Agnihotra (Samskrit : अग्निहोत्रम्) refers to the process of invocation of Agni, whereby a grihastha makes daily offerings of ghee or milk in it while reciting the mantras. Sanatana Dharma is founded on the principles of maintaining Agni through yagnas, samskaras or any dharmic activity since ancient vedic times.
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Agnihotra (Samskrit : अग्निहोत्रम्) refers to the process of invocation of Agni, whereby a grihastha makes daily offerings of ghee or milk in it while reciting the mantras. Sanatana Dharma is founded on the principle that the primary responsibility of perpetually maintaining Agni at home, called as Agnihotra, is vested with a grihastha. Apart from grihastha many other events like homas, yagnas, yagas, isthis, involve the kindling of fire as evident from ancient Rig Vedic Agni sukta.
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Agni is invoked in every phase of life such as honouring of a birth (diva lamp), prayers (diva lamp), at weddings (the yajna where the bride and groom circle the fire seven times) and at death (cremation).
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In present days, very rarely, grihasthas are maintaining Agni at homes nor are conducting regular Agnihotra rituals as prescribed by sastras. However, Agni is invoked in every occasion (auspicious and inauspicious) of dharmic life, from lighting lamps in nityapuja for devatas, in temples, in events like prayers during festivals, housewarming, grahashanti homas, birth, upanayana and other samskara celebrations, at weddings (the yajna where the bride and groom circle the fire seven times) and lastly for cremation.