Agnihotra - Performance and Contemporary Meaning of The Agnihotra (simple Interpretation For Common Understandin

Performance and Contemporary Meaning of The Agnihotra (simple Interpretation For Common Understandin

Agnihotra – Agnihotri - Yagna (Yajna)

‘Agnihotra’ is a sacred tradition started by the ‘Rishis’ of ancient India. It is now considered by some as the worship of the Lord Yajna Naarayana. ‘Agnihotra’ then means worshipping the Lord Vishnu - Aadi Naarayana - 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 “Upaasana” – ‘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 ‘Upaasana’ 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 ‘Yajna’ performed by the ‘Agnihotri’ is offered to the Lord Agni Naarayan and the morning ‘Yajna’ is offered to the Lord Suurya Naarayana (Sun).

Yajna Purusha

The vessel or place which contains the sacred fire is known as ‘Kunda’. There may be one ‘Kunda’, three ‘Kundas or five ‘Kundas for ‘Agnihotra’. ‘Agnihotri’ has to prepare ‘Yajnashaala’ according to proper measurements on the basis of the calculations given in the Vedas. The ‘Yajna - Kunda’ and the ‘Vedi’ (altar) must be in the centre of the ‘Yajnashala’, representing the form of ‘Yajna Purusha’. Thus, ‘Yajnakunda’ 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 ‘Yajnashaala’ represents the Universe. ‘Yajna Kunda’ 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) Yajna System

Agnihotri first performs ‘Sandhyaa-Vandana’ etc. then makes ‘Sankalpa’ of doing the Yajna and wakes the God up with motherly care by uncovering the ‘Bhaasma’ (Ashes) from the sacred fire Then ‘Golas’ (dung balls) are offered to Yajna Naarayana. Then ‘Aahutis’ of ‘Samidh’, ghee, ‘Jav-tal’ (barley grains and sesame seeds) are offered to the Agni. After the act of offering ‘Aahutis’, the excellences of the Lord are sung through the ‘Mantras’ of ‘Shaanti Suukta’, ‘Purusha Suukta’, ‘Suurya Suukta’ from the ‘Yajurveda’. Flowers and Tulsi leaves are offered to the Lord. Then the Lord Naraayana, 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 ‘Veda Mantras’, circumambulation – ‘Pradakshina’, prayers are lovingly offered to the Lord. Then this performed Pujaa is dedicated (Arpana) to the Lord ‘Mahaa Vishnu’. Finally, the ‘Agnihotri’ makes the Lord sleep by covering the Agni with ‘Bhaasma’ (Ashes).

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

On every first day of Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha the ‘Agnihotri’ gets his head completely shaved – ‘Mundana’. 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 ‘Yajnas’ daily. They are ‘Deva Yajna’, ‘Pitr Yajna’ and ‘Manushya Yajna’.

The worship of the Lord is ‘Deva Yajna’. Loving services rendered to father, mother, the elderly and the respectable people is ‘Pitr Yajna’ and service to humanity through mass feeding, through establishing and helping ‘Paathashaala’, schools etc. or any social service is known as ‘Manushya Yajna’. 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, the ‘Agnihotra’ is meant for nourishing the world.

अग्निहोत्र समो धर्मो न भूतो न भविष्यति|

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

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

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

Yajamaana to Indra -

‘वस्नेव विक्रीणावहा इषमूर्ज& शतक्रतो|’

(शुक्ल यजुर्वेद 3|49)

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

Indra to Yajamaana –

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

(शुक्ल यजुर्वेद 3|49)

“You first give Havih then I will give you phala.”

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

तृप्त एव एनमिन्द्र: प्रजया पशुभिश्च तर्पयति|

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

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 - Yajna:

‘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.

Deva Yaaga, Pitr Yaaga

The Yajna 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 ‘Deva Yaaga’ (Paurnamasa Ishti) and the Yajna from the first evening of the black period – Krishna Paksha – to the morning of Shukla Paksha is known as ‘Pitr Yaaga’ (Darsha Ishti).

Ishti Yaaga:

The morning Yajna 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 Yaagas known as ‘Ishti Yaaga’. For the Ishti Yaaga, rice is cooked in milk, which is known as ‘Paayasa’. ‘Aahutis’ of ‘Payasa’ are offered to the Lord and some portion of the ‘Paayasa’ is to be fed to a cow. The offering prepared from the flour of Barley is known as ‘Purodaash’. ‘Aahutis’ of ‘Purodaash’ 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 Puja is performed.

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

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

There are several family institutions in India which follow and perform the above forms of "Agnihotra" and such persons are addressed as "Agnihotri". Shri Krishna Ashram is one such place in Gujarat where Shri Yajnyanaaraayana has been worshiped by an Agnihotri family for last 100 years.