Changes

In the 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 Nityayagnas, yagas in temples, in special homas during housewarming and grahashanti, upanayana and other samskara celebrations, at weddings (the yajna where the bride and groom circle the fire seven times) and lastly for Anteysti (cremation).   

In the 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 Nityayagnas, yagas in temples, in special homas during housewarming and grahashanti, upanayana and other samskara celebrations, at weddings (the yajna where the bride and groom circle the fire seven times) and lastly for Anteysti (cremation).   

Elaborately conducted yaagas such as Soma yaagas are not widely performed, while Varuna yaagam and Kareeresti for propitiating Varuna devata to obtain rains is performed at regular intervals as temple activities.  

Elaborately conducted yaagas such as Soma yaagas are not widely performed, while Varuna yaagam and Kareeresti for propitiating Varuna devata to obtain good rains is performed at regular intervals as temple activities for community benefit.  

 

Agnikarya : by brahmacharya   

Somayagi : one who uses three agnis, tretagni.   

Somayagi : one who uses three agnis, tretagni.   

# Soma   

# Soma   

== Agnihotram ==

== Agnihotram ==

Agnihotra, is a term specifically applicable to the most common and important yagnas classified among the haviryajñas and considered to be nitya. It is performed as a daily worship rather than with an intent to fulfill any specific desire<ref name=":032" />. Some salient features may be summarized as below

Agnihotra, is a term specifically applicable to the most common and important yagnas classified among the haviryajñas and considered to be nityakarma (daily activity). It is performed as a daily worship rather than with an intent to fulfill any specific desire<ref name=":032" />. Some salient features may be summarized as below

* It is prescribed by sastras that all the dvijas (the ‘twice-born,’ the men of the first three varṇas) are to perform this Agnihotra. A brahmachari (a student initiated by upanayana) is also initiated to perform agnihotra with special procedures called Agnikarya

* It is prescribed by sastras that all the dvijas (the ‘twice-born,’ the men of the first three varṇas) are to perform Agnihotra. A brahmachari so initiated is prescribed procedures and taught to conduct agnihotra with different chantings called as Agnikarya '''(recheck)'''.

* Gaarhapatya agni is the main fire that is worshipped and this is also called as Aupasana<ref name=":0" />, wherein grihasta performs Agnihotra twice daily at twilight time (dawn and dusk) along with the wife but is not participate in yagna.

* After marriage the grihasta performs Agnihotram twice daily at twilight time (dawn and dusk) along with the wife in the Gaarhapatya agni, this is also called as Aupasana.<ref name=":0" /> If the yajamāna (performer of the sacrifice) goes on a pilgrimage along with his wife, he can carry the gārhapatya fire with him or can ceremonially put it out and perform punarādhāna (re-establishing the fire) on his return. When he dies, the various wooden implements used by him for Agnihotra should be kept on various parts of his body as prescribed and then his body is cremated with the gārhapatya fire.<ref name=":032">http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Agnihotra#cite_note-1</ref>

* Wife, son or pupil can perform it on his behalf in emergencies.  

* Eligibility for a grihastha to perform other yaagas or yagnas will be obtained once he regularly performs Agnihotram at his house and after he learns the vaidika procedures to conduct them. For example: Agnisthoma is the first of the 5 Jyotisthomas or Somayaaga.<ref name=":0" /> Performance of Agnistoma haviryagna and some Isthis is a prerequisite for the undertaking Somayaaga.  The grihastha who never performed any Haviryagna and never studied Vedas, and whose father or forefathers never performed this yaaga are not eligible to perform Somayaaga<ref name=":1" />.

* Wife, son, pupil or a priest can perform Agnihotram on behalf of the yajamani in case of emergencies. Agnihotra cannot be performed by an uninitiated bachelor or a widower, however on remarriage a widower becomes eligible to perform all yagnas<ref name=":1" />.  

* 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.’  

* 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.’  

 

== त्रेताज्ञयः ॥ Three Fires ==

== त्रेताज्ञयः ॥ Three Fires ==

All Srauta yagnas or yaagas are associated with त्रेताज्ञयः the three Agni's<ref name=":0">Venkateswara Rao. Potturi (2010) ''Paaramaathika Padakosam'' Hyderabad: Msko Books</ref> namely   

All Srauta yagnas or yaagas are associated with त्रेताज्ञयः the three Agni's<ref name=":0">Venkateswara Rao. Potturi (2010) ''Paaramaathika Padakosam'' Hyderabad: Msko Books</ref> namely   

* 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>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=":1">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> .   

* 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 ===