Rajasuya Sacrifice – Rajasuya Yajna Meaning and Importance

Rajasuya sacrifice is a yajna of great importance in Hinduism. Rajasuya Meaning - It is a Vedic ritual in which the juice of the plant soma is offered or taken.

It was usually performed by Kshatriya kings desirous of liberation. Rajasuya Yajna is mentioned in Taittiriya Samhita, Taittiriya Brahmana and in Kalpa Sutras.

The time required for the performance of this yajna is roughly two years.

Rajasuya sacrifice consists of several soma yajnas, animal yajnas, and ishti (in which oblation of butter, fruits, etc, is offered). The Chaturmasya (literally four months of stay in a place) forms part and parcel of this yajna.

The following five soma yajna form the core part of the Rajasuya Yajna.

1. Pavitra Soma Yajna
2. Abhisecaniya Soma Yajna – This includes another soma yajna known as Dasapeya. In the former, the performer has a ceremonial bath (abhisheka) and hence the name Abhisecaniya. In the latter, “tens of ten” persons drink the soma juice and hence the name Dasapeya (drunk by ten).
3. Kesavapaniya Soma Yajna – In which the performer ritually shaves off his hair (kasha – hair; vap – to shave).
4. Vyusi Dwirara Soma Yajna – In this, soma juice is offered as an oblation for tow days in succession (dwi – two; rara – nights).
5. Kshatrasya Dhrti Soma Yajna

Apart from these Soma yajnas there are several other minor ones performed for several days. The performer goes in a ceremonial procession in a chariot. There is dice play also.

One peculiar feature in this sacrifice is that the kshatriya performer is addressed as “Thou art a Brahmin,” four times.

Yudhishtira performs this sacrifice in the Mahabharata – Rajasuya Yajna Parva.

The Rajasuya Yajna: A Royal Rite of Consecration

• Eligibility: This Vedic sacrifice could be performed exclusively by a Kshattriya or a king.

• Relationship with Vajapeya: Authorities differed on the timing; some believed it should follow the Vajapeya sacrifice, while others argued it should precede it.

• Royal Status: According to the Satapatha Brahmana, performing the Rajasūya makes one a Rajan (king), whereas the Vajapeya elevates the performer to a Samrat (emperor).

• Duration: It is a complex rite of royal consecration that lasts for more than two years.

• Commencement: The sacrificer (yajamana) takes preliminary vows (diksha) on the first day of the bright half of the month of Phalguna (February/March).

• Initial Rites: It begins with a Soma sacrifice called the Pavitra, following the procedure of the Agnishtoma.

• Series of Istis: This is followed by various offerings using ghee and porridge, such as Anumati, Caturmasya, and the Apamargahoma (a rite to drive away demons).

• The Abhisecaniya (Unction): This is the most critical part of the sacrifice, lasting five days.

  • Water is collected from seventeen sources and kept in seventeen vessels made of udumbara wood.

  • The water is poured over the king’s head by various individuals, including commoners.

• Symbolic Conquest: The ritual includes a symbolic march where the king "seizes" a group of one hundred cows and then returns them to their owners.

• Ritual Dice-Play: A game of dice is played as part of the ceremony, in which the king is always destined to win.

• Conclusion: Like other major sacrifices, it ends with the avabhrthasnana (concluding bath).

• Priestly Fees: The prescribed dakshina (fee) is immense, totaling 240,000 cows distributed among the priests.

• Historical Reference: The Mahabharata records that the Pandavas performed this sacrifice at their capital, Indraprastha.