ATHA-AACHA-MANAM

Aa-cham-ana: is the sipping of sacrificial water unto the right palm. This is the first act before the performance of the Agnihotra Sacrifice. The aspirant seeks to symbolically wash his inner self of all impurity.

Instructions: Pour half spoon of sacrificial water onto the palm, chant Mantra 1 and sip. repeat the act with Mantras 2 and 3.

ATHAANGA SPARSHAH

(The aspirant now touches his body-limbs with the sacrificial water, praying that these remain strong, and fulfill their functions.)

May the speech in my mouth be sanctified in God. May the breath in my nostrils, the sight in my eyes, and the hearing in my ears be sanctified in God. May the force in my arms and legs be sanctified in God. May my limbs be all unharmed. And, may my outer self be in harmony with by inner self.

ATHA-AGNI-HOTRAM

Here begins the Agnihotra Sacrifice. Since we know God be be the Divine Light, we surrender ourselves to Him symbolically by kindling sacrificial fire. Onto this blazing fire, we make offerings of our self symbolized in Ghee[clarified butter] and Saamagree [mixed herbs].

SAMIDHAA CHAYANA: Arranging the Samidhaa (sacrificial fuel) in the Kundaa.

AGNI PRA-DEE-PANA: Kindling the sacrificial fire.

Intructions: Chant the following mantra, and from a lighted Deepak (deeyaa), kindle a piece of camphor placed on a spoon:

1. Om bhoor bhuwah swah.

Before I kindle this sacrificial fire, I meditate on the light of wisdom that pervades earth, sky and heaven, and I pray that this wisdom may be my unerring guide in my quest to know my soul, God and the universe.

AGNI AADHAANA: Placing the sacrificial fire in the Kunda. Chant the following mantra first.

Kindling this fire that pervades earth, sky and heaven, I pray that I become broad in vision like heaven, and richly abundant like earth. O Earth, may sages in ancient times, seated on your surface, performed this sacrifice. Today, I place this food-consuming fire in this very surface of yours. May I acquire wholesome food.

AGNI SAMINDHANA: Fanning the fire (if necessary), causing it to rise.

Be awakened, O Divine Fire, and watch over my life. May both you and this sacrificer, together, accomplish earthly and heavenly deeds. In this life, and in future lives too, may all wise men and the sacrificer be seated together for this noble performance.

SAMID AADHAANA: Offering three Samidhaas (pieces of sacrificial fuel).

(with this mantra, offer first Samidhaa.)

O Jaata-vedas Agni! O Divine Fire present in all creation! This, my body, is a fuel offered unto You. Be kindled with this fuel, and make us shine in our lives. Become enhanced and make us go forward, enriching us with noble offspring, comfort in life, proper food, and with the brilliance of Divine Knowledge. This offering is made from the depth of my own soul unto Jaata-vedas Agni; this is no more mine.

(Do not offer samidhaa with this mantra)

Serve Agni with well-kindled powers and awaken that Guest with the essence of your personality. In this physical fire, make your offerings to God and the cosmic forces.

[Well-kindled powers: concentration, devotion.
Guest: the fire is fed as a guest every morining.
Essence: thoughts, words and deeds.
Cosmic forces: sun, moon, teachers, etc.]

(after mantras 5 and 6, offer second Samidhaa.)

Unto this well-kindled, blazing fire, unto this Jaata-vedas Agni, offer the supremely purified essence of your personality. This is truthfully unot Jaata-vedas Agni, and no more mine.

(With this mantra, offer third Samidhaa.)

We enhance you with sacrificial kindling and our purified essence, O Angiras. Blaze forth in brilliance, and vigorously burn out the impurity in this my body, offered for purification. This my body-offering is truthfully unto Angiras Agni; it is no more mine.

[Agniras: God, the energizer of the soul.]

PANCHA GHRIT AAHUTI: Five Ghee Oblations.

O Jaata-vedas Agni! O Divine Fire present in all creation! This, my body, is a fuel offered unto You. Be kindled with this fuel, and make us shine in our lives. Become enhanced and make us go forward, enriching us with noble offspring, comfort in life, proper food, and with the brilliance of Divine Knowledge. This offering is made from the depth of my own soul unto Jaata-vedas Agni; this is no more mine.

