Agnihotra: Principles and Practice Written by Dr. Shreekantji G. Rajimwale Edited by Dr. Purushottamji S. Rajimwale Things to Know About Performing Agnihotra – The Fire Therapy Ritual We at, Vishwa Foundation, Shivpuri, practice Agnihotra as was taught by Param Sadguru Shree Gajanan Maharaj and is based on the principles of ancient sciences like Yoga and Ayurveda & the philosophy put forth through the Shree Swami Samarth Lineage of Akkalkot. Agnihotra can be performed by anyone irrespective of country, caste, creed, age, color, gender, preference, profession… etc. However, abiding by the disciplines is of utmost importance to avail of optimum benefits. Agnihotra works on your body, mind and soul. It cleanses your body of ailments, your mind of clutter, stress, and negativity; and purifies your soul. It strengthens your aura and thus people who come in contact with you experience a positive and happy vibe. Definition of Agnihotra: The process of offering two oblations of two pinch full of rice smeared with cow’s ghee into fire prepared out of dried cow dung in a pyramid shaped copper vessel exactly at local sunrise and sunset times alongside chanting of two specific Sanskrit mantras is called Agnihotra. Importance of Agnihotra as Mentioned in Our Ancient Vedic Sutra (Scriptures): Agnihotra is a combination of two Sanskrit words, Agni & Hotra. Literally, Agni means fire, & Hotra means to offer. Agnihotra according to Vedas is the simplest form of Yajnya. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas According to the ancient Vedic scripture Shraut Sutras, Agnihotra, is a healing fire ritual that should be performed at every sunrise and sunset. Purush sukta has also emphasized upon performance of daily Yajnya. Kathak Samhita in praise of Agnihotra has said that Gods attained godhood and swargaloka, the state of eternal bliss by practicing Agnihotra. Shatapat Brahman compares Agnihotra with a boat that leads to Swarga, the state eternal bliss. It is referred to as Avinashi Yajnya which means, its relevance never fades. Agnihotra is viewed as ‘Jaramaryam Satra’ a ritual that should be performed without disruption as it’s a basic and essential practices that heals and harmonizes one’s life. The Five Disciplines of Agnihotra To perform, practice, and experience the benefits of Agnihotra, we have to follow certain disciplines. When the ritual is performed sincerely and without changing the basic rules it brings beneficial results. © Copyright: The Institute for Studies in Vedic Sciences (ISVS) Head Quarters: Vishwa Foundation, Shivpuri, Akkalkot. Dist.: Solapur, Maharashtra State Pin – 413216, Ph.: +91 02181 220708 Corporate Office - 302-303,Mahalaxmi Industrial Estate, Lower Parel (West), Mumbai 400 013, India. Ph 0222-40203622/627 The First Discipline –Observe Timings O Healing Fire, we reach out to you daily at Sunrise and Sunset. - Rig-Veda Agnihotra should be performed at the prescribed timings everyday during sunrise and sunset. These two are the most significant circadian bio-rhythms. The term "circadian" comes from the Latin terms "circa" - meaning around, and "diem" - meaning day. The colloquial language for the circadian rhythm is `Biological Clock’ of the body. This Circadian rhythm gets disturbed when changes take place in one’s daily schedule. The circadian rhythm refers to the natural 24-hour body cycle that humans and animals follow. With a circadian rhythm, people tend to sleep during nighttime and wake up and go about their daily chores in the mornings or during day time.The circadian rhythm is closely linked with the Sunrise - Sunset cycle and is associated with the waking and sleeping patterns of animals and the metabolism of the plants like bud becoming a flowers etc. Normal functioning of everything in the universe is linked with the rhythmic alignment of the circadian rhythm. Any disturbance in this routine leads to chaos. When the normal schedule s gets adversely affected, the routines begin to fall apart. The most common outcome of this disturbance is the insomnia, sleeplessness symptom, which begins to show in humans. Agnihotra time is referred to as ‘Sandhi Kala’ i.e. the transitional moment. It is neither day nor night, neither light nor darkness. Veda describes this particular period as ‘Tirtha’, the Passage to Enlightenment. The Yogic science attaches special importance to this transitional moment. As per Yoga we breathe either from the left or the right nostril from sunrise to sunset and the order is reversed from sunset to sunrise. During sunset–to-sunrise period the ‘Ida’ and ‘Pingala’ Nadi, the channels of flow of energy that are part of our respiratory system remain active in succession. During sunrise and sunset the Nadi’s are in the process of transition. Mind and body are in perfect sync during this time band. And when performing of Agnihotra is synchronized with this time, the beneficial effects get enhanced. Agnihotra is ordained to be performed precisely on these vitally important transitional moments. © Copyright: The Institute for Studies in Vedic Sciences (ISVS) Head Quarters: Vishwa