Nitya, Kāmya, Naimittika and Niṣiddha Karma

Śrauta yāga is again classified into four classes viz. Nitya, Kāmya, Naimittika and Niṣiddha sacrifices. These should be performed without any fail. The performance of those rites may not produce any tangible result but their non-performance will bring disaster. Sacrifices like Agnihotra are styled ‘nitya’ because they must be performed daily as a compulsory lifelong sacrificial session. The yajamāna should perform this obligatory nityakarma like Agnihotra sacrifice otherwise he would be condemned in the society.

Thus goes the rule ‘Jāvajjivamgnihotraṃ juhoti’. On the other hand, Kāmya Karma or Wish–yielding sacrifices are to be performed for the fulfillment of various desires of the sacrificer, otherwise not. Again, Naimittika karma or occasional rites are those which are performed for redressing calamities or misfortunes. The performance of ḳsamāvati iṣṭi illustrates Naimittika Karma. When house is burnt by fire, Ḳsamāvati iṣṭi should be performed by way of remedy; otherwise he will incur sin. Like Nitya karma, Naimittika Karma or occasional iṣṭi must be preformed else it brings disaster. Niṣiddha Karmas are those which are forbidden at the time of rituals.