Agnihotra
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Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्र) is a Vedic yajña (ritual or sacrifice) performed by members of 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".
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[edit] What is Agnihotra?
[edit] 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. [1].
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.
[edit] Modern 'Agnihotra' (Homa)
Listen to the mantra:
The central part of the recent form of Agnihotra (Homa) consists of making two offerings to the fire exactly at the time of sunrise & sunset along with two small Sanskrit mantras. Among certain devout smArtha [smārtha] Hindus who follow the path of sanAtana dharma (Eternal Law) and its injunctions, the modern form of 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 the modern 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
- Gugul- Loban ( For igniting Agnihotra fire )
- Local sunrise - set timings yearly chart of your place
For more information about the benefits and effects: http://agnihotrausa.net/AGNIHOTRA_Article.pdf
[edit] Resuscitation of 'Agnihotra' in its Modern Form
It is said that the message of Agnihotra in its Modern Form was given by Shree Gajanan Maharaj 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 (Yajya or Yagna) Nagar Shivpuri in Akkalkot as it is known.
[edit] References
- ^ H.W. Bodewitz. The daily evening and morning offering (Agnihotra) according to the Brāhmaṇas. Leiden : Brill, 1976
