Agnihotra

Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्र) is a Vedic yajña (ritual or sacrifice) performed by orthodox Hindu communities. A modern version of the Vedic Agnihotra has been promoted by various individuals and groups as a non-sectarian ritual for the healing and purification of the atmosphere and as a primary source of vibhuti or sacred ash.

The term agnihotra is a tatpuruṣa compound meaning "'pouring" (hotra) (milk) "into the fire" (agni)'. It is mentioned in the Atharvaveda (11:7:9) and described in detail in the Yajurveda Samhitas and in the Brahmanas, such as at Shatapatha Brahmana (12:4:1). The Vedic form of this ritual is still performed by a small number of Vaidika Brahmins all over South Asia.

For rituals in which a (later) form of Agnihotra may play a part, see "Havan" and "Homa" and below.

The Vedic Agnihotra

Agnihotra is a tatpuruṣa compound (samāsa), meaning an offering (originally, of milk) into Agni (Latin ignis, etc.) or consecrated fire. It finds earliest mention in the Atharva Veda (1000 BC), vi 97,1, (source Monier Williams) though pouring into the ritual fire was known as early as in the Ṛgveda (c. 1400 BC) and it the closely related Zoroastrian religion (Yasna Haptaŋhāiti).

The central part of the Agnihotra consists of making two offerings of milk into the fire exactly at, slightly before, or even after the time of sunset and sunrise, along with Vedic mantras that relate the fire and the sun to each other: 'agnir jyotir, jyotiḥ sūryaḥ svāhā' in the evening, but the reverse 'sūryo jyotir, jyotir agniḥ svāhā' in the morning. This preserves the sun over night, which is also one of the interpretations of the ritual given in the Samhitas and Brahmanas. [ H.W. Bodewitz. "The daily evening and morning offering (Agnihotra) according to the Brāhmaṇas". Leiden : Brill, 1976 ] .

This small rite is surrounded by a large number of additional actions and is followed by the worship of the three (or five) sacred fires (agny-upasthāna). The ritual is performed by a Brahmin priest for his own or the benefit of a sponsor (yajamāna). The Vedic Agnihotra takes about 15 minutes in current performances.

There is a simplied version of the Agnihotra in the Grihyasutras and in later post-Vedic texts.

Performance and meaning of the Agnihotra (simple interpretation for common understanding)

Agnihotra – Agnihotri - Yagna

‘Agnihotra’ is a sacred tradition started by the ‘Rishis’ of ancient India. It is now considered by some as the worship of the Lord Yagna Naarayan. ‘Agnihotra’ then means worshipping the Lord Vishnu - Aadi Naarayan - riding on the divine serpent and controlling the infinite cosmos, only by will.

‘यज्ञो वै विष्णु:’ (शतपथ ब्राह्मण 1|1|2|13)

The Sanskrit word for worship is “Upasana” – ‘Upa’ (Near) ‘Aasana’ (Sitting) - Upaasana means sitting near the Lord. One who is initiated either by Guru or by the command of the Lord Himself to worship the sacred Fire by offering into it, is known as ‘Agnihotri’, and his ‘Upasana’ is known as ‘Agnihotra’.

In this view, ‘Agnihotra’ is the aggregation of - meditation, remembering the name of the Lord, act of devotion, surrender and Yoga. It is performed in the Vedic manner. Only a worthy person is selected as ‘Agnihotri’ by the Lord.

In Agnihotra, the evening ‘Yagna’ performed by the ‘Agnihotri’ is offered to the Lord Agni Naarayan and the morning ‘Yagna’ is offered to the Lord Surya Naarayan (Sun).

Types of Agnihotra

There are two kinds of ‘Agnihotra’ – the ‘Shrauta Agnihotra’ and the ‘Smarta Agnihotra’.

Yagna Purusha

The vessel or place which contains the sacred fire is known as ‘Kund’. There may be one ‘Kund’, three ‘Kunds or five ‘Kunds for ‘Agnihotra’. ‘Agnihotri’ has to prepare ‘Yagnashala’ according to proper measurements on the basis of the calculations given in Vedas. The ‘Yagna - Kund’ and the ‘Vedi’ (altar) must be in the centre of the ‘Yagnashala’, representing the form of ‘Yagna Purusha’. Thus, ‘Yagnakunda’ is the very mouth of the Lord into which sacrificial things are offered in the morning and in the evening everyday, according to the Vedic methods. The inner part of ‘Yagnashala’ represents the Universe. ‘Yagna Kund’ is considered the centre of the Universe.

