Samidadhana (समिदाधानम्)

Agnikaryam is the Yajna performed in a loukika agni (worldly fire) by brahmacharis (celibate bachelors). The Agnikarya is performed with the help of Samits or small wooden sticks or twigs usually of Arali (Ficus Religiosa) tree. This homa is performed daily twice: once in the morning and again in the evening. These two are respectively called Pratah Agnikaryam and Sayam Agnikaryam. Agnikaryam is also known as Samidadhanam. The method and mantras of performing the Agnikaryam are different for Rigveda and Yajurveda.

It is prescribed by sastras that all the dvijas (the ‘twice-born,’ through Upanayana) of the first three varṇas are to be initiated into performing Samidhadhanam.

उपनयन संस्कारम्

A brahmachari is initiated into performing agnikaryam during Upanayana with prescribed procedures and is taught the relevant mantras to conduct it.

At the time of investing the yagnopaveeta, he is taught to perform daily aahuti in the fire called Praajapatyagni.

Brahmachari's should perform two activities - Sandhyavandanam and Samidhadhanam in Agni everyday in the morning and evening.

In Vishnupurana (3.9.3)

उभे संध्ये रविं भूप तथैवामग्निं समाहितः । उपतिष्ठेत्तदा कुर्य्याद्गुरोरप्यभिवागनम्॥ (Vish. Pura. 3.9.3)

A bachelor should with devotion pray to surya and agni during both sandhyakaalas and also pay respects to his guru.

आग्निवेश्यगृह्यसूत्रम् ॥ Agnivesyagrhyasutra (1.1.4) outlines the process and mantras as follows

अथ सप्त पालाशीः समिध आर्द्रा अप्रच्छिन्नाग्राः प्रादेशमात्रा घृताक्ता अभ्याधापयति ।

Summary : Seven Palasa samidhas which do not have split ends (with their given dimension) along with ghee are to be offered.

अग्नये समिधमाहार्षं बृहते जातवेदसे । यथा त्वमग्ने समिधा समिध्यस एवं मां मेधया प्रज्ञया प्रजया पशुभिर्ब्रह्मवर्चसेनान्नाद्येन समेधय स्वाहा इत्येकाम् । अग्नये समिधौ इति द्वे । अग्नये समिध इति चतस्रः । (Agni. Grhy. Sutr. 1.4.1)

Samidhadhana vidhi outline is given in Balabodhini Sangraham - 3 where the meanings of 13 mantras are explained.

1. O Agni Deva, I place this Samit in you, Agni, who are in a lofty position, who know all objects originating in the world and who place all your worshippers in lofty states. I have offered this Samit with chant of „Svaha‟. 

2. O Agni Bhagavan, in the way you shine well with the Samit, please bestow on me long life, radiance, attainment of requisite objects, power of retention in memory, progeny, cattle, Brahmic brilliance and power of Jatharagni (Agni in stomach for digestion). I place this samith with this prayer.

3. Prayer to Samith: O Samith, The way Agni grows because of you; I should also grow the same way; I should attain greatness in many ways.

4. O Samith, you give bright shine to Agni; we, who are placing you in Agni, should also attain bright shine. We are therefore uniting this Samith to Agni with Svaha‟.

5. O Samith, as you are the instrument of brightness in Agni, you are also shining with bright flame. Please bestow brightness on me also. I am offering this Samith in Homam for this purpose.

6. I am doing the karma of Samidadhanam properly now. This should engender faith and attitude in me for Vedic karmas. Agni Bhagavan, I should perform Homam every day with Havis of ghee, milk etc. and worship you. I should get Brahmic brilliance. The obstacles in my path should vanish.

7. O Agni Deva, I am performing Homa with this Samith with prayer that you should grant me Brahmic brilliance, progeny and limitless wealth.

8. O Agni Bhagavan, Devas like Indra and Brahmarishis like Vasishtha should bear witness to this Samidadhanam I am doing and bless me.

9. Agni Deva, you shine brightly and live in Svargaloka. I offer this Samith in Homa for you.

10. I offer this Samith in Homa for Devatas of Dyuloka (Svarga) and Bhuloka (earth).

11. O Agni Deva, Please get happy with the Homam with this Samith and make me free from all wants. I should be complete in all respects.

12. O Agni Deva, if someone tries to take away and enjoy something which is due to me, please bless me to get that object and deprive the other person of it.

13. O Agni Deva, please bless me to complete my brahmacharya vrata. Even if some deficiency occurs in it, please remove it and grant me fulfilment.

Then Parishechanam is done without mantra; a Samith is placed in Agni; after chanting अग्नेरुपस्थानं करिष्ये he should get up and pray with the mantra यत्ते अग्ने.

“I should become full of brilliance from your brilliance; I should get vigour from your vigour; from your power of removing sin, I should get that power. May Agni Bhagavan grant me knowledge, progeny and powerful sense organs. May Surya grant me knowledge, progeny and glowing vigour.”

Verses and Meanings

Within Asvalaayana Grhya sutras the mantras to be recited during samidhaadhana are given

अग्निं परिसमूह्य ब्रह्मचारी तूष्णीं समिधमादध्यात् तूष्णीं वै प्राजापत्यं प्राजापत्यो ब्रह्मचारी भवतीति विज्ञायते १० २०

Meaning : Brahmachari should gather together the prajapatyagni and silently offer samidhas, knowing that Prajaapati is Brahmachari himself.

मन्त्रेण हैके अग्नये समिधमाहार्षं बृहते जातवेदसे तया त्वमग्ने वर्द्धस्व समिधा ब्रह्मणा वयं स्वाहेति १ 

स समिधमाधायाग्निमुपस्पृश्य मुखं निमार्ष्टि त्रिस्तेजसा मा समनज्मीति २

तेजसा ह्येवात्मानं समनक्तीति विज्ञायते ३

मयि मेधां मयि प्रजां मय्यग्निस्तेजो दधातु मयि मेधां मयि प्रजां मयीन्द्र इन्द्रियं दधातु मयि मेधां मयि प्रजां मयि सूर्यो भ्राजो दधातु । यत्ते अग्ने तेजस्तेनाहं तेजस्वी भूयासं यत्ते अग्ने वर्चस्तेनाहं वर्चस्वी भूयासं यत्ते अग्ने हरस्तेनाहं हरस्वी भूयासं इत्युपस्थाय जान्वाच्योपसंगृह्य ब्रूयादधीहि भोः सावित्रीं भो३ अनुब्रू३ हीति ४

तस्य वाससा पाणिभ्यां च पाणी संगृह्य सावित्रीमन्वाह पच्छोऽर्द्धर्चशः सर्वाम् ५

यथाशक्ति वाचयीत ६

हृदयदेशेऽस्योर्द्ध्वाङ्गुलिं पाणिमुपदधाति मम व्रते हृदयन्ते दधामि मम चित्तमनु चित्तं ते अस्तु । मम वाचमेकव्रतो जुषस्व बृहस्पतिष्ट्वा नियुनक्तु मह्यमिति ७ (Asva. Grhy. Sutra 8.1.21.1)