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== Smarta Karma ==

== Smarta Karma ==

All rites in which the aupasana fire is used and pertain to an individual and his family are "Grhyakarmas". They are related exclusively to the family and are not very elaborate. Even so they are conducive to the good of the world outside also. [[Grhyasutras]] deal with such rites. They belong to the [[Smritis]] and so are called "Smarta-karmas". The seven Pakayajnas also belong to this category.<ref name=":0" />

All rites in which the aupasana fire is used and pertain to an individual and his family are "Grhyakarmas". They are related exclusively to the family and are not very elaborate. Even so they are conducive to the good of the world outside also. [[Grhyasutras]] deal with such rites. They belong to the [[Smritis]] and so are called "Smarta-karmas". The seven Pakayajnas also belong to this category.<ref name=":0" />  

 

 

 

== Etymology  ==

== Etymology  ==

According to Vachaspatyam<ref>Vachaspatyam ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%94 See Aupasana])</ref> Aupasana is given as <blockquote>उपास्यते प्रतिदिनमित्युपासनो गृह्योऽग्निस्तत्र भवः अण् । गृह्याग्नौ कर्त्तव्ये सायंप्रातर्होमादौ कर्म्मणि । गृह्याग्निश्च विवाहाग्निः । </blockquote>That Agni which is worshipped at home everyday. Grhyagni in which the morning and evening homa kriyas. Grhyagni is Vivahagni.

According to Vachaspatyam<ref>Vachaspatyam ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%94 See Aupasana])</ref> Aupasana is given as <blockquote>उपास्यते प्रतिदिनमित्युपासनो गृह्योऽग्निस्तत्र भवः अण् । गृह्याग्नौ कर्त्तव्ये सायंप्रातर्होमादौ कर्म्मणि । गृह्याग्निश्च विवाहाग्निः । </blockquote>That Agni which is worshipped at home everyday, Grhyagni in which the morning and evening homa kriyas are to be performed. Grhyagni is Vivahagni.

== Initiation into Aupasana ==

 

 

=== Initiation into Aupasana ===

During vivaha samskara one is initiated to enter the grhasta ashram by setting up the आवसथ्याग्निः ॥ Avasatyaagni<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Paraaskara Grhya Sutras]</ref> to the north of the vedi. (Paaraskara Grhya Sutra Adhyaya 1 Kandika 2 Mantra 1)<blockquote>आवसथ्याधानं दारकाले १ दायाद्यकाल एकेषाम् २ ॥ āvasathyādhānaṁ dārakālē 1 dāyādyakāla ēkēṣām 2 (Para.Grhy.Sutra. 1.2.1)</blockquote>Meaning : The setting up of Aavasatya agni is (performed) at the time of wedding. At the time of inheritance according to some.

During vivaha samskara one is initiated to enter the grhasta ashram by setting up the आवसथ्याग्निः ॥ Avasatyaagni<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Paraaskara Grhya Sutras]</ref> to the north of the vedi. (Paaraskara Grhya Sutra Adhyaya 1 Kandika 2 Mantra 1)<blockquote>आवसथ्याधानं दारकाले १ दायाद्यकाल एकेषाम् २ ॥ āvasathyādhānaṁ dārakālē 1 dāyādyakāla ēkēṣām 2 (Para.Grhy.Sutra. 1.2.1)</blockquote>Meaning : The setting up of Aavasatya agni is (performed) at the time of wedding. At the time of inheritance according to some.

* The son lights his aupasana fire during his marriage from his father's aupasana fire. The son's aupasana fire, like his father's must be maintained throughout his life. Thus, without any break, the sacred fire is kept burning in the family generation after generation.  

The son lights his aupasana fire during his marriage from his father's aupasana fire. The son's aupasana fire, like his father's must be maintained throughout his life. Thus, without any break, the sacred fire is kept burning in the family generation after generation.

* All the daily ahutis and cooking involve the aupasana fire and pertain exclusively to the individual and his family. Thus, "Grhyakarmas" including the seven pakayajnas involve the aupasana agni or Grhyagni or smarthagani. They are related exclusively to the family and are not very elaborate.

 

* The seven pakayajnas, samskara rituals like namakarana, upanayana and sraddha must be conducted in the aupasana fire.

