Tretagni (त्रेताग्निः)

All Srauta yajnas or yagas are associated with Tretagni (Samskrit : त्रेताग्नयः) the three Agni's, and one of them Garhapatya agni is also called Srautaagni. However, not all three fires are lighted and maintained at all times. त्रेताग्नयः the three fires are kindled in performance of yagas. Srautayajnas require the kindling of all three fires.

त्रेताग्निः ॥ Tretagni

Srauta yajnas require the kindling of Tretagni or three Agnis (Singular : त्रेताग्निः Plural : त्रेताग्नयः) into which ahutis are offered.

• गार्हपत्याग्निः ॥ Garhapatyaagni
• आहवनीयाग्निः॥ Aahvaniya agni
• दक्षिणाग्निः ॥ Dakshinagni

Asvalayana Srautasutra mentions the following about the three agnis in the context of yajna kunda पर्युक्षण (sprinkling of water). Before kindling of fire in the kundas sprinkling of water should be done by hand.

दक्षिणं त्वेव प्रथमं विज्ञायते पिता वा एषोऽग्नीनां यद्दक्षिणः पुत्रो गार्हपत्यः पौत्र आहवनीयस्तस्मादेवं पर्युक्षेत् १३ 

Meaning : It is to be known that the dakshina fire should be done first, because dakshina fire is the father of all fires, garhapatya is the son and aahvaniya is the grandson. So water पर्युक्षण water should be given in this way.

आहिताग्निन् ॥ Ahitagni

One who worships the three Agnis is called a "Srauti" and if he worships the srauta (garhapatyagni) and grhya agni (aupasanagni), he is called an Ahitagni.

• The section in the Srauta-sutras dealing with the offerings made in the three fires is called Tretagni-kanda in Apastamba srauta sutras.

• The grihastha who never performed any Haviryajna and never studied Vedas, and whose father or forefathers never performed yaga are not eligible to perform some yagas/yajnas. Example : Somayaga

• Eligibility for a grihastha to perform other yagas or yajnas 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 . For example: Agnisthoma is the first of the 5 Jyotisthomas or Somayaga. Performance of haviryajna and some isthis is a prerequisite for conducting a Somayaga.

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.

A few important features of the three agnis are summarized below

गार्हपत्याग्निः ॥ Garhapatyagni

Information about of गार्हपत्याग्निः ॥ Garhapatya agni

• It is kindled after marriage, and is be maintained and worshipped for the rest of the life by the grihastha along with his wife.
• It is ceremonially established with the elaborate vedic procedure involving recitation of specific mantras during the process called Agnyadhana. The Aupasana Agni lit at the time of the wedding is passed on from the father to the son. It is divided into two during the Agnyadhana process. One part becomes the Grhyagni (Smartagni, Aupasanagni) and the other becomes the Srautagni called Garhapatya.
• It is the only Agni of the three Agnis that is maintained continuously.
• It is placed to the west of the yajnavedi and placed in circular shaped kunda in Srauta yajnas.
• It is rekindled by a special process involving the Prayaschitta mantras called "Punaradhana" if it gets extinguished for any reason.
• It is used in nityakarmas (Agnihotram) as well as in other Srauta Yajnas.
• It is the source of other two Agnis, Aahvaniya and Dakshinagni.
• It is used to cook aahutidravyas and for heating by reciting some mantras. No specific ahutis are performed in this Agni.
• Only a sapatnika yajamani (grihastha) of the three varnas is prescribed to tend this Agni according to some sources, while others mention that persons of all varnas may do so.

आहवनीयाग्निः ॥ Aahvaniyagni

Some salient aspects about आहवनीयाग्निः ॥ Ahvaniya agni are as follows

• Aahvaniya agni is established from the Garhapatya agni along with the recitation of specific mantras.
• It is not maintained continuously everyday and is considered as Laukikagni at the end of the day at the conclusion of specific yaaga for which it is invoked.
• It is placed to the east of the yajnavedi, in a rectangular shaped kunda.
• It is used to offer aahutis to the devatas during Srauta yajnas.

दक्षिणाग्निः ॥ Dakshinagni

Salient aspects about दक्षिणाग्निः ॥ Dakshinaagni is as follows

• Dakshinaagni is established from the Garhapatya agni along with the recitation of specific mantras during yajna karmas.
• It is not maintained continuously everyday and is considered as Laukikagni at the end of the specific yaagam for which it is invoked.
• It is placed to the south of the yajnavedi, in a half circle shaped kunda.
• It is used to offer aahutis to the pitrudevatas or forefathers only.