Agnihotra Ayurveda Practice

Agnihotra Meditation for Healing the Atmosphere

This is part 2 of my series of articles on Agnihotra Ayurveda Practice.  Check out part 1 to learn about the science of Agnihotra and current climate issues. I’m the caretaker of Shanti Atlanta, an Ayurveda Agnihotra, Homa, Meditation Retreat in Conyers, GA.
Agnihotra is an Ayurveda Homa (fire) practice done precisely at sunrise and sunset. Agnihotra meditation heals the atmosphere, has been scientifically proven to reverse pollution and heals people. It’s performed by using dried cow dung, brown rice, and ghee while chanting Sanskrit mantras.
Agnihotra is mentioned in the Vedas. The Vedas(there are four) is an ancient collection of spiritual knowledge consisting of hymns, Hindu scriptures, and rituals that still can be applied to the modern world.
This post is geared toward the seeker that will start or just began regular Ayurveda Agnihotra practice. This page will help you with memorizing the mantras. Scroll to the bottom to watch the mantras video. 

Note: In Atlanta, GA–Important. Please read if you were referred from someone. 

Directions--Please call 404-487-8156 to make an appointment to visit; I need at least three days’ notice. Leave a message with your contact number. Don’t text.  Or you can email me at shantiatlantacenter@gmail.com  I will text or email with detailed directions. My location may not show properly on navigational systems. Take 20 east and get off at exit 80, West Ave. Conyers. I’m two minutes from the exit.
Payments for kits or cow dung can be made to Cashapp–  $shantidee, Paypal–shantiatlantacenter@gmail.com., Zelle–Use my cell phone number to make payment. Call or email for the number.
Kits and cow dung are available on a first-come-first-served basis due to the number of people who visit. All kits come with the copper pyramid and other copper items to start performing Agnihotra.  You need to purchase brown rice and ghee. Or you can make ghee by boiling unsalted butter. The kit also comes with 3-4 pieces of cow dung and an Agnihotra informational booklet. Cow dung orders require three days’ notice and a preset appointment time for pick-up. Cow dung orders come in two sizes: $27 for two and a half pounds and $54 for five pounds. 
Thanks

Let’s take a look at the etymology of the word “Agnihotra.” It’s a Sanskrit word. (Agni)  means fire, (Hotra) means offering.

 
Shanti Atlanta World Agnihotra Day

Shanti Atlanta World Agnihotra Day Celebration

Group Agnihotra

Group Agnihotra at Roswell Waterfall in Atlanta

Sanskrit Mantra Pronunciations

You chant Sanskrit mantras as part of performing Agnihotra.  Sanskrit is the oldest known language to man. It’s the language of Indian and the liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Sanskrit isn’t used in common everyday language but is used in religious ceremonies.
Sunrise Mantra Pronunciation: 

sooryáya swáhá, sooryáya idam na mama
(after the word swáhá, add rice and ghee mixture into the fire)

prajápataye swáhá, prajápataye idam na mama
(after the word swáhá, add rice and ghee into the fire)

Meaning:

You don’t do a word- by- word translation to understand the meaning. The words are different ways of saying, you’re making this offering for  God or The Creator.

Sooryáya, prajá, pataye–these are all different ways of expressing and saying, God or The Creator.

“Unto the sun I am offering this

offering. This is not mine, this is Thine.”

Sooryáya … sun
swáhá … offering
Sooryáya … sun
idam … this
na mama … not mine
prajá … all the living
pataye … the lord
swaha, … offering
prajá … all the living
pataye … the lord
idam … this
na mama … not mine

Here is a video of me and Sri Charles of Shanti Villa Institute (Tuskegee, AL), going over how to say mantras.  Listen to the Agnihotra mantras for sunrise and sunset. We also go over the Mahamrityunjaya (full moon) and the Vyahruti mantras. 

Sunset Mantra Pronunciation:  

agnaye swáhá, agnaye idam na mama
(after the word swáhá, add  rice and ghee into the fire)

prajápataye swáhá, prajápataye idam na mama
(after the word swáhá, add rice and ghee into the fire)

Meaning:

You don’t do a word- by- word translation to understand the meaning. The words are different ways of saying, you are making this offering for  God or The Creator.

Agnaye, prajá, pataye–these are all different ways of expressing and saying, God or The Creator.

“Unto the fire I am offering all.

This offering is not mine it is Thine.”
Agnaye … fire
swáhá … offering
Agnaye … fire
idam … this
na mama … not mine
prajá- … all the living
pataye … The Lord
swáhá … offering
prajá … all the living
pataye …The Lord
idam … this
na mama … not mine

Learn more about mantra meanings here  

Calculating Accurate timings to do mantra chants, click here

Please note that the Vedic way of calculating sunrise or sunset is when the middle of the sun sits precisely on the horizon.

Click the link above, put in your address, and it will generate a PDF based on your address. You may have to put it in twice because it can be a little buggy. You will know it’s properly going to the next step when on the map, it will say something like “check the accuracy of your location,” then you click next after that.

The Vedic Society has a phone app available to calculate time. Currently, it costs $3.00. Go to the Google Play Store to purchase here.

Thanks for reading this article. To learn more, please check out part 1 of my YouTube talk about Agnihotra.