अयं यज्ञो भुवनस्य नाभि:| (ऋग्वेद 1|164|35)

Qualities of Agnihotri

The one who performs Agnihotra daily with faith and full trust in the Almighty can be called an Agnihotri. The one who means it when he says "Idam, na mama" ((O Lord, all this is) Yours, NOT mine) is a true Agnihotri.

Agnihotra – Daily (Nitya) Yagna System

Agnihotri first performs ‘Sandhya-Vandan’ etc. then makes ‘Sankalpa’ of doing the Yagna and wakes the God up with motherly care by uncovering the ‘Bhasma’ (Ashes) from the sacred fire [that continues from the day of the ‘Praagatya’ when the ‘Aadi Purusha’ (first person) of that Agnihotra Parampara (tradition), first invited (lightened) the Lord Agni by Vedic Method.] Then ‘Golas’ (dung balls) are offered to Yagna Naarayan. Then ‘Aahutis’ of ‘Samidha’, Ghee, ‘Jav-tal’ are offered to the Agni. After the act of offering ‘Aahutis’, the excellences of the Lord are sung through the ‘Mantras’ of ‘Shanti Sukta’, ‘Purush Sukta’, ‘Surya Sukta’ from the ‘Yajurved’. Flowers and Tulsi leaves are offered to the Lord. Then the Lord Narayan, with four hands, is meditated on.

यस्यै देवतायै हविर्गृहीतं स्यात्, तां मनसा ध्यायेत्|

(निरुक्त 8|22|11)

Then waving of lights (‘Aarti’), offering flowers – ‘Mantra Pushpaanjali’ by reciting excellent ‘Ved Mantras’, circum ambulation – ‘Pradakshina’, prayers are lovingly offered to the Lord. Then this performed Pooja is dedicated (Arpan) to the Lord ‘Maha Vishnu’. Finally, with motherly love, the ‘Agnihotri’ makes the Lord sleep by covering the Agni with ‘Bhasma’ (Ashes).

A person must visit ‘Yagnashala’ with good thoughts and noble desires because the desire of a person gets fulfilled in this sacred place. Nobel thoughts and meditation on the Lord are highly desirable for a person who visits the ‘Yagnashala’. After the worship of the Lord Yagna Naarayan, the Lord Shiva (Mahadev) is worshipped.

On every first day of Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha the ‘Agnihotri’ gets his head completely shaved – ‘Mundan’. Such dear hair is to be offered to the dearest Lord as a mark of intense love for the Lord. Removing hair is considered as an act of repentance that makes a person free from sins.

The ‘Agnihotri’ has to perform three ‘Yagnas’ daily. They are ‘Dev Yagna’, ‘Pitru Yagna’ and ‘Manushya Yagna’.

The worship of the Lord is ‘Dev Yagna’. Loving services rendered to father, mother, the elderly and the respectable people is ‘Pitru Yagna’ and service to humanity through mass feeding, through establishing and helping ‘Pathshala’, schools etc. or any social service is known as ‘Manushya Yagna’. The ‘Agnihotri’ may be busy with all these activities for the whole day along with the sweet remembrance of the Lord.

Nourishing the World by Agnihotra

अन्नाद्भवन्ति भूतानि पर्जन्यादन्नसम्भव:

यज्ञाद्भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञ: कर्मसमुद्भव:|| (गीता 3|14)

अग्नौ प्रास्ताहुति: सम्यगादित्यमुपतिष्ठते

आदित्याज्जायते वृष्टिर्वृष्टेरन्नं तत: प्रजा:||

(मनु समृति 3|76)

The scarified offering is known as ‘Aahuti’. These ‘Aahutis’, going to the Lord Sun, which in turn form clouds, give rain and make the earth wet for giving food-grains and the creatures of the world are nourished by food. Thus, ‘Agnihotra’ is a great religion meant for nourishing the world. It is unique because we do not find such religion in the past or in the future.

अग्निहोत्र समो धर्मो न भूतो न भविष्यति|

यज्ञैराप्यायिता देवा......यज्ञा: कल्याणहेतव:| (विष्णुपुराण 1|6|8)

All Devas nourished by Yagnas….Yagnas are for good.

In Shukla Yajurveda, there is a talk between the Yajmaan and the Deva (Indra) indicating the relation between Humans and Devas.

Yajmaan to Indra -

‘वस्नेव विक्रीणावहा इषमूर्ज& शतक्रतो|’

(शुक्ल यजुर्वेद 3|49)

O Indra! Let we exchange the Havi (Objects offered to lord) and Fal (the fruit in reward of the Have). I am giving you Havi, you give me Fal.

Indra to Yajmaan –

‘देहि मे ददामि ते नि मे धेहि नि ते दधे|’

(शुक्ल यजुर्वेद 3|49)

“You first give Havi then I will give you Fal.”

