Changes

Panchayagna - done by all, no agni.   

Panchayagna - done by all, no agni.   

Yagna - all satkarmas see below  

Yagam - of tretagni is present in all yagas except satra.  

Adhiyagnam katham 8 .2 bhagavadgeeta  

Homa : After Mantrajapam anga is called homa. Chandi Homa.  

Karma brahmo 3.15 bhagavadgeeta  

The history of Vedic rituals is quite ancient and can be traced to the period of Vedic Samhithas. A few definitions here would throw light on the terms used in the process of using Agnihotra.  

Yagnanardhat karmano yatra 3.9 Bhagavadgeeta  

Yagna : A common term used to denote all satkarmas, which may or may not include the piling of Agnihotra. Bhagavad geeta gives the process of Jnanayagna. Adhiyagnam katham  8 .2 bhagavadgeeta Karma brahmo 3.15 bhagavadgeeta Yagnanardhat karmano yatra 3.9 Bhagavadgeeta 9.15 Jnana yagne, 9.16  

9.15 Jnana yagne, 9.16  

Yaagam : A ‘Yaga’ is made up of several rituals which has its own principal part (Pradhana). Those that form subsidiary or supplement to this are called ‘Angas’. Some of the rituals may be common to several ‘Yagas’.   

Yagam - of tretagni is present in all yagas except satra.    

A Yaga is specialized process involving an intention (sankalpa), an altar (yajnakunda), a host (yajamana), sacrificial offerings of various kinds (kratuvu, bali), utensils, sacred fire (yagagni), one or more officiating priests (purohita), gifts (dakshina) for the priests and guests, expiation ceremony (prayaschitta) and other concluding rituals. They are performed in open or in a house, temple, palace or a temporary structure (yajnavatika) built for the purpose.

Homa : After Mantrajapam anga is called homa. Chandi Homa.   

Aahitagni     

== परिचय || Introduction ==  

The history of Vedic rituals is quite ancient and can be traced to the period of Vedic Samhithas. Invocation of Agni in a vedi (altar) and offering of oblations is performed in yagnas. However, not all yagnas involve this process.   

There has been a tradition of ‘Ahitagnis’ and ‘Srauta priests’ in South India and have continued to perform Vedic rituals as and when possible. These priests inherited the tradition of Vedic ritual practices from their ancestors and perform Vedic rituals even today. Some ‘Srauta priests’, ‘Agnihotris’ keep ‘Agni’ in their houses and protect it even today. The ‘Agni’ usually transferred from father to son and the tradition is continued without any break. The rituals are conducted in the same ancient procedures with some modifications according to the convenience for the modern society and availability of required materials<ref name=":0" />.  

A few yagnas described in the Samhitas and Brahmanas include the following   

Invocation of Agni in a vedi (altar) and offering of oblations is performed in yagnas. However, not all yagnas involve this process. A few yagnas described in the Samhitas and Brahmanas include the following    

Agnichayana    

Agnichayana    

Pashumedha (Asvamedha)    

Pashumedha (Asvamedha)    

According to Prof Radhakrishna Bhat,    <blockquote>"Most of the ‘Haviryajnas’, ‘Agnihotra’, ‘Darsapurnamasa’ and ‘Caturmasya’ sacrifices, the basic ‘Somayajnas’, ‘Agnistomas’ and its varieties, and some culturally and historically important sacrifices like ‘Vajapeya’, “Asvamedha’, ‘Sarvamedha’ etc are found in ‘Yajurveda’ (Adhvaryuveda). Later in ‘Puranas’ the references to Vedic rituals and practices are found. In classical Sanskrit literature some references to Vedic rituals and practices are mentioned. This shows that the Vedic ritual tradition is continued to modern period too without any interruption". <ref name=":0">Radhakrishna Bhat, N. ''[http://ignca.nic.in/vedic_heritage/Vedic_tradition_karnataka.pdf Vedic Ritual Tradition of Karnataka]'', Vedic Heritage Portal.</ref></blockquote>

