Introduction

Agnihotra (agni means fire, hotra means healing) is an ancient fire ritual from India. It was described in the Veda, which are a body of texts about 300 years old. It was performed by orthodox Hindu communities, and is as such still performed by a small number. Different rituals were associated with it, and it was performed by a Brahmin priest. Brahmins are the caste of priests, teachers, ascetics and intellectuals. But it should be mentioned that the Vedas did not mention any caste system. Furthermore some Vedic scholars will tell you that the original caste system was only a classification of the professions people had. Anybody could enter any caste system when choosing a profession. The caste system that is dependant on birth only came later. I am just mentioning this because Agnihotra, like any ritual can be performed by anybody, as long as it is done with the right intentions and care is given to certain aspects of the rituals.

     The Agnihotra ritual was almost extinct when a certain Paramsadguru Shree Gajanan Maharaj (1918-1987)appeared on the scene. He revived the Agnihotra ritual. He traveled around the world and promoted Agnihotra in a form suitable to the Western mind. It is now being performed throughout the world. It is appealing to many people because it is not linked to any religion. It is purely a practice, an energy ritual which provides certain results.

     Agnihotra can be a great help in solving many problems in our present day world. Our world is presently in a bad shape. The earth has become widely polluted, animals and plants are getting extinct, and humans are still waging wars. The origin of all these problems is us, humans. It is more than time that we start cleaning up the mess we created, but even more important to change our consciousness and open our hearts. Agnihotra may clean up pollutants and heal diseases, but is us, humans, who have to change. The ritual of Agnihotra is a great help to do both.

How To Perform Agnihotra

Agnihotra is a fire ceremony done every day at exactly at the time of sunrise & sunset using a small copper pyramid, burning shaped dried cow dung strips. An offering of a pinch of rice is given, along with a special mantra. Agnihotra  purifies the atmosphere. It protects you from pollution, physical and mental. Plants love it and it is well known to be good in agriculture. It is a cumulative effect, you can miss a day but it works best done regularly.  There are actual scientific and sonic principles, there is a well documented purifying and healing phenomenon. It benefits the person doing it, all those present, and the good energy extends for some distance. The benefits, both spiritual and mundane, for those who do it, are said to be enormous. Part of it is getting into sync with the energy of the day, like riding a wave of the energy of the sun. It may take some time and effort to get used to getting up for it, but it is WELL worth it. It brings clarity, focus and makes you stronger, able to accomplish and do things, and work on your inner energies.

The modern form of Agnihotra (Homa) is a simplified version, Originally  in India it was done only by upper caste married men, accompanied by their wife, but now it is open to both genders, anyone can do it. What is required is an attitude of love, giving from the heart, and strong pure intentions. You are not doing it just for yourself, it is benefiting the planet, this is something you can do to help. It is not just a physical thing, it is about energy.

As one says the mantra an offering to the fire of a pinchful of raw whole rice is done at the correct minute of sunrise & sunset. You can get this information online for your exact location, you just need the latitudes and longitudes. A few drops of clarified butter (ghee) are traditionally put on the rice, and the fire is prepared out of dried cowdung cakes placed in a small inverted copper pyramid specially made for the purpose. All of this is available to buy online.  I get cow (actually bull, it is the same) dung from a farm animal sanctuary. I give them ash, and they asked that it is made NO butter, as there are not good vibes in the dairy industry as to how butter is made. Animals suffer, babies taken away from mothers, becoming veal, it is not nice. Now I use no butter, or very little if I really need it to get the fire going, and the effects of the fire ceremony are the same.

Start with a smaller piece of the dried cow dung in the bottom of the pyramid. Arrange pieces around it covering the sides. Put longer strips in a square on top at the edges. Build up leaving a hole in the middle. consider airspace, if your fires go too fast make them more closed in, but not too much or you will have trouble lighting it and get more smoke than fire. Butter (ghee) makes it easier to light, put some on a half stick, a thinner one is good, and light it a bit before you calculate you need to. You can then hold back, and wait with a smoldering piece and relight it just at the right time. I use a candle as it is very hard to get it going with just one match. Once it is really going put it in the middle of your pyramid. Do not blow on it. I use a long fireplace match if it is having trouble catching to give it a boost. You can fan with your hand or a small hand-held fan if needed. Once it gets going the fire usually goes fast, and only lasts five minutes, sometimes longer. Timing is critical. Don't start it too soon or you will only have embers at the time of offering. Too late and no flame yet, only smoke. You will learn by doing.

Have the offering dish ready, make two piles of the rice.

At the exact minute start saying or singing the mantra taking a pinch of the rice with the left hand. Morning is 'Sūryāya svāhā' ("oblation unto the Sun"). Toss the rice into the fire with the word 'Svāhā'  Then say  'Sūryāya idam, na mama' (this belongs to the Sun not to me). the next line of the mantra is 'Prajāpataye svāhā' (Prajapati, Lord of all Created beings). Again toss the rice with the word Svaha. Go on to complete the mantra, 'Prajāpataye idam, na mama' ('this belongs to Prajapati, not me').

Let your heart and your mind be drawn into the fire, watch it and feel the energy of it until the flames are gone. You can sing other mantras if you like, I use my singing bowls and give that energy to the fire as well. the radiations of the sacred fire will continue even after the flame, so it is worthwhile to sit there as long as you feel for it.

