There are many secrets in our ancient traditions, which are alive even today. Agnihotra is one of them. Literally, it is translated as healing fire (agni is fire, hotra means healing). Having its roots mainly in Ayurveda, Agnihotra traces its origin to the Vedic sciences of medicine, agriculture and climate engineering.
Agnihotra refers to a little procedure involving mantras, and a simple fire. Easy to perform, Agnihotra is known to have many benefits. Such is the value, that this ‘homa therapy’ is performed across the world. It is known to purify the atmosphere and heal the body of diseases.
What is the secret of this ‘homa therapy’? How does agnihotra work?
Agnihotra Benefits:
People who practice the agnihotra say they experience a sense of peace and purification.
Here are a few more benefits of this homa therapy:
- Improves the physical, mental and emotional health
- Neutralises negative energies and reinforces positive energies
- Repairs the ozone layer and removes harmful radiations in the air
- The smoke from the homa (fire offering) is a natural mosquito repellent
- The ash from the homa has anti-bacterial properties and can be applied to wounds when mixed with ghee
- The cow dung reduces bacteria in the air
- Ghee is considered to be a natural detox agent. It dissolves toxic elements in the air
Agnihotra & agriculture: a magical combination
The Agnihotra homa is believed to impact an area upto 12 kms in the biosphere. Regular practice of agnihotra can actually increase profits for a farmer and lead to a thriving ecosystem.
Here’s how:
- Protects the environment from pollutants
- Nourishes plant life, neutralizes harmful radiation and pathogenic bacteria
- Can purify water and its sources
Specifically for crops:
- Increases quality and volume of production
- Reduces cost for labor to apply agrochemicals
- Improves taste, size, texture, nutrition
- Prolongs the shelf life
- Increases number of harvests during a year, i.e. productive cycle is shortened
How is the agnihotra performed?
Timing, they say, is everything. So it is for the agnihotra ritual. Agnihotra is performed at the precise time of sunrise and sunset – possibly a natural sync with the human biorhythm at those times. Two pinch full of uncooked rice (with a little ghee) is offered to a fire, made with dried cow dung cakes. The fire is made in a little copper pot.
Two short Sanskrit mantras are chanted during the offering. Sometimes, people also include other chants such as the Mahamritunjaya mantra.
Agnihotri and the soil
Though it might seem hard to believe, the benefits of agnihotra simply continue.
- Increases the water soluble phosphate content of soil.
- Aids absorption of nutrients by the plants, including mega nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, potash
- Purifies the atmosphere, attracting insects, microorganisms and animals.
As we advance into a technological rush, perhaps it’s time to pay a visit to our ancient wisdom. It could change the way we care for the environment, and, ourselves.
