Complete Agnihotra Procedure in Photographs StepbyStep

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Complete Agnihotra Procedurein Photographs
Step-by-Step
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• Begin by breaking up some pieces of dried
  cow-dung.

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• Place one small, approximately square, flat piece
  of dung in the bottom of the pyramid.

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• Arrange other pieces to allow a good flow of air
  through the pyramid.

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• Continue building on opposite corners of the
  pyramid.

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• Continue building in an alternate fashion, log
  cabin style.

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• When you have completed building there should be
  a small hole in the middle of the stack. Add a
  few drops of ghee to the completed stack. Only
  cow's ghee should be used for Agnihotra.

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• A few minutes before sunrise/sunset apply a
  little ghee to one piece of dung.

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

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

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• Slowly the whole stack catches alight. You may
  use a hand- fan if necessary but you should never
  blow on the fire.

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• Prepare two portions of unpolished rice. The
  quantity of rice that you can hold in the tips of
  your fingers constitutes one portion.

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• Separate the broken grains of rice and discard.

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• Add a few drops of ghee and mix with the rice.

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• Divide the rice and ghee mixture into two
  portions.

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• Exactly at sunrise or sunset the fire should be
  fully ablaze. Take the first portion of rice/
  ghee mixture between 2nd and 3rd fingers and
  thumb of right hand only with index finger and
  pinkie outstretched.

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• At the exact second of sunrise or sunset
  (according to computer-generated
  timetable, available free upon request for your
  exact location) 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."

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• 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.

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• 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.