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In the evening  remove the morning Agnihotra ash. Put it in a bag or box or a glass jar (no plastic) specially kept aside for it. Repeating the morning process, lay out the fire. Remember to put more rice int the dish, and get rid of any broken pieces, as before.

the sunset mantra is 'Agnaye svāhā' (Oblation to Agni, Fire).  toss in the rice when you say 'Svaha'. follow with  'Agnaye idam, na mama' ('to Agni, not me').

Next is 'Prājapataye svāhā' (toss the second  pinch of rice) and finish with 'Prajāpataye idam, na mama'. Watch and enjoy the beauty and feel the energy of the fire untill the offerings are fully burnt and the flames are all gone.

MATERIALS REQUIRED:

Copper pyramid with support stand
Small Copper Dish for the rice
Small Copper Spoon for the butter

Copper tongs for the fire, when needed
Clarified butter (ghee)

Dried Dung strips

Wooden matches, fireplace matches are great 

Clock

Candle in holder

Container for ash, wooden spoon to remove it

Water pail on hand   (for emergencies)

Large ceramic tile (for safety) to put under the pyramid.

Local sunrise - sunset time chart for your location

Some details

Purification: Agnihotra purifies the surrounding atmosphere. Plants benefit, and farmers who have used it say it is good for 150 acres. I protects from pollution and diseases. More subtle effects may extend many miles around and effect humans on the emotional level. When you look around of the web, you will find that people have made soil fertile again, and have eradicated plant diseases (in cultivated crops). When done on a daily basis it will work pretty quickly. It is also done for healing, that is, people who are seeking healing attend the ritual, and notice the effects in the following weeks or months (it takes a little time of course). The ash is used in many ways. it can be blown around the garden, it can be put into water, it can be mixed with salves, and it can even be taken internally. The Agnihotra ritual and the use of Agnihotra ash has many applications and is only limited by one's imagination. People around the world have used it for many more applications than mentioned here.

The importance of the exact times of sunrise and sunset:
     At sunrise and sunset a change happens in the atmosphere of the earth as the sun rays (all rays, not only the visible sunlight) suddenly hit the location of the observer, or is being withdrawn. The change of this solar stream of energy is said to be powerful and cleansing. When a person performs the fire ritual (fire being associated with the sun), he interacts with this energy and brings it down into the fire, into the ashes, but also into himself and those gathered around him, and by extension into his immediate environment.

The inverted copper pyramid: it is now well known that pyramids are collectors of cosmic energy, and copper is a good conductor of this energy. The copper pyramid is easy to use, and it has become a standard in Agnihotra rituals, but in essence a hole dug into the ground also works.

Cow dung: cow dung has become traditional. The dried dung is a fuel, burns well (although a little difficult to start without ghee smeared on it), and the smoke is surprisingly pleasant. But Agnihotra can also be done using twigs of certain medicinal trees (Vata-‘Ficus bengalenensis’, Audumbara-‘Ficus glomerata’, Palaash-‘Butea frondosa’, Peepal-‘Ficus religiosa’ and Bel-‘Ægle marmelos’ )

Ghee: is made by simmering UNSALTED butter in a pot for 20 minutes to half an hour or more, until all water content has steamed off and the milk solids, or protein, have been skimmed off (you can keep them and use them for cooking later). Some will settle to the bottom, allow the ghee to cool well first,and when you pour it into the jar both strain it and watch out for the black stuff at the bottom, just don't pour when there is a lot coming. Unlike butter, ghee can be stored for extended periods without refrigeration, provided it is kept in an airtight container to prevent oxidation and remains moisture-free. Ghee acts as a carrier of subtle healing energies. In ancient times it was referred to as the mother of all medicine and has many therapeutic properties.

The ash: after the transformation of the cow dung into ash, the ash has collected the powerful solar energy from the atmosphere during the entire ritual and is now fully charged with it. The ash can then be used in many ways for healing and other purposes.

Sunrise and sunset times: you need to consult the time tables for your specific location. There is some discussion what constitutes sunrise/sunset time. Is it when the the edge of the sun first or last touches the horizon, or when the sun is half down? There is also the issue of curvature of the earth. You will have to use your intuition in this, and besides, you have about two minute before and after the chosen times to utter the mantras. So I would say follow your feelings. Actually it is a a good idea to tune in to your inner sense of it, and connect wit the energies that way.

The practitioner: as with all energy work and rituals, the intention, attention, concentration and purpose of the practitioner is the most important aspect and is a determining factor of the effectiveness of the ritual. Watch your emotions. For example, if you are having trouble getting the fire to light are you anxious, panicking, frustrated?  The fire is your teacher. Learn to be calm and focused. Leave behind your other concerns and troubles and let the energy of the ritual calm you.

Mantras: besides the sunrise and sunset mantras, one can also use other mantras before and after, or other vedic and even your own chants. Be creative, think about the purpose of the ritual.

A Visual Guide to the Agnihotra Ritual

Carol started doing the Agnihotra ritual in the spring of 2010. As I mentioned before, one can add personal elements to it, like other mantras or chants. As you will see in the pictures, Carol uses the singing bowls while chanting.