Sacrifice
July 3, 2007
“There are five great sacrifices, namely the gret ritual services: the sacrifice to all beings, sacrifice to men, sacrifice to ancestors, sacrifice to the Gods, sacrifice to Brahman.
Day by day a man offers sustenance to creatures: that is the sacrifice to beings. Day by day a man offers hospitaility to guests, including a glass of water; that is sacrifice to men.
Day by day a man makes funerary offerings, including a glass of water; that is the sacrifice to the ancestors.
Day by day a man makes offerings to the Gods, including wood for burning; that is the sacrifice to the Gods.
And the sacrifice to Brahman? the sacrifice to Brahman consists of sacred study.”
-Satapatha Bhramana