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Line 53: − − == Agnihotra - Brief Discussion == − 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 Srautagni) are the two Agnikaryas (fire rituals) in the Nityakarmas to be performed everyday apart from the others like Sandhyavandanam, Vaisvedeva, and Panchamahayajnas. − − Agnihotra is the model or Prakriti of Homa sacrifices. After establishment of the Srauta agni in the home with Agnyadhana ceremony a sapatnika yajamani can perform agnihotra yaga daily. A yajamani performs a daily morning and evening offering of ahuti of milk, curd, purodasa, in the Aahavaniya fire for the deities Surya and Agni. This yaga is considered as nityakarma for the three classes of people - Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas in the vedic age.<ref name=":7" /> In Satapatha Brahmana, it is mentioned that this yaga must be performed by the householder till his death with some exceptions. The main ahuti is milk and for that the yajamana should maintain a cow called as "Agnihotra gabhihi". − − The agnihotra ceremony is started with establishment of Agni by a process called Agnyadhana conducted for the first time in the evening, with the kindling of Aahvaniya and Dakshinagni from Garhapatyagni. The milk warmed up in the garhapatya agni in a prescribed utensil, is offered as ahuti in Agni using the wooden ladles while chanting the appropriate mantras. − − This yaga cannot be performed by a bachelor or a widower, however exceptions are also present. If for any reason the fires cannot be tended to and they extinguish then they are re-established with stringent Punaradhana ceremony.<ref name=":122222222" /><ref name=":0" /> − − An oversimplified version of the procedures involved in conducting Agnihotram are summarized as − * The Srautaagni is established by the process of Agnyadhana in the house of a yajamana. − * A sapatinika yajamana performs homa daily at sunrise and at sunset by offering milk in Agni after first performing other nityakarmas such as sandhyavandana and achamana. − * The mantras to be chanted are prescribed in the respective Srauta sutras based on the Veda and Shakas followed by the yajamani's lineage. (For example, Rig vedins follow Asvalayana Srauta sutras). − * Samidhas, Yajna vedis and patras (utensils such as sruk) are to be maintained and protected sacredly by the yajamani and his family. − The procedures, mantras and ahuti requirements for this yaga are further discussed.
→Agnihotra - Brief Discussion: heading changed to Introduction
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 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).
== 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 Srautagni) are the two Agnikaryas (fire rituals) in the Nityakarmas to be performed everyday apart from the others like Sandhyavandanam, Vaisvedeva, and Panchamahayajnas.
Agnihotra is the model or Prakriti of Homa sacrifices. After establishment of the Srauta agni in the home with Agnyadhana ceremony a sapatnika yajamani can perform agnihotra yaga daily. A yajamani performs a daily morning and evening offering of ahuti of milk, curd, purodasa, in the Aahavaniya fire for the deities Surya and Agni. This yaga is considered as nityakarma for the three classes of people - Brahmanas, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas in the vedic age.<ref name=":7" /> In Satapatha Brahmana, it is mentioned that this yaga must be performed by the householder till his death with some exceptions. The main ahuti is milk and for that the yajamana should maintain a cow called as "Agnihotra gabhihi".
The agnihotra ceremony is started with establishment of Agni by a process called Agnyadhana conducted for the first time in the evening, with the kindling of Aahvaniya and Dakshinagni from Garhapatyagni. The milk warmed up in the garhapatya agni in a prescribed utensil, is offered as ahuti in Agni using the wooden ladles while chanting the appropriate mantras.
This yaga cannot be performed by a bachelor or a widower, however exceptions are also present. If for any reason the fires cannot be tended to and they extinguish then they are re-established with stringent Punaradhana ceremony.<ref name=":122222222" /><ref name=":0" />
An oversimplified version of the procedures involved in conducting Agnihotram are summarized as
* The Srautaagni is established by the process of Agnyadhana in the house of a yajamana.
* A sapatinika yajamana performs homa daily at sunrise and at sunset by offering milk in Agni after first performing other nityakarmas such as sandhyavandana and achamana.
* The mantras to be chanted are prescribed in the respective Srauta sutras based on the Veda and Shakas followed by the yajamani's lineage. (For example, Rig vedins follow Asvalayana Srauta sutras).
* Samidhas, Yajna vedis and patras (utensils such as sruk) are to be maintained and protected sacredly by the yajamani and his family.
== श्रौतयज्ञाः ॥ Srauta Yajnas ==
== श्रौतयज्ञाः ॥ Srauta Yajnas ==
[[Srauta Yajnas (श्रौतयज्ञाः)|Srauta Yajnas]] are 14 in number. They are divided into two main groups of seven each : Haviryajnas and Somayajnas<ref name=":122222222">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><ref>Introduction to Rituals ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/rituals/# Vedic Heritage Portal])</ref>.
[[Srauta Yajnas (श्रौतयज्ञाः)|Srauta Yajnas]] are 14 in number. They are divided into two main groups of seven each : Haviryajnas and Somayajnas<ref name=":122222222">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><ref>Introduction to Rituals ([http://vedicheritage.gov.in/rituals/# Vedic Heritage Portal])</ref>.
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Besides these above mentioned Srautasutras, there are many others but their texts are not available at present.
Besides these above mentioned Srautasutras, there are many others but their texts are not available at present.
== अग्न्याधानम् ॥ Agnyadhana ==
== अग्न्याधानम् ॥ Agnyadhana ==
Agnyadhana also called as अग्न्याधेय ॥ Agnaadheya is technically the process by which the Agni or sacred fire is newly established in the kundas along with the chanting of mantras as prescribed by Srauta sutras. The mantras and the procedural aspects are generally similar across all vedic srauta sutras, with a few variations. It is classified as the first of the Haviryajnas according to Gautama Dharmasutras. However, this topic is dealt here as a prerequisite to the Agnihotra yajna. The requisite materials and procedures of Agnyadhana according to different texts may be referred to as given below.
Agnyadhana also called as अग्न्याधेय ॥ Agnaadheya is technically the process by which the Agni or sacred fire is newly established in the kundas along with the chanting of mantras as prescribed by Srauta sutras. The mantras and the procedural aspects are generally similar across all vedic srauta sutras, with a few variations. It is classified as the first of the Haviryajnas according to Gautama Dharmasutras. However, this topic is dealt here as a prerequisite to the Agnihotra yajna. The requisite materials and procedures of Agnyadhana according to different texts may be referred to as given below.