Another Mantra in Veda clarifies that when Devas are satisfied (Trupt) then they satisfies the Yajmaan.

तृप्त एव एनमिन्द्र: प्रजया पशुभिश्च तर्पयति

Thus, By giving Devas humans can get. As said by the Lord Krishna Himself in Geeta,

देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु व:

परस्परं भावयन्त: श्रेय: परमवाप्स्यथ||

(गीता 3|11)

Having pleased the Devas by sacrifices, the Devas will please you and thus mutually pleasing one another you will achieve the Supreme.

सर्वं यज्ञमयं जगत्| (कालिकाउपपुराण 31|40)

Items offered in Agnihotra - Yagna:

‘Agnihotra’ rituals require the objects of offering like Barley, Sesame, Ghee, Dry fruits, ‘Kamal Kakdi’, the powder of Dung of Bull/Cow, ‘Samidh’ (pieces of small branches of wood with specific measurement) from Mango tree, Pipal tree, Palash tree or from any tree having flowers/fruit in place of Palash (Khakhar) tree. ‘Samidh’ may not be taken from thorny or dry trees.

Dev Yaag, Pitru Yaag

The Yagna starting from the evening of the first day of the Lunar month - the first evening of the white period – Shukla Paksha - to the morning of the first day of Krishna Paksha is known as ‘Dev Yaag’ (Paurnamase Isht) and the Yagna from the first evening of the black period – Krishna Paksha – to the morning of Shukla Paksha is known as ‘Pitru Yaag’ (Darsh Isht).

Ishti Yaag:

The morning Yagna of the first day of the white period – Shukla Paksha and the morning Yagna of the first day of the black period – Krishna Paksha are special Yaags known as ‘Ishti Yaag’. For the Ishti Yaag, rice is cooked in milk, which is known as ‘Paayas’. ‘Aahutis’ of ‘Payas’ are offered to the Lord and some portion of the ‘Paayas’ is to be fed to a cow. The offering prepared from the flour of Barley is known as ‘Purodash’. ‘Aahutis’ of ‘Purodash’ are to be offered to the Lord Agni according to the Vedic rituals. As a mother lovingly feeds her child with small mouthfuls, the ‘Agnihotri’ also is supposed to feed the Lord with such ‘Aahutis’ with intense motherly love, care and concentration. After the act of offering ‘Aahutis’ the routine Pooja is performed.

‘अग्निर्हि देवानां मुखम्’ (शतपथ ब्राह्मण 3|7|4|10)

After the act of offering ‘Aahutis’ the routine Pooja is performed.

there are several family institutions in India which follow and perform the above forms of "Agnihotra" and are addressed as "Agnihotris". Shri Krishna Ashram [Shri Krishna Ashram Information - www.shrikrishnashram.org] is one such place in Gujarat where Shri Yadhnyanarayan is worshiped by an Agnihotri family for last 100 years.

Resuscitation of Vedic 'Agnihotra' in its Modern Form

It is said that the message of Agnihotra in its Modern Form was given by Shree Gajanan Maharaj [ Shree Gajanan Maharaj - Ashram Website [http://www.paramsadgurushreegajananmaharaj.com ] of Shivpuri, Akkalkot in India and as such, Shivpuri is said to be the birth place of Agnihotra in its modern form, for the present Age. Gajanan Maharaj is believed to be a yogi-seer and is addressed by all his devotees as “Shree”. Thousands of devotees from all over the world are said to visit Yadnya (Yajna or Yagna) Nagar Shivpuri [ "Kesari" Newspaper -Solapur Edition, 18 July 2005] in Akkalkot as it is known.

Procedure

Agnihotra (Homa) consists of making two offerings to the fire exactly at the time of sunrise & sunset along with two small Sanskrit mantras. Agnihotra is regarded a process of purification of the atmosphere as a cumulative effect of various scientific and sonic principles harnessed to give rise to an unparalled purifying and healing phenomenon. The benefits, both spiritual and mundane, that accrue to sacrificers is said to be enormous.

The modern form of Agnihotra (Homa) is a simplified version, sometimes accompanied by daily (nitya) karmas (duties) such as Sandhyavandanam and Samidhadanam. It can also be a kAmyakarma (optional obligation, not performed continuously) as mentioned in Manu or Yagnavalkyasamhita.

Though the Agnihotra ritual was originally performed exclusively by upper caste married men, accompanied by their wife, the modern form it is open to both genders and all varnas and castes. What is required is an attitude of devotion (bhakti) and faith (sraddhA, śraddhā).

The process of Agnihotra (Homa) consists of making two offerings to the fire exactly at the time of sunrise & sunset along with the chanting of two small Sanskrit mantras.

