Vishwa Agnihotra

What is Agnihotra

Agnihotra. Agni means FIRE and hotra means to offer unto the fire to create a healing effect.

Agnihotra, also known as Homa Therapy or Fire Therapy is an Vedic technique that enhances and nourishes human lives creating an equilibrium between the nature within us and around us by tuning our mind and body with rhythm of nature. It’s a process of purification whose positive results have been established by scientists, doctors, ecologists both modern and ancient. Agnihotra is a fabulous and elementary healing therapy practiced by people worldwide as it doesn’t have any religious or national nuances attached to it.

Agnihotra can be performed by anyone, anywhere, at home, in the garden, office etc in a clean and tidy environment. The process is tuned to the biorhythm corresponding with sunrise & sunset, hence Agnihotra is performed precisely at given local sunrise & sunset timings. Fire is prepared in a semi-pyramid shaped copper vessel. Two oblations of two pinch-full of rice smeared with Cow’s Ghee is offered in this fire; simultaneously two Vedic Mantras are chanted.

Philosophy

Mention of Agnihotra is found in Vedas, the ancient most knowledge source, known to mankind. The Vedic sciences like Yoga, Ayurvea, Agnihotra, etc practiced by Rishis or Seers are techniques which create harmony between our Mind, Body and Spirit.

H. H. Paramsadguru Shree Gajanan Maharaj referred to as Shree by His followers spread all over the world, revived this technique in the modern era, from Shivpuri, India and spread this message all over the world. Agnihotra, according to Vedas, is the ancient most Upasana or a process of creating oneness between our consciousness and Universal consciousness. Practicing Agnihotra has a positive influence on body, mind, soul, & environment; and sets us on the path to attain inner balance & spiritual bliss.

Agnihotra is a purifying, healing phenomenon. Fire is known to benefit life on earth because of its ability to episodically burn solids and liquids into life enhancing gases. The good gases released while performing Agnihotra are charged with high energy and benefit human lives and other life forms in the environment.

Agnihotra Equipment

Semi - pyramid shaped copper vessel

The vessel or Patra prescribed for Agnihotra is made of pure copper which is known for its Oligodynamic (i.e. antibacterial) properties. Copper, which is known to be an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, plays an important role in the process of Agnihotra. Agnihotra has close connection with fire, heat, electromagnetic forces and cosmic energy fields. The shape of Agnihotra vessel is precisely similar to pyramid.

Cow dung cakes

Fire for Agnihotra is to be prepared out of dried cow dung cakes. Cow here means the cow family. Thus the dried dung of calves and bulls may also be used. Cow dung is regarded as highly medicinal and healing substance by Ayurveda and other alternative healing systems. Its possesses anti-bacterial properties, it is used as a pesticide and a fertilizer in farming, etc

It is also useful in many disorders like skin diseases, kidney diseases, liver ailments, obesity, heart ailments, etc.

Cow's pure ghee and Rice grains

The Cow’s Pure Ghee as per Ayurveda, the Ghee has many medicinal qualities that get released in the atmosphere on combustion in the Fire.

Ghee is said to promote all three aspects of mental functioning - learning, memory and recall. Ayurveda considers Ghee as a rejuvenating and longevity-promoting food. In many cultures around the world, rice is part of daily diet. Ayurveda considers rice to be a complete food grain as it is easy to digest and has many vital nutrients.

Mantras

The offerings of Agnihotra are to be offered to the fire along with the chanting of Sanskrit mantras.

All the alphabets of the Sanskrit language are endowed with special vibrational powers. Their utterance in esoteric combination produces unique sound waves. These vibratory sound waves are powerful beyond imagination. Their effect on the atmosphere, living beings and even plants is extremely pacifying. These particular combinations of sounds and meanings of the Sanskrit language are known as Mantras.

Agnihotra Mantras are to be uttered in their original form that is in Sanskrit. They are not to be translated in any other language because it will change their original frequency patterns. The translated words will be devoid of creating the beneficial vibratory sound waves and hence no benefits can be derived from uttering such words.

Timings

Agnihotra time is referred to as ‘Sandhya’ i.e. transitional moment. It is neither day nor night, neither light nor darkness. Veda describe this particular period as the Passage to Enlightenment ‘(Tirtha). The science of Yoga attaches importance to this transitional moment. As per Yoga a man makes the use of either the left or the right nostril for breathing during the period from sunrise to sunset and there is a shift in the order beginning with sunset to sunrise. During this period ‘Ida’ and ‘Pingala’, Nadis or channels of flow of energy, located in the breathing apparatus of the body, remain active in succession.

Agnihotra is ordained to be performed exactly on these vitally important transitional moments. During these moments changes take place in the atmosphere which causes vital impact on all life forms and on the environment.

Exactly at the time of sunrise and sunset they are in the process of transition. The mind and body are in balance during this time band. Performance of Agnihotra synchronizing with this time strengthens the beneficial effects on the mind and the body.

Agnihotra Process

Start the preparations about 5-10 minutes before the actual sunrise time. It is better to sit on the ground in a lotus position from “Yoga”, for “Agnihotra”. If it is not possible to sit on the ground, one can even do “Agnihorta” placing the pot on a table and using a chair for sitting.enhances and nourishes human lives by tuning our mind and body with rhythm of nature and creates equilibrium. It’s a process of purification, Agnihotra positive results have been established by scientists, doctors, ecologists both modern and ancient. It is a fabulous and elementary healing therapy practiced by people worldwide as it doesn’t have any religious or national nuances attached to it.

Agnihotra Mantras