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| चत्वारो ह वा अग्नयः। आहित उद्धृतः प्रहृतो विहृतोऽयमेव लोक आहितोऽन्तरिक्षलोक उद्धृतो द्यौष्प्रहृतो दिशो विहृतोऽग्निरेवाहितो वायुरुद्धृत आदित्यः प्रहृतश्चन्द्रमा विहृतो गार्हपत्य एवाहित आहवनीय उद्धृतोऽथ यमेतमाहवनीयात्प्राञ्चं प्रणयन्ति स प्रहृतोऽथ यमेतमुदञ्चम्पशुश्रपणायाहरन्ति यं चोपयङ्भ्यः स विहृतस्तस्मात्प्रहार्येऽग्नौ पशुबन्धेन यजेत - ११.८.२.[१] | | चत्वारो ह वा अग्नयः। आहित उद्धृतः प्रहृतो विहृतोऽयमेव लोक आहितोऽन्तरिक्षलोक उद्धृतो द्यौष्प्रहृतो दिशो विहृतोऽग्निरेवाहितो वायुरुद्धृत आदित्यः प्रहृतश्चन्द्रमा विहृतो गार्हपत्य एवाहित आहवनीय उद्धृतोऽथ यमेतमाहवनीयात्प्राञ्चं प्रणयन्ति स प्रहृतोऽथ यमेतमुदञ्चम्पशुश्रपणायाहरन्ति यं चोपयङ्भ्यः स विहृतस्तस्मात्प्रहार्येऽग्नौ पशुबन्धेन यजेत - ११.८.२.[१] |
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| + | == Agni manthana == |
| + | Agni manthana is the process by which the fire is generated by the manthana (literally churning) or friction of two sami sticks. Rig veda mentions the process of kindling of fire from Arani (fire sticks) made from Sami and Asvattha trees. The stick on top called the Uttara-arani is called Pururavas (Indra) and the lower arani called as Aadhara-arani is called Urvasi (Apsara). The rope used for manthana is called rasanaa. The process of generating fire is also described in various Srauta sutra texts as given in Taittriya Brahmana in the पौरोडाशिक काण्ड under अग्न्याधानम prapathaka <ref>Taittriya Brahmana [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/तैत्तिरीयब्राह्मणम्_(विस्वरपाठः)/काण्डः_१/प्रपाठकः_०१ (1.1.9.1)]</ref>. <blockquote>शमीगर्भादग्निं मन्थति । एषा वा अग्नेर्यज्ञिया तनूः । (Tait. Brah. 1.1.9.1)</blockquote><blockquote>śamīgarbhādagniṁ manthati । ēṣā vā agnēryajñiyā tanūḥ । (Tait. Brah. 1.1.9.1)</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : From the hearth of sami (sticks) Agni is churned. This is the yagna body of Agni.</blockquote> |
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| + | === Samidha === |
| + | Once the fire is kindled, it is maintained by the addition of smaller pieces of wood called Samidhas. The trees from which samidhas are obtained include : palaasa, asvattha, nygrodha, sami, aamra, khadira. |
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| == Aahutis (Offerings) in Agnihotram == | | == Aahutis (Offerings) in Agnihotram == |
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| Temples (and in some homes of aahitagni's) have the brick structures for the conduct of agnihotram. Temples also have designated yaaga-shalas. For temporary domestic purposes in the present days movable copper kundaas are used, while some prepare altars with sand and a few bricks. | | Temples (and in some homes of aahitagni's) have the brick structures for the conduct of agnihotram. Temples also have designated yaaga-shalas. For temporary domestic purposes in the present days movable copper kundaas are used, while some prepare altars with sand and a few bricks. |
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− | Sulba sutras are the texts that describe the dimensions and measurements, materials for constructing yaaga-kunda. | + | Sulba sutras are the texts that describe the dimensions and measurements, materials for constructing the yaaga-kunda. The yaaga-kunda for the three agnis are |
| + | # Gaarhapatya agni - It is placed to the west of the place and kindled in circular shaped kunda. |
| + | # Aahvaniya agni - It is placed to the east of the place, in a rectangular shaped kunda. |
| + | # Dakshinaagni - It is placed to the south of the place, in a semi-circular (ardhachandra) shaped kunda. |
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| ==== Paaka yagnas ==== | | ==== Paaka yagnas ==== |