Normally this fire is located in the north of the hall which accommodates the other Agnikundas . Yajnakunda for this Agni may be circular or square

* Starting from marriage, a grihasta (along with his wife) offers aahuti twice daily at twilight time (dawn and dusk) in the Gaarhapatya agni, this is also called as Aupasana.<ref name=":022222222">Venkateswara Rao. Potturi (2010) ''Paaramaathika Padakosam'' Hyderabad: Msko Books</ref>

 

* Aupasana is to be performed by the grihasthas of the three varnas. Valmiki Ramayana in Ayodhya kanda mentions that Sri Ramachandra, a kshatriya, enquires Bharata about tending the Agni in the house. <blockquote>कच्चिद् अग्निषु ते युक्तो विधिज्नो मतिमान् ऋजुः | हुतम् च होष्यमाणम् च काले वेदयते सदा || २-१००-१२ (Valm. Rama. 2.100.12)</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : "I hope that a brahmin who is versed in the traditions, who is intelligent and just, employed in your sacred fires, always informs you in time, about a sacrificial fire having been or going to be fed with oblations."<ref>Valmiki Ramayana [http://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/ayodhya/sarga100/ayodhya_100_frame.htm Ayodhya Kanda] Sarga 100</ref></blockquote>

==== Rites to be performed in Aupasanagni<ref name=":1">Kannan, P. R. [https://sanskritdocuments.org/sites/prkannan/Balabodha%20Sangraham%20-%203.pdf Balabodha Sangraha - 3] (Topic Efficacies of Agni Upasana) Kanchi Kaamkoti Peetham</ref> ====

* Every grihastha has to maintain the agni until he is prevented by old age or illness or death. In case where he cannot perform it on behalf of him his son, brother or son-in-law may perform the ritual. <ref name=":122222222">Purkayastha, Dipanjona (2014) Ph. D Thesis from Assam University : ''[http://hdl.handle.net/10603/41946 A Study of the Asvalayana srauta sutra with reference to the principal sacrifices]''</ref>  

* Kushmandahomam}}

 

==== Rites to be performed in Loukika Agni<ref name=":1" /> ====

 

During marriage he receives additional instructions to perform nityakarma. A few features include<ref name=":0" />

* Starting from marriage, a grihasta (along with his wife) offers aahutis twice daily at twilight time (dawn and dusk) in the Aupasanagni, this is also called as Aupasana.<ref name=":022222222">Venkateswara Rao. Potturi (2010) ''Paaramaathika Padakosam'' Hyderabad: Msko Books</ref>  

* Aupasana is to be performed by the grihasthas of the three varnas. Valmiki Ramayana in Ayodhya kanda mentions that Sri Ramachandra, a kshatriya, enquires Bharata about tending the Agni in the house.<blockquote>कच्चिद् अग्निषु ते युक्तो विधिज्नो मतिमान् ऋजुः | हुतम् च होष्यमाणम् च काले वेदयते सदा || २-१००-१२ (Valm. Rama. 2.100.12)</blockquote>Meaning : "I hope that a brahmin who is versed in the traditions, who is intelligent and just, employed in your sacred fires, always informs you in time, about a sacrificial fire having been or going to be fed with oblations."<ref>Valmiki Ramayana [http://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/ayodhya/sarga100/ayodhya_100_frame.htm Ayodhya Kanda] Sarga 100</ref>

* Every grihastha has to maintain the agni until he is prevented by old age or illness or death. In case where he cannot perform it on behalf of him his son, brother or son-in-law may perform the ritual. <ref name=":122222222">Purkayastha, Dipanjona (2014) Ph. D Thesis from Assam University : ''[http://hdl.handle.net/10603/41946 A Study of the Asvalayana srauta sutra with reference to the principal sacrifices]''</ref>

* Performance of nitya agnihotra is mandated to the grihasta men of all three varnas. If due to any reason, a grihasta has not conducted agnihotra rituals, he can do so after performing the praayaschitta vidhis as given in the Srauta sastras.<ref name=":122222222" />  

* Performance of nitya agnihotra is mandated to the grihasta men of all three varnas. If due to any reason, a grihasta has not conducted agnihotra rituals, he can do so after performing the praayaschitta vidhis as given in the Srauta sastras.<ref name=":122222222" />  

* As a nityakriya agnihotra, Anuditahomi's perform homa before sunrise and some Uditahomi's after sunset.<ref name=":122222222" />   

* As a nityakriya agnihotra, Anuditahomi's perform homa before sunrise and some Uditahomi's after sunset.<ref name=":122222222" />