The plot of land that spreads out towards the east of the large elevated altar constructed for conducting yajña (yajna) is known as agnikṣetra (agnikshetra). A fire in the shape of a falcon needs to be lit and maintained within this plot of land. Owing to the importance of this fire or agni, this plot […]

The ritual of agnyādhāna (agnyadhana) is also known as agnyādheya (agnyadheya). This ritual used to be held grandly from the Vedic age to the age of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata). This ritual saw the gathering of araṇi (arani; firewood) from a few days before the ritual. After that, the yajamāna (yajamana; the host of the worshipping ritual) […]

In the Vedic usage, another meaning of the term āgrayaṇa (agrayana) is also found. The āgrayaṇa -sthālī (agrayana-sthali,; container of agrayana) is a container for keeping somarasa (the nectre-like drink prepared from a vine called soma). The soma-liquor is divided in three portions, and two of these portions are kept in other two containers. The […]

Ahīna (Ahina)is a kind of Satrayāga (Satrayaga). Somayajña (Somayajna; a ritual offering to Soma) is to be performed in a period of two to twelve days . Of the two kinds of Somayāja (Somayaga), one is called Satra, the other, Ahīna. Both these kinds of yāga are to performed through a long time. In Ahīnayāga, […]

The offering of havi or ghṛta (ghrita, ghee) or any other element dedicated to a specific Deity, along with the utterence of mantra, is called Āhuti (Ahuti). At first, ghee contained in a pot should be heated with Gārhapatya Agni (one kind of fire). Then the Adhvaryu (the Yajurvedic priest) has to fill up the […]

Anubandhya is the name of the animal sacrifice performed at the end of Somayāga (Somayaga) after the abavṛt (abavrit) bathing. The animal should be preferably a barren cow or a bull in case of unavailability of a barren cow.  R.N. Dandekar informs that the sacrificial animal was bound to a post or peg from the […]

while offering an oblation in all the important as well as unimportant yajña (yajna) of Iṣṭiyāga (Ishtiyaga), taking the offering in his hand advaryu (adhwaryu) tells hotā (hota), “Please recite anuvākyā (anuvakya)” – amuṣmi anubrūhi. The hymns then recited by hotā to please the concerned deity are called anuvākyā or puro’nuvākyā (puro’nuvakya). 

At the end of Vaisika Daśapūrṇayāga, it is a custom to offer dakṣiṇā (daksina; what is given to the priests as a token of honour) to the Ṛttvik(s) (Rittwik; priest of a Vedic ritual). The four Ṛttvik(s) are given an immesurable amount of rice, so that they can cook it on their own. That cooked […]

Some portions of the annapiṇḍa(s) (annapinda; food in the shape of a ball, used in sraddha-rituals) that are placed on kuśa (kusa; a king of grass), to be offered to the deceased spirit, are given to the Brāhmaṇa(s). Since Brāhmaṇa(s) partake of the anna, that portion of the anna is called anvāhāryaka (anwaharyaka). yasmādannād dhṛtā […]