yaj

Yaj is a transliteration of the ancient Sanskrit root यज् (yaj), which conveys meanings connected to worship, sacrifice, and ritual. In classical Sanskrit, yaj- is a verbal root (dhatu) that forms a family of words associated with offerings and religious rites. The most well-known derivative is yajña (यज्ञ), the sacrificial rite central to Vedic practice. The root also yields verbs such as yajate or yajati (to sacrifice or worship) and appears in compounds describing the agents and objects of ritual, such as yajamāna (host or sacrificer) and related terms.

In Vedic and Hindu literature, yajña denotes not only the act of sacrifice but also the broader concept of ritual offering, including prayers, libations, and communal sharing of offerings among participants. The term is used across a range of texts—from the Vedas to later philosophical and devotional works—where ritual duties, legitimacy of offerings, and cosmic or social order are discussed.

Modern English usage of the string “yaj” is limited; it typically appears as part of transliterated Sanskrit terms like yajña, yajata, or yajamāna rather than as an independent English word. Outside scholarly contexts, it may also appear in personal names, place names, or compound terms in South Asian languages, though such usage varies regionally.

See also: Yajña; Sanskrit grammar; Hindu rituals; yajamāna.