JALA SINCHANA: Fill right palm with water, and sprinkle around the Kunda as directed.

O Deva Savitar! inspire my life of sacrifice onward, and inspire me, the sacrificer, to attain fortune. The Divine waters sustain my body and wash my thought clean of impurity. May these waters, indeed, purify my thought and understanding. And may the Lord of Speech sweeten the words that I utter.

[ Aditi: Mother of oneness who ensures harmony.
Anumati: Mother of consent.
Saraswati: Mother of flowing wisdom.
Deva Savitar: Divine Creator.
Divine waters: Of knowledge]

AAGHAA-RAAV-AAJYA-BHAAG-AAHUTI

Four Ghee Oblations

Unto Agni, the force of cosmic strength, is this offering truthfully made.

Unto Soma, the force of cosmic harmony, is this offering truthfully made. Nothing is mine.

Unto Prjapati, the force of cosmic creation, is this offering truthfully made. Nothing is mine.

Unto Indra, the force of cosmic control, is this offering truthfully made. Nothing is mine.

PRADHAANA HOMA:
Principal Sacrifice, relating to the purpose of Havan.

PRAATAH KAAL AAHUTI:
Morning Ghee-Saamagree Oblations.

17. Om sooryo jyotir jyotih sooryah swaahaa.

The Divine Sun possesses Light, and this Light shines in the rising sun.
Swaahaa - this declaration of realized truth comes from the depth of my soul.

18. Om sooryo varcho jyotir varchah swaahaa.

The Divine possesses Splendor, and this Splendor shines in the rising sun. Swaahaa.

19. Om jyothih sooryah sooryo jyothih swaahaa.

Light resides in the Divine Sun, and the rising sun reflects this Light. Swaahaa.

The Divine Sun is in harmony with the rising sun and the brilliant dawn. May this beloved Divine Sun be realized in me.

[Divine Sun: refers to God, whose quality is reflected in the brilliance of the rising sun and the radiant dawn.
Rising sun: from which we get light during the day.]

PRADHAANA HOMA – SAAYANG KAAL AAHUTI

Evening Ghee-Saamagree Oblations.

21. Om agnir jyotir jyotir agnih swaahaa.

The Divine Fire possesses Light, and this Light shines in the earthly fire that we kindle at night. Swaahaa.

22. Om agnir varcho jyotir varchaah swaahaa.

The Divine Fire possesses Splendor, and this Splendor shines in the earthly fire. Swaahaa.

(Chant the following silently, and make offering.)

23. Om agnir jyotir jyotir agnih swaahaa.

The Light shines in the earthly fire is the Light that belongs to the Divine Fire.

The Divine Fire is in harmony with the setting sun and with the moon –lit night. May this beloved Divine Fire be realized in me.

[Divine Fire: refers to God, whose quality is reflected in the soft glow of the setting sun, and the moon-lit night.
Earthly fire: from which we get light at night.]

PRAATAH SAAYAM AAHUTI:

Morning and Evening Oblations of Ghee and Saamagree.

Unto the earthly fire that acts like breath to energize all creatures, do I make this truthful offering.

Unto the atmospheric wind that cools the surrounding and removes the uneasiness by providing fresh air, do I make this truthful offering.

Unto the heavenly sun that makes the world happy by giving light, and causing rain to fall and grains to ripen, do I make this truthful offering.

Unto earth, sky and heaven, and unto the corresponding fire, air and sun, with their functions of energizing, removing pains and making the world happy, do I make this truthful offering.

In the performance of this sacrifice, I have sought to discover the secrets surrounding.
God, the Supreme-most, All-pervading, and of the nature of Light, Love and Immortality, and
the Earth, Sky, and Heaven

Om Swaahaa! Yes, indeed, they have all been truthfully described in this sacrifice. May the all become known to me.

Praying for a functional intellect

O Radiant Lord of Knowledge! Make me knowledgeable today with that same knowledge which the company of learned men and fathers of wisdom strive to attain, so that I may indeed know You and the world.

