Yajna means an act that is directed to the welfare of others, ideally done without desiring any return for it, whether of a temporal or spiritual nature.

The word, “act” here includes thoughts, speech, and actions. “Others” includes not only humanity but all life. Most importantly, “others” includes the higher powers who preside over the necessities of life.

Yajna is the process whereby an individual or society may be elevated either in this world or the next. Yajna implies that we are debtors for life and our primary responsibility is toward others and not ourselves.

Work should be done for yajna so that the results of work are uplifting and not destructive. The well-being and prosperity of humanity depends not on human effort but on the background arrangement of those who supply the necessities of life. Yajna acknowledges human indebtedness to the higher powers who supply such necessities. Moreover, it offers gratitude to them, not as a sentiment, but in action.

Even if one is uninterested in spiritual advancement or has no faith in a higher power, still one should offer the results of one’s work in yajna for the benefit of communities and nations.

Here is a summary of Krishna’s teaching about yajna in His Bhagavad Gita:

Many modern experts assert that environmental disasters are caused by greed.[1] Krishna also says this in His Bhagavad Gita (BG), starting with BG 2.62. He then elaborates on 2.62 and specifically presents yajna as the solution.[2]

He makes it clear that humans can cut back on greed and live in harmony with nature–that is, the gods or higher powers–through yajna. And He indicates that one may perform a variety of yajnas. In other words, there are gradations.[3]

He says that one form of yajna is to offer a significant portion of one’s money for a higher–not necessarily spiritual–purpose.

Thus, unless those who are trying to improve the environment are willing to sacrifice their money for some kind of yajna, material or spiritual, they will fail.[4]

Nevertheless, Krishna then mentions that one should ideally do sattvic yajna, which is yajna that is spiritually uplifting.[5] So those who are truly serious about the environment must perform sattvic yajna.

Sattvic yajna is that which is performed for Vishnu or Krishna.[6]

Download a translation of the Bhagavad Gita here.

[1] https://goo.gl/Yo11cF and Srimad Bhagavatam, SB 7.15.20

[2] Bhagavad Gita (BG) 3.9-16, 4.23-34

[3] BG 12.10-11

[4] BG 2.63–pranasyati–full circle with paragraph one

[5] BG 17.11 and 18.6

[6] BG 16.17, 17.24, and 17.28