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Sanatana Dharma is founded on the principle that the primary responsibility of perpetually maintaining Agni at home is vested with a grihastha. In the present days, very rarely, grihasthas are maintaining Agni at homes nor are conducting regular Agnihotra rituals as prescribed by sastras.
Sanatana Dharma is founded on the principle that the primary responsibility of perpetually maintaining Agni at home is vested with a grihastha. In the present days, very rarely, grihasthas are maintaining Agni at homes nor are conducting regular Agnihotra rituals as prescribed by sastras.
Agni is invoked in every occasion (auspicious and inauspicious) of dharmic life, from nityakarma, yagas in temples, in special homas during housewarming and grahashanti, upanayana and other samskara celebrations, at weddings (where the bride and groom circle the sacred fire seven times) and lastly for अन्त्येष्टिः ॥ Anteysti (cremation).
Agni, however, is invoked in every occasion (auspicious and inauspicious) as an integral part of dharmic lifestyle, starting from shrauta yajnas, in nityakarma, for conducting rituals in temples, in special homas during housewarming and grahashanti, upanayana and other samskara celebrations, at weddings (where the bride and groom circle the sacred fire seven times) and lastly for अन्त्येष्टिः ॥ Anteysti (cremation).
== परिचयः|| Introduction ==
== परिचयः|| Introduction ==
The Agnihotra yaga may be of two types - Nitya and Aichika (Kamya) differing mainly in their purpose and their ahutis. Aupasana (in Smartagni) and Agnihotra (in Shrautagni) are the two Agnikaryas (fire rituals) in the Nityakarmas to be performed everyday apart from the others like Sandhyavandanam, Vaisvedeva, and Panchamahayajnas.
The Agnihotra yaga may be of two types - Nitya and Aichika (Kamya) differing mainly in their purpose and their ahutis. Aupasana (in Smartagni) and Agnihotra (in Shrautagni) are the two Agnikaryas (fire rituals) in the Nityakarmas to be performed everyday apart from the others like Sandhyavandanam, Vaisvedeva, and Panchamahayajnas.
For domestic purposes in the present days movable copper kundaas are also used, while some prepare altars with sand and a few bricks.
For domestic purposes in the present days movable copper kundaas are also used, while some prepare altars with sand and a few bricks.
==== ऋत्विक् ॥ Priest ====
==== ऋत्विक् ॥ Ritvik ====
The nitya agnihotram is performed by the yajaman or karta only, he is the priest for it. When he is unable to perform the nityakarma wife, son, others or in the last case an Adhvaryu may be designated for conducting it.<ref name=":122222222" />. Other Haviryajnas involve the four rtviks and the yajamana.
The nitya agnihotram is performed by the yajaman or karta only, he is the priest for it. When he is unable to perform the nityakarma wife, son, others or in the last case an Adhvaryu may be designated for conducting it.<ref name=":122222222" />. Other Haviryajnas involve the four rtviks and the yajamana.
In Kamya Agnihotra, special ahutis are made and offered specific for the objects desired, at different times, in different burning stages of the established fire.<blockquote>धूमायन्त्याम् ग्राम कामस्य जुहुयात् । ज्वलन्त्याम् ब्रह्म वर्चस कामस्य । अङ्गारेषु पशु कामस्य । (Kaus. Brah. 2.2)<ref>Kaushitaki Brahmana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 2])</ref></blockquote>Ahutis are made in smoke for those desiring villages (leadership). Those aspiring for brahmavarchas (divine lustre) should offer ahutis in flames (of Agnihotra) and those desiring cattle wealth should offer ahutis when ambers are shining.<ref name=":7" />
In Kamya Agnihotra, special ahutis are made and offered specific for the objects desired, at different times, in different burning stages of the established fire.<blockquote>धूमायन्त्याम् ग्राम कामस्य जुहुयात् । ज्वलन्त्याम् ब्रह्म वर्चस कामस्य । अङ्गारेषु पशु कामस्य । (Kaus. Brah. 2.2)<ref>Kaushitaki Brahmana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%A8 Adhyaya 2])</ref></blockquote>Ahutis are made in smoke for those desiring villages (leadership). Those aspiring for brahmavarchas (divine lustre) should offer ahutis in flames (of Agnihotra) and those desiring cattle wealth should offer ahutis when ambers are shining.<ref name=":7" />
== Agnihotram in Samskaras ==
Agnihotra as Shrauta Yajna is different from the setting up of homas and fire altars during samskaras. In the present day Agnihotra is used loosely for homas and grhyakarmas. This topic is covered here to explain the difference between Shrautakarmas and Grhyakarmas.
