A few minutes before the actual time of sunrise and sunset you should start to prepare the Agnihotra fire as shown on the following pages:

Pyramid

For Agnihotra you require a copper pyramid of specific size. Copper is a conductor for subtle energies also.

Ghee (clarified butter)

Ghee is the oil of pure unsalted butter prepared from additive-free cow’s milk. In Ayurveda it is known as a medicinal substance. At the end you will find instructions on how you can prepare ghee yourself.

Dried cow dung

Take dung from male or female progeny of a cow. Make pancake-like patties and dry them in sun. Agnihotra fire is to be prepared from this dried cow dung. If possible use cow dung from an an organic farm.

Rice

If possible best to use organic brown rice. Only unbroken pieces of rice should be used for Agnihotra. The photo shows some broken pieces of rice which were sorted out (at the left side).

Begin to prepare the Agnihotra fire as follows approximately eight minutes before the time of sunrise respectively sunset. (After some practice it will be enough to start five minutes earlier.) Place the stand for the Agnihotra pyramid on some heat resistant surface, e.g. a brick or a natural stone. Metal only if it is copper.

Place a flat piece of dried cow dung at the bottom of the copper pyramid. Arrange pieces of dried cow dung, which have been coated with Ghee in the pyramid in such a manner as will allow air to pass.

Lighting the fire

Apply a little Ghee to a small piece of cow dung and light it. Insert this lighted piece of cow dung in the middle of the pyramid. Soon all the dung in the pyramid will catch fire. Do not use any mineral oil or similar material (as used in lighters) to start the fire – this would pollute the atmosphere.

At the time of sunrise or sunset, the entire cow dung should burn properly.

Agnihotra process

Exactly at sunrise utter the first of the morning mantras and after the word Sváhá add the first portion of rice to the fire. Utter the second morning mantra and after the word Sváhá add the remaining portion of rice to the fire. You do the offerings with your right hand even in case you are left-handed – as the energy of left hand and right hand are different.

This completes morning Agnihotra.

At sunset do the same by using evening mantras. If you miss the timing it is not Agnihotra and you will not get the healing effect on the atmosphere or in the ash.

AGNIHOTRA MANTRAS

At Sunrise  (Audio)

1. Sooryáya Sváha Sooryáya Idam Na Mama

(Add the first portion of rice after the word Sváhá.)

2. Prajápataye Swáhá Pradschápataje Idam Na Mama

(Add the second portion of rice after the word Sváhá.)

At Sunset (Audio)

1. Agnaye Swáhá Agnaye Idam Na Mama

(Add the first portion of rice after the word Sváhá.)

2. Prajápataye Swáhá Pradschápataje Idam Na Mama

(Add the second portion of rice after the word Sváhá.)

(“á” is pronounced like “a” in “father”). 

The mantras are uttered once only.