The offerings consist of two pinchfuls of uncooked rice grains smeared with a few drops of cow's pure ghee (clarified butter). The fire is prepared out of dried cowdung cakes in a small copper pot.

First, one takes a small piece of the cow dung cake and place it at the bottom of the pot. Then he puts Gugul, Camphor or a Cotton Wick duly soaked in cow's ghee on the bottom piece and then starts arranging the other pieces of cow dung cakes around it neatly. A matchstick or preferably camphor is used to light the fire (originally "pure" fire was produced by the churning of a fire stick on a base plate, or transferred from such pure hearths.) If necessary, a hand-held fan can be used so that all the pieces are fully ablaze.

Two pinchfuls of clean, unbroken rice grains (raw) are grasped on one's left palm or in a small dish. These rice grains are smeared with a few drops of cow's pure ghee, and then divided in two parts. Keep an eye on your watch and sooner its needle touches the exact sunrise time, start uttering the first mantra 'Sūryāya svāhā' ("oblation unto the Sun"). While you start saying 'Svāhā' offer one part of the rice grains to the fire. Continue and complete the mantra's first line 'Sūryāya idam, na mama' (this belongs to the Sun not to me).

Start uttering the other line of the mantra, 'Prajāpataye svāhā' (oblation unto Prajapati, Lord of all Created beings), while offering the other part of the rice grains to the fire after saying and go on to complete the mantra, 'Prajāpataye idam, na mama' ('this belongs to Prajapati, not me'). Concentrate on the fire till the offerings are fully burnt.

The morning Agnihotra concludes here.

In the evening before the Agnihotra time, remove very carefully the morning Agnihotra ash from the pot and put it in a bag or box specially kept aside for it. Repeating the morning process, prepare a fresh fire from the cowdung cakes in the pot. Also prepare two equal parts of the cow ghee smeared rice grains for the two offerings.

Exactly at sunset time, accompanied by the chanting of sunset Agnihotra mantras - 'Agnaye svāhā' (Oblation to Agni, Fire) offer the first part after saying 'Svaha' and complete the mantra by saying 'Agnaye idam, na mama' ('this unto Agni, not me').

Similarly, uttering the second line of the mantra offer other part of the rice grains to the fire after saying 'Prājapataye svāhā' and complete the mantra uttering 'Prajāpataye idam, na mama'. Concentrate on the fire till the offerings are fully burnt.

This concludes the evening Agnihotra.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:
# Agnihotra ( Pyramid-shaped ) Copper pot
# Copper Dish
# Copper Spoon ( Long )
# Copper fork
# Cow's pure ghee
# Local sunrise - set timings yearly chart of your place

* [http://www.agnihotrausa.net/Agnihotra-article.htm CLICK HERE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OF BENEFITS AND EFFECTS]

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Modern Agnihotra (Homa)

EVENING AGNIHOTRA MANTRA:

Agnaye Swaaha, Agnaye idam na mama!

Prajapataye Swaaha, Prajapataye idam na mama!

MORNING AGNIHOTRA MANTRA:

Suryaya swaaha, Suryaya idam na mama!

Prajapate Swaaha, Prajapataye idam na mama!"

"MANTRAS":
* [http://www.agnihotrausa.net/Agnihotra-Mantra-documents.htm CLICK HERE TO LISTEN]

References

ee also

*Yajna
*Agnicayana
*Agnistoma
*Fire Sermon
* [http://www.shrikrishnashram.org]
* [http://www.agnihotrausa.net/Agnihotra-five-fold-path.htm Pancha Sadana or Five Fold Path]
* [http://www.agnihotrausa.net/ Why Agnihotra?]

External sources

* [http://www.shivpuri.org/ Shivpuri - Birth Place of Agnihotra in Modern Form]
* [http://www.shrikrishnashram.org Shri Krishna Ashram - Ancient Agnihotra Institution (100 Years)]
* [http://www.agnihotrausa.net/world_agnihotra_centers.htm World Agnihotra Centers]
* [http://www.agnihotraindia.com/perform.asp How to perform Agnihotra]
* [http://www.parkhepariwar.com/agnihotra Agnihotra way of Life]
* [http://www.agnihotrausa.net/Agnihotra_Therapists_world.htm World Agnihotra Therapists]
* [http://www.agnihotra.ch/Agnihotra Agnihotra in Switzerland]
* [http://www.kriya-yoga-schule.de/ Shree, Life and Work - Werner Metzger]
* [http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Ithaca/3440/homa.html Homa/Agnihotra]
* [http://www.awgp.org Yajna bali- Devadakshiña]
* [http://www.madhavashramindia.org/ Madhav Ashram, M.P. India