For a गृहस्थाश्रमी (householder) the following five apparatuses are unavoidable: A sifter, a grinding stone, a broom, a wooden mortar and a water-pot. It is believed that a sin is committed when each of these is used and to remove the sins thus committed the ancient sages have prescribed five यज्ञस् and these five यज्ञस् are called the पञ्चमहायज्ञस् . They are the ब्रह्मयज्ञ , पितृयज्ञ , देवयज्ञ , भूतयज्ञ and the मानुषयज्ञ . Reciting of वेदस् is ब्रह्मयज्ञ . Pleasing the manes by offering rice or libations of water is called पितृयज्ञ . Giving offerings to the demi-gods in the sacrificial fire is called देवयज्ञ and religious offerings of rice to the crows is called भूतयज्ञ . Giving food for the guests is मानुषयज्ञ . One who does not do the पञ्चमहायज्ञस् is no better than dead. Some scholars have classified the पञ्चमहायज्ञस् as हुत , प्रहुत , ब्राह्म्यहुत , प्राशित and अहुत .

अहुत is ब्रह्मयज्ञ , हुत is देवयज्ञ , प्रहुत is भूतयज्ञ , ब्राह्म्यहुत is मानुषिकयज्ञ and प्राशित is पितृयज्ञ . Even if at times one finds it not possible to do मानुषिकयज्ञ one must perform daily ब्रह्मयज्ञ and दैवयज्ञ . The offerings given to gods in the sacrificial fire go to the Sun. The Sun sends rains to the earth which in turn make the plants flourish. वेदस् say that thus living beings increase. Just as all animals and objects depend on life-breath for living, a ब्रह्मचारी , a वानप्रस्थ and a सन्न्यासी depend upon a गृहस्थ for sustenance. Therefore, the गृहस्थाश्रम is the best of all आश्रमस् . (Chapter 3, Manūsmṛti)