Importance of Yagam
The Lord created mankind and provided them with everything for their welfare and continued happiness. But life is not that simple or easy, for every human being has multifarious (self created) problems, for which one cannot blame Him. What we have done, knowingly or unknowingly, in this birth and in the innumerable previous births, is the cause of all our good and bad karmas, resulting in our misery.
Lord Sri Krishna in Gita has spelled out a number of ways and means for cleansing ourselves of these sins, one of them being the conduction of yagams, wherein he emphasises its importance in removing our past sins. These yagams are categorized as
Deva Yagam
Paying homage to the Celestal beings by feeding the Offerings in fire and by pacifying them.
Brahma Yagam
Daily poojas done at home as a routine, while reciting Mantras and offering prasad etc., with devotion.
Pitr Yagam
Offerings dedicated to the ancestors for their continued well being.
Atithi Yagam
Feeding and looking after the guests and other poor human beings.
The Lord explains these yagams in detail and has assured a sin free life ever after, provided one does one of the yagams as prescribed, sincerely. It is on record that many rishis, munis and kings conducted such yagams for succeeding in their endeavours.
Similarly for the benefit of the mankind and for obliterating all and every type of sin / punishment / problems, the siddhas have laid down various kinds of yagams, their modus operandi, their benefits etc., in detail.