Praying for a discriminating intellect

Take away from my mind, Radiant Creator, all tendencies to transgress Your Laws, bring unto me, instead, all this is beautiful, benevolent and auspicious.

Praying for a realized intellect

O Radiant Lord of Light! Lead me unto the right path that I may attain the wealth of liberation, for You know all the pathways that lead in that direction. Separate sin from me, for it only leads me astray. Again and again, I offer you words of salutations and praise.

POORNAAHUTI ROOP AAGHAARAAV-AAJYABHAAG AAHUTI

Four Oblations of Ghee.

VYAAHRITI AAHUTI:
Oblations of Ghee with the Vyaahritis.

ATHA BRAHMA GAAYATREE SAAVITREE GURU MANTRA

Oblation with Ghee and Saamagree.

SWISHTA-KRIT AAHUTI:

Oblation for Atonrmrnt with Bhaat [cooked grains] or Ghee.

Agni, the All-knowing One, fully knows whatever is excessive or lacking in my performance of this sacrifice. May He, the Fulfiller, fulfill my sacrifice by harmonizing it with my intent and making it well-performed. I beseech Him to make me successful in all that I desire. I address this prayer to Him Who fulfills all offerings and makes them well-performed, Who gives inspiration to those who aspired to strive for wisdom, and Who grants success in all righteous wishes. All this is unto Agni, the Fulfiller; nothing is mine.

PRAA-JAA-PAT-YAAHUTI:
Silent Oblation to Prajaapati with Ghee and Samaagree.

43. Om prajaa-pata-ye swaahaa.
Idam prajaa-pata-ye, idanna mama. (Chant silently)

Unto Prajapati, the Silent Witness to the drama of this Universe is this offering made. Nothing is mine.

POORN AAHUTI:
Final Oblation for completion. Offer remaining Ghee and Saamagree.

Om sarvam vai poornam swaahaa.

(Chant thrice, each time offering Ghee and Saamagree.)

All is perfect; all is complete.
Indeed, all is final; all is complete.
May the perfection and completeness of this ancient Vedic ritual become a part of my personality.

ATHA MUKHA SPARSHAH

With out-stretched palms facing the holy fire, chant each of the following mantras and pass heated palms lightly over your face.

Agni! You are the Protector of the human body – protect my body. You are the Giver of long life – give unto me long and healthy life. You are the Source of brilliance - let Your brilliance radiate on my face. Fulfill nay deficiency I have in my personality and sustain divine, sanctified intellect in me.

ATHA MUKHA ANGA SPARSHAH

With both palms, touch the body-limbs indicated.

Let my speech find fulfillment. Let my breathing, seeing, and hearing be fulfilled. Let my arms earn me fame and strength.

BRAHMA STOTRA

Salutation to that Being Who creates and supports the different worlds. Salutation to that Truth Who is unequalled, and Who grants liberation. Salutations to that Eternal Supreme Self Who pervades all regions.

You are my sole Refuge, worthy of my final choice. You are the One Protector of the world with your Self-Radiance. You alone create, sustain and destroy the universe. You are the One Great Motionless Being free from change.

Your are feared even by the fearless, and You rule even the rulers. You are the Goal of all creatures. You purify all those who teach the virtue of purity.

We think of You, we worship You, we bow to You, O Witness to the drama of this universe. We go to the Shelter of that Unique Being – the Basis of everything, Self-supporting, and Supreme, - a vessel in the sea of Life.

In this world, there is no-one above You, and no ruler greater than You. You are without form and image. You are the Ultimate Cause of all causes. No one has created You – You are the Creator of all.

We realize You as the Supreme Lord of all lords, the Supreme God of all gods, he Supreme Protector of all protectors, Lord of the world, Worthy of our praise.

ou alone are our Mother, Father, Brother and Friend. You are the Source of our learning and wealth. You are our all-in-all, God of all gods!

MEAL TIME MANTRA

Lord of Grains! Give us grains to eat that are healthy and nutritious. May You take him across the ocean of this world who makes a gift of grains to someone else in need. Let all bipeds and quadrupeds consuming grains be filled with energy.