Agnikarya, Agni-karya, Agnikārya: 19 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
India history
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Agnikarya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Shodhganga: Temple management in the Āgamas

Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) or Homa refers to the “fire ritual” and represents one of the various upacāras (offerings), in pūjā (ritual worship), as defined in the Śaivāgamas.—Pūjā consists of offering hospitality, in the form of water to wash the feet, to drink, water for ablutions, offering a bath, new clothes, fragrant unguents, fragrant flowers and ornaments, food and so on. Each step in the pūjā process is called “saṃskāra” and each offering is called “upacāra” [viz., Agnikārya].

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) refers to “rituals towards the fire”, according to the Jayadrathayāmala, Ṣaṭka 1 verse 13.3–18::—Accordingly, “[...] [And], O Goddess, [the Śivadharmadīkṣā] has two forms: in Śaiva scriptures the division of initiation is called that without the seed and that with the seed. [...] The sabījā is the opposite to this and is performed, O beautiful one, for those who are learned, endure extremes and are able bodied. By those the rituals towards the Guru, the God and the fire (agnikārya) have to be performed with extreme devotion, since the desired fruit will not come about for them who don’t do [these rites]. [...]”.

Source: eScholarship: The descent of scripture: a history of the Kamikagama

Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) refers to “fire rituals”, according to the Kāmikāgama: an ancient Śaiva Āgama scripture in 12,000 Sanskrit verses dating to at least the 5th century and represented as an encyclopedic account of ritual instructions (kriyāpāda).—In modern print editions, the Kāmika-āgama is structured in two major parts. The Pūrvabhāga consists of 75 chapters (paṭalas) [...] Chapters 3 to 8 outline the particulars of daily ritual with specific chapters dedicated to bathing (Chapter 3, snāna), worship (Chapter 4, arcana), ancillaries of worship (Chapter 5, arcanāṅga), ritual offerings (Chapter 6, naivedya), characteristics of fire pits (Chapter 7, kuṇḍalakṣaṇa), and fire rituals (Chapter 8, agnikārya).

Source: Manasa Taramgini: Skanda Sadbhava: A distinctive Kaumara Tantra?

Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) refers to one of the eighteen chapters of the Skandasadbhāvasaṃraha: an abbreviation of the larger Skandasadbhāva in 12000 verses having its narrative framework set in Kailāsa where Nandin and Māheśvara engage in a dialog regarding the present Śāstra.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: Wisdom Library: Pāñcarātra

Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) [=agnikārya balipradānavidhiḥ] refers to one of the topics dealt with in chapter eighteen of the Aniruddhasaṃhitā: an ancient Pāñcarātra Āgama scripture in thirty-four chapters dealing with the varieties of worships, administration of sciences, rājadharma, town planning, expiation, installation of images, the rules regarding the construction of images, etc.

Source: Wisdom Library: Pancaratra (Samhita list)

Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) or Agnikāryavidhi is the name of chapter 30 of the Saura-Kāṇḍa of the Hayaśīrṣapañcarātra: an ancient Pāñcarātra consisting of four sections (kāṇḍas), deriving its name from the fact that according to its frame-story (ādikāṇḍa) it was revealed by God in the form of Hayaśiras, the Horse-Headed One. The Agnipurāṇa chapters 62-69 have parallels with the Saṃkarṣaṇakāṇḍa of the Hayaśīrṣa-pañcarātra.

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

1) Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) (lit. “fire-offerings”) is the name of the sixteenth chapter of the Kapiñjalasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra work consisting of 1550 verses dealing with a variety of topics such as worship in a temple, choosing an Ācārya, architecture, town-planning and iconography.

Description of the chapter [agnikārya]: The liturgy of igniting the fire is done on certain special occasions like dīkṣā-initiation, prokṣaṇa-purifications, pratiṣṭhā-consecrations, snapana-rites, utsava-celebrations, prāyaścitta-atonements, etc. Generally speaking, Kapiñjala gives the steps from entering and cleaning out the kitchen, preparing the firepit, performing saṃskāra-sacraments to the firepit, invoking the Lord and His Consort into the fire, arranging 12 vessels, putting particular items into the fire, baking a “cake” in the fire, etc. (1-36). Further libations are made for the parivāradevatās, and the whole is concluded with a śeşahoma (37-46a). The Lord present in the fire is invited to enter the worshipper’s heart (46b-47a)

2) Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) refers to “(attending to) fire-rituals”, as discussed in the twentieth chapter of the Paramasaṃhitā: one of the older texts of the Pāñcarātra canon consisting of over 2100 verses in 31 chapters which, being encyclopedic in scope, deals with philosophy, worship routines, mantras, initiation, social behavior, temple-building, etc.

