If Thanksgiving is a day of gratitude, then Hindus celebrate it every single day of the year.
Ours is a duty-bound samskriti. There is less emphasis on “expectations” or “rights.” As Pujya Guruji Swami Tejomayananda beautifully says, “If everyone fulfilled their duties, each one will get their rights.” In fact, Bhagavan Sri Krishna guides us in the Gita to act without expectations.
Central to the Hindu way of life is the sacred daily practice of Pancha Maha Yagnas. When we hear the word yagna, we may imagine a havan kunda with fire, oblations, and mantras. However, these yagnas are different. They are acts of sacrifice rooted in gratitude, not ritual fire offerings.
Pancha Maha Yagna is our offering of gratitude to the five support structures that nurture us from birth. When practiced sincerely, they create balance, harmony, and peace in our lives. Pujya Gurudev Swami Chinmayananda expressed this perfectly:
“What we have in life is a gift from HIM. What we do with what we have is our gift to HIM.”
The Taittiriya Aranyaka lists the Pancha Maha Yagnas:
पञ्च वा एते महायज्ञाः स॑तति प्रता॑यन्ते सतति सन्तिष्ठन्ते ।
देवयज्ञः पितृयज्ञो भूत्यज्ञो मनुष्ययज्ञो ब्रह्मयज्ञो इति ॥
1. Deva Yagna (देव यज्ञ)
This yagna maintains our relationship with the Divine, who has provided everything necessary for life. A householder expresses gratitude through daily prayer, worship, chanting, and offering naivedya. Lalita Sahasranama even describes Devi as “Pancha Yagna Priya”—One who is pleased by the five great yagnas.
2. Pitru Yagna (पितृ यज्ञ)
We owe our existence to our ancestors. Their sacrifices and values carry us through life. This yagna expresses gratitude to them through tarpanam, śrāddha, and by lovingly caring for parents and grandparents. Remembering our lineage with reverence keeps us grounded in humility and gratitude.
3. Bhuta Yagna (भूत यज्ञ)
We share this Earth with countless beings. Gratitude to Mother Earth is shown by protecting nature, avoiding pollution, planting trees, conserving resources, and practicing non-injury. This yagna also includes feeding birds, animals, and insects around us.
4. Manushya Yagna (मनुष्य यज्ञ)
We receive much from society—education, protection, culture, and community. This yagna is fulfilled by serving society, respecting parents and teachers, helping those in need, and offering dāna (charity). It is our way of giving back.
5. Brahma Yagna (ब्रह्म यज्ञ)
Considered the greatest of all, this yagna honors knowledge, the only true liberator. Our duty is to keep scriptural wisdom alive through svādhyāya (daily study), reflection, and teaching our children. Pujya Gurudev descended from the Himalayas to share this sacred knowledge with us; our gratitude to him is expressed by studying, living, and embodying this wisdom.
Conclusion
When practiced sincerely, this Attitude of Gratitude cultivated through the Pancha Maha Yagnas purifies the mind (chitta shuddhi) and prepares it for higher knowledge. It frees us from the cycle of karma by shifting our mindset from an attitude of expectation to an attitude of gratitude. This inner shift brings harmony and peace to our mind, family, society, and ultimately the entire world—guiding us toward liberation.