Agnihotra, aka: Agni-hotra; 11 Definition(s)

Introduction

Agnihotra means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Hinduism

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्र) refers to one of the seven Haviḥsaṃsthās or Haviryajñas (groups of seven sacrifices).—Hārīta says: “Let a man offer the Pākayajñas always, always also the Haviryajñas, and the Somayajñas (Soma sacrifices), according to rule, if he wishes for eternal merit”.—The object of these sacrifices [viz., Agnihotra] is eternal happiness, and hence they have to be performed during life at certain seasons, without any special occasion (nimitta), and without any special object (kāma). According to most authorities, however, they have to be performed during thirty years only. After that the Agnihotra only has to be kept up.

Agnithotra is mentioned in the Āpastamba-yajña-paribhāṣā-sūtras.—“the Agnihotra is prescribed by the Yajur-veda”.

context information

Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्र).—This is a sacrifice offered to Agnideva. This has two parts, nitya and Kāmya.

Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्र).—Personified as the son of Pṛśni and Savitā;¹ a vedic sacrifice;² performed by Bharata.³ Its nature and effects.⁴ Performers of Agnihotra live in pitṛyāna;⁵ performed by Śukra, Dhūminī, the sonless wife of Ajamīḍha;⁶ performed by Purūravas;⁷ the face of the personified Vedas.⁸ As efficacious as hearing the viṣṇupurāṇa once.⁹

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VI. 18, 1.
• 2) Ib. III, 13, 36.
• 3) Ib. V. 7, 5.
• 4) Ib. VII. 15, 48.
• 5) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 21. 160; 30, 13; III. 14, 2; 26, 14; 35, 44; 44, 5; 66, 2; Matsya-purāṇa 124. 98.
• 6) Matsya-purāṇa 11, 58; 25, 34; 50, 18; 107, 16; 183, 81.
• 7) Vāyu-purāṇa 91, 2; 107, 18; 77, 9.
• 8) Ib. 104, 83.
• 9) Viṣṇu-purāṇa VI. 8, 30.

Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्र) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.36.44) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Agnihotra) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

context information

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्र), the most performed Vedic sacrifice, has left traces in several (daily) rituals. Its mantras, actions or implications play a role in the sāyaṃprātarhoma (aupāsanahoma), the prāṇāgnihotra (bhojanavidhi), the vaiśvadeva (devayajña), the saṃdhyā rites (probably) in gṛhya libation sacrifices in general.

The Agnihotra came to denote the sacred fire in later Sanskrit and (perhaps) in Pali. It is hard to say wether early āhnikāni may have existed which might have influenced the esoteric interpretations of the Agnihotra in the brāhmaṇas.

Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्र) is a Vedic yajña (ritual or sacrifice) performed in orthodox Hindu communities.

The central part of the Agnihotra consists of making two offerings of brown rice (unpolished) into the fire exactly at, slightly before, or even after the time of sunset and sunrise, along with Vedic mantras that relate the fire and the sun to each other: 'agnir jyotir, jyotiḥ sūryaḥ svāhā' in the evening, but the reverse 'sūryo jyotir, jyotir agniḥ svāhā' in the morning. This preserves the sun over night, which is also one of the interpretations of the ritual given in the Samhitas and Brahmanas.

India history and geogprahy

Agnihotra.—(EI 22; CII 3, 4), offerings to fire; a particular sacrifice, often mentioned as one of the five sacrificial rites (mahāyajña) which are the daily duties of a Brāhmaṇa. Note: agnihotra is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

agnihōtra (अग्निहोत्र).—n (S) Maintenance of a perpetual and sacred fire.

agnihōtra (अग्निहोत्र).—n Maintenance of a perpetual and sacred fire.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्र).—[agnaye hūyate'tra, hu-tra, ca. ta.]

1) an oblation to Agni (chiefly of milk, oil and sour gruel.).

2) maintenance of the sacred fire and offering oblation to it; (agnaye hotraṃ homo'smin karmaṇīti agnihotramiti karmanāma); or the sacred fire itself; तपोवनाग्निहोत्रधूमलेखासु (tapovanāgnihotradhūmalekhāsu) K.26. होता स्यात् °त्रस्य (hotā syāt °trasya) Ms.11.36. °त्रमुपासते (tramupāsate) 42; स्त्रीं दाहयेत् °त्रेण (strīṃ dāhayet °treṇa) Ms.5.167,6.4, दाहयित्वाग्निहोत्रेण स्त्रियं वृत्तवतीम् (dāhayitvāgnihotreṇa striyaṃ vṛttavatīm) Y.1.89. The time of throwing oblations into the fire is, as ordained by the sun himself, evening (agnaye sāyaṃ juhuyāt sūryāya prātarjuhuyāt). Agnihotra is of two kinds; नित्य (nitya) of constant obligation (yāvajjīvamagnihotraṃ juhoti) and काम्य (kāmya) occasional or optional (upasadbhiścaritvā māsamekamagnihotraṃ juhoti).

-tra a. Ved.

Derivable forms: agnihotram (अग्निहोत्रम्).

Agnihotra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms agni and hotra (होत्र).

Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्र).—n.

(-traṃ) 1. Maintenance of a perpetual or sacred fire. m.

(-traḥ) 1. Fire. 2. Ghee. E. agni and hotra oblation with fire, burnt offerings.

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