Vedas say Yagnovai Vishnuh. Meaning Yagna is Vishnu. Yagna is personified like this in Padma puraana
Veda paado Yoopa damshtra Kratu hastha Chithi mukhah
Agni Jihwa Dharma romah Brahma Sheershah mahaatapaah
Ahoraatrekshanee Divyo vedaanto shruthi bhooshana
Sruvatunda Aajya naasah Saamaghoshyaswnau mahaan
Dharma satyamayah srimaan kramavikrama satkriyah
Praayaschittanakho dheerah Pashujaanurmahaa bhujah
Ouddhaatraam homalingah phala beeja Mahaashadhih
vaavyantaraatmaa mantraspigvikrutah somashonitah
Vedaslamdho havirgandho haavyaka vyaathi vegavaan
Praagvamshakaayo dyuthimaan naanaadeekshaabhirarchitah
dakshinaahrudayo yogee mahaamantramayo mahaan
upaakarmola jachubukah pravaryaavartabhooshanah
naanaachandogathipadho Guhyopanishadaasanah
Chaayapatnee sahaayovai Meru shrunga ivocchitah
Vedas = Feet, Yoopa Sthambha (Post to which animals are tied) = Canine teeth, sacred tasks = hands, Pyre = Face, Fire = Tongue, Set of rules to be followed = pores on the skin, Brahmins who meditate = Head, Day and night = Sight, Philosophical principles = Ear rings, Sruva (used in yagna) = mouth, Aajyamu (fuel that helps the fire burn - Ghee) = Nose, Great sounds of Yagna = Samaveda, Process = Good deeds, Penance - finger nails, Pashuvu (animal kept for the sacrifice) - Knee, Ouddatram - Intestine, Homa - male organ, Results - organs of the body, Air - Soul, Mantras - Lips, Somras - Blood, Vedas = Shoulders, stage = top part of the shoulder, Oblations - Odor of the body, Havya and Kavya = Vedas, Pragvamshee = body, Reward given to priest = Heart, Upakarma = chin, Pravarya = Ornaments, Various Chandassus - ways, Guhyopanishath = Seat, Shadow = spouse
He is embodiment of Dharma and truth. greatest of the great.
It is said like this in Amnaaya rahasya
Indriya dwaarasangruhyaih gandhaadhyai raatmadevataam
swabaavena samaaraadhya gnaatu ssoyam mahaamukah
Seeking Paramaatma with outmost devotion after conquering senses is called maha yagna.
It is said like this in Bhagavadgeeta
Annadbhavanthi bootaani, parjanyaadanna sambhavah
yagnatbhavathi parjanyo, yagnah karma samudbhavah
The flora and fauna flourish due to food. Food comes from rain. Rain comes from Yagna and Yagna comes from Karma.
Prajapathi (Brahma) created humans out of yagna and order them to follow varnaashrama dharmas and perform yagnas as prescribed in vedas. He said, "By doing that you will fulfill all your wishes". Yagnas are of three types. They are:
1. Paaka yagna, 2.Haviryaaga, 3.Somasamstha
Paaka yagnas are of 7 types. They are: 1. Oupaasana, 2. Sthaleepaakamu, 3. Vaiswadevamu, 4. Ashtakamu, 5. Maasa Shraadhamu, 6. Sarpa bali, 7. Eshaana bali.
Haviryaagas are 7 types. They are: 1. Agnishtoma, 2. Darsapoornimaasa 3. Agraayanam, 4. Chaaturmaasya, 5. Pinda and pitru yagnas, 6. Niroodha pashubandha, 7.Soutaamani
Soma samsthas are 7 types. They are: 1.Agnishtoma, 2.Atyagnishtoma, 3.Ukra, 4.Athiraatra, 5. Aaptoryaama, 6.Vaajapeya, 7.Poundareeka
Karma performed with utmost devotion, compassion and as per vedic prescriptions is called Yagna.
