Complete Agnihotra Procedure

in Photographs Step-by-Step

  1. Begin by breaking up some pieces of dried cow-dung.
  1. Place one small, approximately square, flat piece of dung in the bottom of the pyramid.
  1. Arrange other pieces to allow a good flow of air through the pyramid.
  1. Continue building on opposite corners of the pyramid.
  1. Continue building in an alternate fashion, log cabin style.
  1. When you have completed building there should be a small hole in the middle of the stack. Add a few drops of ghee to the completed stack. Only cow's ghee should be used for Agnihotra.
  1. A few minutes before sunrise/sunset apply a little ghee to one piece of dung.
  1. Light this piece of dung. Lighter fluid, kerosene, guggal, camphor or other ignitable materials should never be used for lighting the Agnihotra fire.
  1. Insert this lit piece in the hole in the centre of the stack.
  1. Slowly the whole stack catches alight. You may use a hand-fan if necessary but you should never blow on the fire. 

  1. Prepare two portions of unpolished rice. The quantity of rice that you can hold in the tips of your fingers constitutes one portion.
  1. Separate the broken grains of rice and discard.
  1. Add a few drops of ghee and mix with the rice.
  1. Divide the rice and ghee mixture into two portions.

  1. Exactly at sunrise or sunset the fire should be fully ablaze. Take the first portion of rice/ ghee mixture between 2nd and 3rd fingers and thumb of right hand only with index finger and pinkie outstretched.

  1. At the exact second of sunrise or sunset (according to computer-generated timetable, available free upon request for your exact location) reach out with your hand from the heart towards the flame and utter the first Mantra. Drop the first portion of rice/ghee on to the fire on the word "swaha." Then take the second portion of rice/ghee in the same manner and drop it on to the fire while uttering the second Mantra. The mantras are uttered once only at each Agnihotra.
  1. Try to sit near the fire for as many minutes as possible after each Agnihotra to experience the peace that comes as a result of its practice. The effects of sunrise Agnihotra last until sunset, and from sunset until sunrise. This completes the Agnihotra procedure.

 
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Last modified: Monday March 20, 2006.