Setting up of fire is an important component during naimittika karmas such as those of the Shodasa Samskaaras. Almost all the activities of these samskaraas involve the use of grhyagni where different homas are performed on each occasion which are given in detail in Grhya sutras of different shakaas. However, a few agnikaryas are mentioned here as follows. These homas are primarily performed with the Aupasana Agni mainly by the grihastha, except a few where a purohita conducts them.
'''Pumsavanam and Seemantonnayanam'''
Pumsavana homa (Apas.Grhy. Sutr<ref name=":12" />. 6.14.3), Ajyabhaga homa and Jayaati homa are performed.
'''Jaatakarma'''
The father takes a sachela snanam (bathing with all clothes on him) as soon as he hears about the birth of the child. During Abhimarshanam outlined in Apastamba grhya sutras (Apas. Sutr. 6.15. 1 to 13)<ref name=":12" /> (Taittriya Samhita also gives these mantras), Agnihotra is lit and Raksha homam is conducted in the fire called Sootakagni. Mustard seeds(sashapa) and rice flakes (phaleekarana) are offered as aahuti by the father. <blockquote>जातं वात्सप्रेणाभिमृश्योत्तरेण यजुषोपस्थ आधायोत्तराभ्यामाभिमन्त्रणं मूर्धन्यवघ्राणं दक्षिणे कर्णे जापः १ (Aapa. Sutr. 6.15.1)</blockquote><blockquote>सर्षपान्फलीकरणमिश्रानञ्जलिनोत्तरैस्त्रिस्त्रिप्रतिस्वाहाकारं हुत्वा संशास्ति प्रविष्टे प्रविष्ट एव तूष्णीमग्नावावपतेति ६ (Aapa. Sutr. 6.15.6)</blockquote>This homa is performed to protect the child from evil forces and other doshas.
'''Naamakarana'''
Shaankhyayana Grihya sutras (1.25.1 to 26) mention the installation of Sutakagni as the child is born and into it aahuti is made during Naamakarana.
'''Choulam and Choodakarana'''
Though in the present days, many of these karmas are simplified and been done away with, the Grhya sutras lay emphasis on cutting of hair and piercing of the child's ears. Shaankhyayana Grhya sutras (1.28), Aapastamba Grhya Sutras (1.16), Gobila Grhya Sutras (2.9) detail the procedure while Taittriya Brahmana mantras are chanted from Ekagnikandam (2.1).<ref>http://samskaaram.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=99&Itemid=375&lang=en</ref>
'''Vivaha samskara''' is one of the most important ones of the Shodasa Samskaras. It is during vivaha that a grhastha is initiated into the setting up of fires to be continued till the death of the yajamana.
'''Paanigrahanam'''
Agnihotra is initiated at the time of Paanigrahanam during marriage as given in Apasthamba Grhya Sutras<ref name=":12">[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AC%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#%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83 Aapastamba Grhya Sutras] </ref> (2.4.9 and 10) <blockquote>अथैनामुत्तरया दक्षिणे हस्ते गृहीत्वाग्निमभ्यानीयापरेणाग्निमुदगग्रं कटमास्तीर्य तस्मिन्नुपविशत उत्तरो वरः ९ (Aapa. Grhy. 2.4.9)<br>अग्नेरुपसमाधानाद्याज्यभागान्तेऽथैनामादितो द्वाभ्यामभिमन्त्रयेत १० (Aapa. Grhy. 2.4.10)</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : The agnihotram is established, the vara or groom holds the hand of the bride and brings her near Agni. They sit in north south direction. He offers aajya into the fire.</blockquote>'''Saptapadi'''
Saptapadi is where the bride and groom take seven sacred steps around the witnessing Agni which has been started during the events.(Aapa. Grhy. Sutr. 2.4.15)<ref name=":12" />
'''Antyeshti'''
It is the last event where the dead body is offered onto the fire with chanting of mantras. (Rig. Veda. 10.16.1)<ref>http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Antyesti#cite_note-1</ref>
== अग्निहोत्रस्य वैशिष्टम् ॥ Importance of Agnihotra ==
== अग्निहोत्रस्य वैशिष्टम् ॥ Importance of Agnihotra ==
Importance of conducting the Agnihotra is emphasized in all the vedic texts.
Importance of conducting the Agnihotra is emphasized in all the vedic texts.