Foundation, Shivpuri, Akkalkot. Dist.: Solapur, Maharashtra State Pin – 413216, Ph.: +91 02181 220708 Corporate Office - 302-303,Mahalaxmi Industrial Estate, Lower Parel (West), Mumbai 400 013, India. Ph 0222-40203622/627 It’s during these moments that the changes take place in atmosphere causing vital impact on all life forms and on the environment. The precise time of Sunrise & Sunset is calculated using Vedic methodology. The Veda considers a moment as sunset when half of the sun appears to have set below the horizon and sunrise is counted as the moment when the sun is half visible over the horizon. Second Discipline – Semi Pyramid Shaped Copper Vessel - The vessel or Patra approved for performing Agnihotra is made of pure copper known for its Oligodynamic (i.e. antibacterial) properties. Copper, also known to be an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, plays an important role in the process of Agnihotra as it helps to generate & hold energy. The benefits of Agnihotra are associated with fire, heat, electromagnetic forces and cosmic energy fields. The shape of Agnihotra vessel is like a pyramid. The word pyramid (Pyr + mid) itself means ‘a geometrically perfect shape with healing energies in the center’. The pyramid shaped copper vessel is equipped to create, receive, intensify, and emanate healing and purifying energies in the area surrounding Agnihotra performance. The effectiveness of these energies is at its peak during sunrise and sunset time. As mentioned earlier the shape and metal enhances the potency of the healing energies emanating while Agnihotra is being performed. Third Discipline – Dried Cow Dung Cakes While performing Agnihotra, fire is created with the help of dried cow dung cakes. Cow, here represents the entire cow family. Thus the dried dung of calves and bulls may also be used. Cow dung is full of medicinal properties, and many other healing substances. E.g. it possesses anti- bacterial properties; it is used as pesticide and fertilizer by farmers, etc. In Ayurveda, cow dung is also used to treat skin problems, kidney diseases, liver ailments, obesity, heart ailments, and so on. Fourth Discipline - The Offerings Importance of Ghee made from Cow's Milk The Ghee used in Agnihotra should have been extracted from cow’s milk only. The Ghee from other sources like a buffalo, etc is not permitted because as per Ayurveda, cow Ghee is known for its medicinal properties, and when used in Agnihotra the effect of its medicinal properties is released in the atmosphere when it comes in contact of fire, rice grain, and dung cakes . Ayurveda considers ghee as rejuvenating and longevity-promoting food. According to Ayurveda, cow’s ghee is best amongst the entire range of clarified butters. It’s a tonic, cardiac stimulant, and © Copyright: The Institute for Studies in Vedic Sciences (ISVS) Head Quarters: Vishwa Foundation, Shivpuri, Akkalkot. Dist.: Solapur, Maharashtra State Pin – 413216, Ph.: +91 02181 220708 Corporate Office - 302-303,Mahalaxmi Industrial Estate, Lower Parel (West), Mumbai 400 013, India. Ph 0222-40203622/627 invigorating, anti-bilious, and improves memory and mental faculties. Ghee is regarded as an effective medium for transporting the healing substances. When cow's ghee is offered in Agnihotra, its healing properties get infused in the atmosphere. The ingestion of Ghee is like offering the finest of fuels into the fires of digestion-Agni. Ghee is known to increase Dhi, refine the Buddhi and improve the Smruti. In simple language ghee promotes all three aspects of mental functioning -- learning, memory and recall. Rice Grains The offering of rice grains comprises two full pinches of uncooked unbroken grains. The concept of unbroken is emphasized and it is said that the Veerya or potency of the rice gets lowered when the grain is broken and exposed to the environment. For optimum benefits use of unbroken rice grains is recommended. Fifth Discipline- Mantra The oblations (ghee & rice grains) are offered into the Agni (created from cow dung) at the utterance of certain Mantras or hymns. These Mantras are in Sanskrit language. The sound of the Sanskrit language is endowed with special vibrational healing powers. Their utterance in esoteric combination produces unique sound waves. These vibratory sound waves create immense energy and power which impacts atmosphere, living beings and even plants in an extremely pacifying and positive manner. These particular combinations of words & meanings, and the sound created by Sanskrit language are known as Mantras. These Mantras are taught to you when you learn to perform Agnihotra. These Mantras are easy to chant and have a relaxing and purifying effect on the mind. They create vibrations of peace and love. Agnihotra Mantras are chanted in their original form, i.e. in Sanskrit. You are not permitted to translate it in any other language because it will change their original frequency patterns. The translated words will be devoid of creating the beneficial vibratory sound waves and hence desired benefits can’t be derived from chanting of such words.