According to Prof Radhakrishna Bhat,   <blockquote>"Most of the ‘Haviryajnas’, ‘Agnihotra’, ‘Darsapurnamasa’ and ‘Caturmasya’ sacrifices, the basic ‘Somayajnas’, ‘Agnistomas’ and its varieties, and some culturally and historically important sacrifices like ‘Vajapeya’, “Asvamedha’, ‘Sarvamedha’ etc are found in ‘Yajurveda’ (Adhvaryuveda). Later in ‘Puranas’ the references to Vedic rituals and practices are found. In classical Sanskrit literature some references to Vedic rituals and practices are mentioned. This shows that the Vedic ritual tradition is continued to modern period too without any interruption". <ref name=":0">Radhakrishna Bhat, N. ''[http://ignca.nic.in/vedic_heritage/Vedic_tradition_karnataka.pdf Vedic Ritual Tradition of Karnataka]'', Vedic Heritage Portal.</ref></blockquote>

== Yagna Vidhis in Kalpa ==

== Yagna Vidhis in Kalpa ==

‘Vedanga Kalpa’ mainly deals with Vedic rituals. The very name itself means ‘Kalpyate Samarthyate Yaga Prayogo Atra’ which means “The practice of Vedic ritual traditions are explained here”. This Vedanga has four parts namely, ‘Sulvasutras’, ‘Srautasutras’, ‘Dharmasutras’ and ‘Grhyasutras’. The ‘Sulvasutras’ and ‘Srautasutras’ directly deal with the performance of Vedic rituals. These texts provide guidance for the performance of Vedic sacrifices. The performance of Vedic rituals is being continued even to modern period especially in South India.   

‘Vedanga Kalpa’ mainly deals with Vedic rituals. The very name itself means ‘Kalpyate Samarthyate Yaga Prayogo Atra’ which means “The practice of Vedic ritual traditions are explained here”. This Vedanga has four parts namely, ‘Sulvasutras’, ‘Srautasutras’, ‘Dharmasutras’ and ‘Grhyasutras’. The ‘Sulvasutras’ and ‘Srautasutras’ directly deal with the performance of Vedic rituals. These texts provide guidance for the performance of Vedic sacrifices. The performance of Vedic rituals is being continued even to modern period especially in South India.   

Srauta, as the name suggest, refers to the texts which have been derived from the Sruti or the Vedas. Although they are memorial texts (Smriti), their source is Sruti or God. They also serve as the source of Kalpa. The Srauta rituals cover a whole gamut of rituals from the simplest to the most complicated. Most of them are no more practiced, but their study is useful for historical reasons. As per tradition, the Srauta Shastras identify the following six types of sacrifices (yajnas).  

Srauta, as the name suggest, refers to the texts which have been derived from the Sruti or the Vedas. Although they are memorial texts (Smriti), their source is Sruti or God. They also serve as the source of Kalpa. The Srauta rituals cover a whole gamut of rituals from the simplest to the most complicated. Most of them are no more practiced, but their study is useful for historical reasons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As per tradition, the Srauta Shastras identify the following six types of sacrifices (yajnas).  

==== Paaka yagnas ====

==== Paaka yagnas ====

These were meant to mark the progress of a student’s education under a teacher and his success in attaining the knowledge of the Vedas, while keeping his vows of celibacy and secrecy until his graduation as a Snataka (one who has bathed and was ready for the life of a householder or an apprentice).

These were meant to mark the progress of a student’s education under a teacher and his success in attaining the knowledge of the Vedas, while keeping his vows of celibacy and secrecy until his graduation as a Snataka (one who has bathed and was ready for the life of a householder or an apprentice).

The Shodasa Yajnas or Samskaras: They were performed at different times in the life of an individual. They will be explained later.

==== Shodasa Samskaras ====

 

They were performed at different times in the life of an individual.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

External and internal rituals

External and internal rituals