Atmabodh; Self Realization

Begin by breaking up some pieces of dried cow-dung. Place one piece of cowdung on the bottom of the pyramid. For fires done in apartments and other indoor locations a small fire will suffice, but for agricultural purposes where a lot of ash is desired, it is preferable to build a larger fire.

Place more pieces with ghee on them around the inside of the pyramid, leaving an opening in the middle.Apply ghee to both sides of the piece of dung which will be placed in the center.

Arrange other pieces to allow a good flow of air through the pyramid.Continue building on opposite corners of the pyramid. Continue building in an alternate fashion, log cabin style.

The rice offering consists of two pinches of raw brown rice (a pinch is the amount you can hold in your fingertips). Place in a dish and remove the broken pieces.

Add enough ghee to moisten the rice. Separate the rice into two portions.

Light the fire several minutes before the time on the timesheet, so the dung will be fully ablaze at the exact time.

Light this piece of dung. Lighter fluid, kerosene,guggal, camphor or other ignitable materials should never be used for lighting the Agnihotra fire.

A large fire will need to be started earlier than a small one. Thicker dung needs more time to fully ignite.

Insert this lit piece in the hole in the centre of the stack.

Take thefirst portion of rice/ ghee mixture between 2nd and 3rd fingers andthumb of right hand only with index finger and pinkie outstretched.

At the exact second of sunrise or sunset (according to computer-generated timetable, reach your hand out from the heart towards the flame and utter the first Mantra. Drop the first portion of rice/ghee on to the fire on word "swaha."

Then take the second portion of rice/ghee in the same manner and drop it on to the fire while uttering the second Mantra. The mantras are uttered once only at each Agnihotra.

Try to sit near the fire for as many minutes as possible after each Agnihotra to experience the peace that comes as a result of its practice. The effects of sunrise Agnihotra last until sunset, and from sunset until sunrise. This completes the Agnihotra procedure.

For the maximum effect of the interplay of subtle energies of Agnihotra, one should not disturb the pyramid or add ghee after the mantras have been chanted and rice and ghee have been added to the fire. If circumstances permit, it is best not to disturb the pyramid until it is time to set up for the next

performance of Agnihotra.

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