Take the pot and place it on the copper stand provided with the Agnihotra kit.
If you are using the Vishwa Agnihotra starter kit, then open the kit and remove the equipment that is present in it one by one.
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 Agnihotra placing the pot on a table and using a chair for sitting.
Take the pot and place it on the copper stand provided with the Agnihotra kit.
Start the preparations about 5-10 minutes before the actual sunrise time. Start by arranging pieces of dry cow dung bars (CDB) in the Agnihotra vessel. A convenient way of arranging the pieces which allows adequate air circulation is shown in the adjoining illustrations.
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 Agnihotra placing the pot on a table and using a chair for sitting.
Make sure the area that Agnihotra is being performed is clean and hygienic. Agnihotra is a process of channelizing tremendous healing energies and must be done in a clean place to avoid any interference.
Make sure that there are not flammable objects in the vicinity which can catch fire due to the flames from the Agnihotra pot.
Take the pot and place it on the copper stand provided with the Agnihotra kit.
Keep a piece of CDB big enough to cover the base, at the bottom of the vessel. This helps in making the other pieces catch fire in a uniform manner.
Keep two small pieces along the 2 opposite walls or corners of the vessel.
Place two long pieces of CDB horizontally above the two pieces and perpendicular to them with a gap between them at the center.
Two to four such layers can be placed one over the other.
Take a long piece of CDB with slightly sharp end and apply a little cow’s ghee to the tip.
Strike a match and ignite this piece. After the piece has been fully lit, insert it vertically in the central opening. No other chemical or petroleum products are to be used for lighting the Agnihotra Fire.
Strike a match and ignite this piece. After the piece has been fully lit, insert it vertically in the central opening. No other chemical or petroleum products are to be used for lighting the Agnihotra Fire.
Guggul (an aromatic resin of a tree with many medicinal properties) or cotton wick duly soaked in cow’s ghee can also be used for igniting. If necessary use a fan to facilitate ventilation in the pot, so that all the pieces are fully ablaze.
Take two pinches full of clean, unbroken uncooked rice grains (raw) on the palm of your left hand or in a small dish. Smear these rice grains with a few drops of cow’s pure ghee.
Divide the ghee smeared rice grains in two approximate half parts
Check the local sunrise sunset timing on the time sheet/chart provided by Vishwa. The time charts of most cities and towns in the world are available for free download on the Vishwa website www.agnihotra.vishwaglobal.com or download our Vishwa Agnihotra app
Keep an eye on your watch and at the exact sunrise time, start uttering first Mantra Sooryaya Svaha. On the utterance of the word Svaha offer one part of the rice grains to the fire and continuing the Mantra complete the first line uttering Sooryaya Idam Na Mama.
Uttering the other line of the Mantra offer other part of the rice grains to the fire after saying Prajapataye Svaha. Again at the utterance of the word Svaha offer the remaining second part of the offering in the Fire and complete the Mantra uttering Prajapataye Idam Na Mama.
Concentrate on the fire till the offerings are fully burnt. Try and focus on the movements of the Fire.
You can do your regular spiritual practice or practice other Vedic Sciences like Yoga, Meditation, etc. after the performance of Agnihotra. After the Fire is completely burnt out, place the Agnihotra pot in a clean and hygienic place. If you are in a rush and cannot wait till the Fire is completely burnt out, then, make sure to place the pot with the fire still alive on a height or a platform to avoid any injuries. This care has to be taken especially when there are children in the house. The morning Agnihotra concludes here.
In the evening before the Agnihotra time remove very carefully the morning Agnihotra ash from the vessel and put it in a bag or box specially kept aside for it. Repeating the morning process prepare a fresh fire from the cow dung cakes in the vessel. Also prepare two equal parts of the cow ghee smeared rice grains for the two offerings.
Exactly at sunset time, accompanied by the chanting of sunset Agnihotra Mantras – Agnaye Svaha offer the first part after saying Svaha and complete the Mantra by saying Agnaye Idam Na Mama. Similarly, uttering the second line of the Mantra offer other part of the rice grains to the fire after saying Prajapataye Svaha and complete the Mantra uttering Prajapataye Idam Na Mama. Concentrate on the fire till the offerings are fully burnt. This concludes the evening Agnihotra