Description of the chapter [agnikārya]: Parama explains the steps in conducting fire-rites (agnikārya), using as his example the procedure during dīkṣā-initiation. In this review he points out that a maṇḍala and agnikuṇḍa are to be prepared and established with mantras (5-9); fire should there be ignited (10-23); pūjā-ministrations offered to the Lord (24-25); a snāna-bath, sandal-paste and clean clothes given to the Lord; dīpa-light, dhūpa-incense, and betel, etc. advanced. The cycle ends with verses of praise (26-45a). Then, imagining Viṣṇu to be in the fire, one shall offer to it libations (45b-56).

3) Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) (lit. “kindling the sacred fire”) is the name of chapter 16 of the Mārkaṇḍeyasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising some 2200 Sanskrit verses mainly dealing with temple-building, iconography, pūjā (worship procedures), utsava (festivities) and prāyaścitta (expiatory measures).—

Description of chapter [agnikārya]: Agnikārya is to be done for a festival, when bathing an idol [snapana], for consecrations [pratiṣṭhā], for prokṣaṇas, initiations, expiations, etc. (1-2). Kuṇḍa-fire-pits are to be made (3 f.), and the Ācārya is to sit beside the main one and, after he has done some exercises of breath-control, and, having arranged darbha-grass, he is to have embers brought with which to kindle the new fire (5-8). Then the Arcaka having attended to some other preparatory matters [prokṣaṇas] (13-23), places vessels containing some mixtures around the kuṇḍa-fire-pit and worships the Four Directions (24-27). Then lighting the fire, he offers ghee, cooked rice etc., and after the last offering (31a) he purifies himself and some of the instruments (sruva, vratapātra et. al) which have been used. He does this with darbha-grass. Finally (37-38a), he goes to the main idol in the sanctuary and offers a handful of flowers.

4) Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) refers to the “kindling the sacrificial fire”, according to the fourteenth chapter of the Agastyasaṃhitā (agastya-suīkṣṇa-saṃvāda edition), an ancient Pāñcarātra Āgama text dealing with the worship of Rāma, Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa and Hanumān.—[Cf. the agnikārya-vidhi]:—[...] In a place north and west of the kuṇḍa—fire-pit an eight-petalled lotus-design maṇḍala is drawn and colored, and in it Rama is invoked and His whole retinue is worshipped there also. At this point the fire is to be kindled in the kuṇḍa fire-pit and, after securing some vessels in one of which Viṣṇu is invoked and worshipped, homa is done in the fire to Rāma. Offerings are also made to His entire retinue. When this has been done, the essentials of the agnikārya-ceremonies are over.

5) Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) refers to “kindling the fire”, as discussed in the fourth chapter of the Īśvarasaṃhitā (printed edition), a Pāñcarātra work in 8200 verses and 24 chapters dealing with topics such as routines of temple worship, major and minor festivals, temple-building and initiation.—Description of the chapter [bhojyāsana-āgnikārya-vidhi]: [...] The remainder of the chapter (47-285) turns back to the particulars of agnikārya (a part of the pūjā-liturgy that normally precedes the food-offerings since the fire used for cooking them is what is kindled during agnikārya), and describes materials, procedures and the rationale.

6) Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) refers to “kindling the sacred fire”, as discussed in the fifteenth chapter of the Jayākhyasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra Āgama text composed of 4500 verses in 33 chapters dealing with topics such as mantra (formulas), japa (repetitions), dhyāna (meditations), mudrā (gesticulations), nyāsa (concentrations) etc.—Description of the chapter [agnikārya-vidhāna]:—Japa-repetitions having been completed, the Lord is worshipped with arghya, flowers, incense and scented powders. This in turn is followed by worship with fire-offerings (1-2a). The kuṇḍa-pit in which the fire will burn is to be constructed near where the deity is housed, to the North. Detailed directions are given for measurements, along with some indications of its symbolic nature [...].

7) Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) refers to “kindling the sacred fire”, as discussed in chapter 4 (Caryāpāda) of the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—Description of the chapter [agnikārya-vidhi]: Brahmā notes that certain homas must be done daily, and so he asks which these are and how they are to be prepared for. Bhagavān describes the various materials needed and the preliminary rituals for ordinary homa (3b-24a); then the food offerings and how they are made (24b-30); and the twigs used to keep the fire burning (and how these should be readied and used) (43b-49). [...]

8) Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) refers to “kindling the sacrificial fire”, as discussed in chapter 7 (Kriyākāṇḍa) of the Pārameśvarasaṃhitā: an important Pāñcarātra text of 8700 verses followed closely by the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam—dealing with priestly concerns such as their daily routines, occasional liturgies and expiatory services.— Description of the chapter [agnikārya-vidhāna]: [...] The instruments used in worship during this agnikārya portion are then enumerated (49-104). As a part of the agnikārya rites the Arcaka is to perform some twelve saṃskāra-sacraments to the fire itself (105-140), prior to making the homa-offerings. The oblations are listed in the order in which they are made (141-220) up to the final pūrṇāhuti. [...]

9) Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) or Agnikāryavidhi (lit. “in regard to fire-offerings”) is the name of chapter 30 of the Puruṣottamasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text consisting of more than 1800 verses devoted to temple-building and the practical concerns of the Pāñcarātra priestly community.—Description of the chapter [agnikārya-vidhi]: Bhagavān says he is going to give details on how to perform one’s duties to the fire on such occasions as prayaścitta, dīkṣā, prokṣaṇa, utsava and pratiṣṭhā (1-2a). He then outlines these routines—sanctifying the kuṇḍa-firepit (5-9), sanctifying the vessels (10.144), sanctifying of the ghee to be used (14b-16a) and sanctifying the sruk and sruva ladles (16b-18a). Then sacred darbha-stalks are to be strewn about the area (18b-21), whereupon the homa-rites may commence ( 22-33 ). After the last offering, the Ācārya should circumambulate the fire-pit (34.35a).

context information

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Hindupedia: The Hindu Encyclopedia

Agni karya forms the core of a sacrifice. It includes purification rites and the homas. The ingredients used in a yajña are called dravya. There are six ingradients involved in performing an Agni Karya. They are:

Sruk and Sruva (ladles used for making offering in fire)
Idhma (wooden pieces/sticks used as fuel in the sacrifice – also called samidhas)
Pātras (bowls)

There are three kinds of pātras used:

the prokṣiṇi (used for purification)
ājya (to hold the clarified butter)
pūrṇa pātra (literally “complete”, the one used for completion of the rite)

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Agni-kārya.—(EI 33; SII 3), fire-oblation. Note: agni-kārya 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 mythology, zoology, 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

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) or Agnikāryya.—n.

(-ryaṃ) Maintaining a sacred fire. E. agni and kārya act.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य).—n. the management of the sacrificial fire, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 2, 69.

Agnikārya is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms agni and kārya (कार्य).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य).—[neuter] kriyā [feminine] = agnikarman.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—[dharma] Burnell. 150^b. Taylor. 1, 275.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य):—[=agni-kārya] [from agni] n. ([Manu-smṛti] etc.) kindling or feeding the sacrificial fire with clarified butter etc.

2) [v.s. ...] the prayers said while doing so, [Kathāsaritsāgara]

3) [v.s. ...] cauterization.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Goldstücker Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य):—[tatpurusha compound] n.

(-ryam) The same as agnikārikā q. v. E. agni and kārya.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Agnikārya (अग्निकार्य):—[agni-kārya] (ryya) 1. n. Idem.

[Sanskrit to German]

Agnikarya in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Agnikārya (ಅಗ್ನಿಕಾರ್ಯ):—

1) [noun] kindling or feeding the sacrificial fire with clarified butter or other ritual oblations.

2) [noun] (slang) the act of smoking a cigarette or a beedi.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 15 books and stories containing Agnikarya, Agni-karya, Agni-kārya, Agnikārya, Agnikaryas; (plurals include: Agnikaryas, karyas, kāryas, Agnikāryas, Agnikaryases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Chapter 34 - Praise of the Yogin (yogi-praśaṃsānāma) < [Section 1 - Uttarabhāga]

Chapter 21 - The mode of Initiation (dīkṣā-vidhi) < [Section 2 - Pūrvabhāga]

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Chapter CCXL - Traits of a true Vaishnava < [Dhanvantari Samhita]

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Praśna II, Paṭala 1, Section 6

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1.5. Expiatory Rites in Mātṛsadbhāva < [Chapter 3 - Expiatory Rites in Kerala Tantric Ritual Manuals]

1.3. Expiatory Rites in Īśānaśivagurudevapaddhati < [Chapter 3 - Expiatory Rites in Kerala Tantric Ritual Manuals]

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Chapter 8 - Fire Symbolism and Ritualism

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