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BASICS

What is Agnihotra ?

  • Agnihotra is a sacred Vedic ritual that involves offering ghee and rice into a fire in a copper pyramid pot, while chanting mantras at sunrise and sunset.
  • Agnihotra is the basic form of Homa Therapy, which is related to a circadian rhythm of sunrise and sunset.

What is Homa Therapy ?

  • Homa is a Sanskrit word for fire ceremony used synonymously with Homa Therapy.
  • Homa Therapy is part of Vedic science of bioenergy.
  • It means healing and purification of atmosphere by using fire as a medium.
  • Healing the environmnet heals you in turn.

What is needed to perform Agnihotra ?

  • Agnihotra Pyramid (Made out of Pure Copper)
  • Dried Cowdung Cakes
  • Cow’s Ghee (Clarified Butter)
  • Organic Brown Rice

PRINCIPLE

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  • At the time of sunset and sunrise, healing energy of setting and rising sun gathers around the copper pyramid.

  • Copper pyramid, fire, rice, ghee and agnihotra mantras, amplify the frequency of the vibrations of the atmosphere during sunset and sunrise. This energy is thirst into the atmosphere surrounding the agniotra pyramid.

  • A 12 km High Channel is created through which subtle energy gets transferred between upper atmosphere and Earth. This energy is made available to the environment by the agency of fire.

MATERIALS NEEDED

The efficacy of the Agnihotra pyramid is linked to its precise dimensions and geometry. Slight alterations in size significantly impact the vibrational frequencies produced, thereby affecting healing properties of the Agnihotra fire.

  • The pyramid’s shape, including the angles of its sides and the proportions of its steps, is crucial for directing sound waves.
  • Only pure, electrolytic-grade virgin copper should be used, as impurities and prior use can disrupt the material’s vibrational properties.
  • Damage such as dents, cracks, or warping alters the geometric integrity and renders the pyramid unsuitable for Agnihotra.
  • While damaged pyramids may retain energetic residue making them suitable for other uses, they should not be used for the Agnihotra.
  • Repair is possible in some cases, through reshaping or employing pressure techniques to restore the original geometry.
  • Maintaining the pyramid’s precise shape and using only pure copper are essential for preserving its vibrational integrity and efficacy within the Agnihotra practice.

Examples of pyramids which cannot be used for Agnihotra:

  • The sides of the pyramid have handles attached
  • Words are embossed on the edge

  • Cowdung patties are used for Agnihotra.
  • They can be made in circles or square shapes.
  • You can easily find online sources for cowdung cakes.
  • For Agnihotra, you may need to break them down into smaller pieces.

  • Cow’s Ghee (Clarified Butter) needs to be prepared from unsalted cow’s butter.
  • Indian cow’s ghee is preferred for Agnihotra.
  • The hump on the back of the Indian cow is said to be adding special properties to the cow’s milk which are carry forward to ghee.

Making Ghee at Home :

  • Ghee can be made from unsalted butter in an electric slow cooker (called a “crock pot”), or on a stove on very low heat.
  • On the stove, let the pan be about two inches above the source of heat. The idea is that the butter heats very gently until all the white foam is cooked out and has risen to the surface. Whey also separates from the ghee, stays on the bottom of the pan and looks like water. Ghee is the golden liquid. The foam that collects on the surface can be spooned off and fed to animals.
  • When the ghee has turned perfectly clear it is ready, and can be strained through cotton cloth, a coffee filter, or three white paper towels. Be careful not to mix in any of the clear liquid that is on the bottom of the pan.
  • Once you have removed as much ghee as possible without including any of the watery liquid, there will still be some ghee near the bottom of the pan which you do not want to waste. Refrigerate what is left in the pan, and when the ghee has hardened you can break it off the surface and add it to the next batch of ghee you make. Properly made ghee does not need to be refrigerated.
  • In Ayurveda, aged ghee (five years old or more) is used to treat burns.

  • Organic brown rice is preferred. Highly polished rice loses nutritional value.
  • Only unbroken grains of rice should be used for Agnihotra.
  • If rice is broken, the subtle energy structure around the grain is altered; therefore, the ash is not suitable for healing.

MANTRAS

AT SUNRISE

sooryáya swáhá, sooryáya idam na mama

(after the word swáhá, add the first portion of rice/ghee into the fire)

prajápataye swáhá, prajápataye idam na mama

(after the word swáhá, add the second portion of rice/ghee into the fire)

(á is pronounced like a in ‘father’)

AT SUNSET

agnaye swáhá, agnaye idam na mama

(after the word swáhá, add the first portion of rice/ghee into the fire)

prajápataye swáhá, prajápataye idam na mama

(after the word swáhá, add the second portion of rice/ghee into the fire)

(á is pronounced like a in ‘father’)

TIMINGS

Agnihotra must be performed at the exact time of sunrise and sunset. You can find the correct time for your location using the links shown to the right.

Free online Agnihotra Timings

  • PC and MAC friendly.
  • Enter your address and click search
  • Pinpoint your exact location using Google Maps.
  • Once you have found your exact location on the map simply click your location and hit the ‘Next’ button.
  • You can then choose either one full year timetable or any particular date range.
  • You can then download PDF copy of the timetable and print it for your daily reference.

PROCESS

Preparation

  • Prepare 2 pinches of rice that are unbroken in a copper dish that comes with the Agnihotra Kit.
  • Mix with little ghee – just enough to moisten the grains.
  • Spread a little ghee on the cowdung cakes.
  • Arrange cowdung pieces as shown in the image. This will allow good air flow.
    • Place a small piece at the bottom of the pyraimid.  (see #1)
    • Add two small pieces in opposing corners (#2).
    • Continue adding pieces in alternating corners, using larger pieces as the pile grows (#3, 4, & 5).
  • To light the dung, spread ghee on a narrow piece of dung, ignite it, and place it flame downward in the center of the layers.
  • Light the fire a few minutes before the scheduled time, so the dung will be fully ablaze at Agnihotra time.
  • Do not use lighters (i.e. objects with lighter fluid) or gas stoves to start the fire. Unscented candles are preferred.
  • Be sure your fire is blazing enough to burn the rice and ghee quickly and completely.
  • If not, you may add more dung and/or ghee before chanting the Mantras and  offering the rice and ghee.

Performing Agnihotra

  • At the exact timing for sunrise or sunset, utter the first Mantra and give the first offering of rice and ghee to the fire, after the word  Sváhá.
  • Then chant the second Mantra and give the second offering after the word Sváhá. Say the Mantras once only.
  • If you miss the timing, it is not Agnihotra and you will not have the healing effects.
  • After each Agnihotra try to spare as many minutes as you can for meditation. You can sit in silence at least until the fire extinguishes itself.
  • After the Mantras have been uttered and the rice offerings given, it is best not to disturb the fire, due to the interplay of subtle energies. If possible, avoid moving the pyramid until the next time you prepare for Agnihotra.
  • A larger fire using more dried cowdung amplifies the healing effects and produces a greater quantity of healing ash.
  • Keep the Agnihotra ash in a container made of earthenware, glass or wood. 
  • DO NOT keep Agnihotra ash in a container made of plastic or metals other than copper or gold. 
  • Agnihotra ash can be used as fertilizer for plants or for making folk medicines for animals and humans.
  • In South America, Agnihotra Ash is called “Miracle Ash”.