In Hinduism the religious rites that help in fulfillment of desires is known as Kamya Karma. It is resorted to when certain desires cannot be satisfied through normal human endeavor. The scriptures advise the performance of certain religious rites and rituals that invoke divine intervention. Different rituals and yagnas like jyotistoma and candrayana vrata belong to the category of Kamya Karmas.
Kamya Karma (s) are divided into two classes – those which are ordained by the scriptures and those which are nishiddha (forbidden). Rituals like Agnihotra and Jyotistoma belong to the former category, while those like drinking wine and human sacrifice are forbidden karnas.
The philosophy of “inquiry into karma”, i.e., Karma Mimamsa, discusses the nature and purpose of Vedic rites, their primary and secondary character and sequential performance with their results. It also states the methods by which these karmas have to be performed and the results of their performance.
Kamya Karma(s) have a psychological foundation. Since every human being is interested in enjoying the pleasures of the world and is attached to sense objects, he chooses the pravritti marga “(path of desire)” as opposed to the nivritti marga (‘path of passive activity’). Karma Mimamsa philosophy allows individuals to desire good things of this world and also of the higher worlds and tells them how they can achieve such desires.
The philosophy of Karma Mimamsa and Karma Kanda, or rules governing performance of Vedic rites allied to it, indicate the path of kamya karma in a logical manner.
Kamya Karma is optional, not compulsory, and involves in the highest sense the performance of such sacrifices as help one to obtain heaven (svarga kamo yajeta).