A guide to Agnihotra
The fire of transformation
Agnihotra, a purifying Vedic fire ceremony, is one of the most powerful practices you can do to heal your environment and support everyone who lives in it. At Hale Pule, we practice agnihotra at sunrise and sunset each day to purify the land and ensure an abundant harvest from our organic garden. In just three years, our farm on Kaua’i, Durga Farms, transformed from a barren agricultural wasteland into a lush and thriving farm.
Anyone can perform agnihotra and be part of healing ourselves and the planet. We have agnihotra kits available that provide the vessel and tools. You’ll need rice, ghee (learn to make your own ghee), and dried cow dung to practice this ceremony at sunrise and sunset (we recommend the Agnihotra Buddy or iAgnihotra app to get the exact times for sunrise and sunset). Chant the short mantras below, one for the morning and one for the evening, to join Hale Pule and thousands of others who are healing the planet and themselves through this powerful ceremony.
How to perform agnihotra:
About 10 minutes before the exact time of sunrise or sunset, place a few pieces of dried cow dung into the agnihotra pyramid, so that air can pass through it.
- Apply ghee to a piece of cow dung and light it on fire using a match. Then use this piece of dung to light the rest of the dung inside the pyramid. It is helpful to prop up the pieces to lean on each other inside of the pyramid, for example two pieces of dung leaning on each other. You can add additional ghee right next to the flame to help it spread to the rest of the dung.
- Once your fire is going, place a small amount of rice into your left palm or a copper offering dish, and add ghee. Separate the rice and ghee mixture into 2 piles.
- At the exact moment of sunrise or sunset, chant the mantra below, and right after the first "swaaha" offer one pile of the rice and ghee into the fire, using your right hand. Then make the second offering with the second "swaaha," and finish chanting the mantra.
- After you have finished the mantra, sit in silence or meditation with the fire until it goes out. Leave the burned ashes in the pot until the next fire, at which time the ash can be collected for medicinal use for people or plants.
Sunrise Mantra
sooryáya swáhá, sooryáya idam na mama
(after the word swáhá, add the first portion of rice & ghee into the fire)
prajápataye swáhá, prajápataye idam na mama
(after the word swáhá, add the second portion of rice & ghee into the fire)
This completes morning agnihotra.
Sunset Mantra
agnaye swáhá, agnaye idam na mama
(after the word swáhá, add the first portion of rice & ghee into the fire)
prajápataye swáhá, prajápataye idam na mama
(after the word swáhá, add the second portion of rice & ghee into the fire)
This completes evening agnihotra.
Please email us if you would like to order an agnihotra kit. We offer free training and tips for anyone interested in practicing agnihotra.
To find agnihotra supplies in your local area, please visit the International Homa Therapy website.