Fathers, the sacrifice to the gods, the sacrifice to \*brahman\* (Veda)'. These are then briefly defined. In the Tai. Ār. II. 10 we read '\*these\* five mahāyajñas indeed are spread out continuously, viz. devayajña, pitṛyajña, bhūtayajña, manuṣyayajña, brahmayajña. That is fulfilled as devayajña when one makes an offering in fire, even if it be a mere fuel-stick; when one offers svadhā (śrāddha repast) to the fathers, even if it be mere water, that becomes pitṛyajña; when a man offers a \*bali\* (a ball of food) to the beings it becomes bhūtayajña, when he gives food to brāhmaṇas that becomes manuṣyayajña. When one studies svādhyāya even if it be a single \*ṛk\* or \*yajus\* formula or a \*sāman\*, it becomes brahmayajña'.¹⁶⁶⁵ - [Previous: v2.c35.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c35.2) - [Next: v2.c35.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c35.4) - [Up: v2.c35](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c35) ## Linked texts (2) - [Śatapathabrāhmaṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.brahmana.satapatha.11.5.6.1) — Yājñavalkya & Śāṇḍilya (Vedic teacher), Sanskrit - [Taittirīyāraṇyaka](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.aranyaka.taittiriya) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c35.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.kane-1930.v2.c35.3) · Pramāṇa