Changes

== Grihastha Aupasana  ==

== Grihastha Aupasana  ==

During vivaha samskara the brahmachari is intiated to enter the grihasta ashram. he is receives additional procedures to perform Agnihotram.  

During vivaha samskara the brahmachari is initiated to enter the grihasta ashram by setting up the Aavasatyaagni. He receives additional procedures to perform Agnihotram.  

* Starting at the time of 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=":02">Venkateswara Rao. Potturi (2010) ''Paaramaathika Padakosam'' Hyderabad: Msko Books</ref> For Ex: Valmiki Ramayana states that Sri Ramachandra and Lakshmana tended agnihotram while they lived in Panchavati '''(Reference needed)'''.

* Starting at the time of 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=":02">Venkateswara Rao. Potturi (2010) ''Paaramaathika Padakosam'' Hyderabad: Msko Books</ref> For Ex: Valmiki Ramayana states that Sri Ramachandra and Lakshmana tended agnihotram while they lived in Panchavati '''(Reference needed)'''.

* 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.

* 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.

== Aahitagni ==

== Aahitagni ==

Eligibility for a grihastha to perform other yaagas or yagnas will be obtained once he regularly performs Aupaasana at his house on a daily basis and after he learns the relevant vaidika procedures to conduct them. Such a grihasta is called '''Aahitagni''' <ref name=":02" />. For example: Agnisthoma is the first of the 5 Jyotisthomas or Somayaaga. Performance of haviryagna and some Isthis is a prerequisite for conducting a Somayaaga by an aahitagni.  

'''Aahitagni''' is the sapatinika yajamani who has established the agnihotra by performing the Agnyadheya ceremony. Eligibility for a grihastha to perform other yaagas or yagnas will be obtained once he regularly performs Aupaasana at his house on a daily basis and after he learns the relevant vaidika procedures to conduct them <ref name=":12" /><ref name=":02" />. For example: Agnisthoma is the first of the 5 Jyotisthomas or Somayaaga. Performance of haviryagna and some Isthis is a prerequisite for conducting a Somayaaga.  

The tradition of ‘Aahitagnis’ and ‘Srauta priests’ continues in South India and they 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.<ref name=":02222" />

The tradition of ‘Aahitagnis’ and ‘Srauta priests’ continues in South India and they 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.<ref name=":02222" />

* Wife, son, pupil or a priest can perform Agnihotram on behalf of the yajamani in case of emergencies. Agnihotra cannot be performed by a widower, however on remarriage a widower becomes eligible to perform all yagnas<ref name=":12" />. When the yajamana is separated from his wife and he chooses not to remarry, he can instill his wife's idol for the process of the yaaga. Example : Aswamedha yaaga performed by Sri Ramachandra in Ayodhya while his consort Seetadevi was in Valmiki Maharshi's ashram following the sastra laid down exceptions to some situations.   

* Wife, son, pupil or a priest can perform Agnihotram on behalf of the yajamani in case of emergencies. Agnihotra cannot be performed by a widower, however on remarriage a widower becomes eligible to perform all yagnas<ref name=":12" />. When the yajamana is separated from his wife and he chooses not to remarry, he can instill his wife's idol for the process of the yaaga. Example : Aswamedha yaaga performed by Sri Ramachandra in Ayodhya while his consort Seetadevi was in Valmiki Maharshi's ashram following the sastra laid down exceptions to some situations.   

* The performer of Agnihotra is obliged to rear a cow. The milk vessel which must be an earthen pot with a straight brim is called ‘agnihotra-sthālī’ and the ladle is called ‘agnihotrahavaṇī.’<ref name=":02222" /><ref name=":12" />  

* The performer of Agnihotra is obliged to rear a cow. The milk vessel which must be an earthen pot with a straight brim is called ‘agnihotra-sthālī’ and the ladle is called ‘agnihotrahavaṇī.’<ref name=":02222" /><ref name=":12" />  

Agnyaadhana is the technical process by which  

 

== Agnyaadhana/Agnaadheya ==

Agnaadheya is technically the process by which the sacred fires or agnihotram is newly established in the kundas as prescribed by Srauta sutras. This process is generally very similar across all vedic srauta sutras, with minute differences.

 

== त्रेताज्ञयः ॥ Three Fires ==

== त्रेताज्ञयः ॥ Three Fires ==

* It is the source of other two Agnis

* It is the source of other two Agnis

* It is kindled at the time of marriage and brought home to be worshipped for the rest of the life by the grihastha  

* It is kindled at the time of marriage and brought home to be worshipped for the rest of the life by the grihastha  

* According to Sata. Brah 64 ref every grihastha has to maintain this (jaraamarya satra yaaga ) 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 Satapata 65 ref chap 1<ref name=":12">Roy, Snigdha Das (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> .   

* According to Sata. Brah 64 ref every grihastha has to maintain this (jaraamarya satra yaaga ) 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 Satapata 65 ref chap 1<ref name=":12">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> .   

* Only a sapatnika yajamani (grihastha) of the three varnas is allowed to tend the Agnihotram.

* Only a sapatnika yajamani (grihastha) of the three varnas is allowed to tend the Agnihotram.

=== आहवनीयाग्निः ॥ Aahvaniya Agni ===

=== आहवनीयाग्निः ॥ Aahvaniya Agni ===