The Ayurveda Experience Blog
Have you experienced waking early to greet the sun as it begins the day, or the feeling of enveloping stillness watching a sunset? These simple moments powerfully remind us of our truly deep connection with nature.
Dinacharya, daily routine, is what we do each day to remember this connection. Going for walks, consistent meal times and regular sleep are a significant part of dinacharya. When we connect our daily routine with the cycles of nature we bring balance into life. A simple way to align with nature’s rhythm is practicing agnihotra as part of dinacharya.
What is Agnihotra?
Agnihotra comes from the Vedas and is a simple yagna (offering) performed at precise timings for sunrise and sunset. A fire is made in a copper pyramid using cow dung, and an offering of rice and ghee is given with a short Sanskrit mantra.
There are Vedic fire ceremonies that are complex and go for many hours. They are wonderful but impractical for most of us to incorporate into our lives because of the time commitment. What makes Agnihotra so special is that anyone, anywhere can practice.
Benefits of Agnihotra
- connection with the rhythm of nature
- reduces stress and negativity in the mind
- neutralizes the effects of radiation and pollution on plants, animals and humans
- improves the soil, atmosphere and environmental conditions for plants and animals
- promotes freedom from addictions
- cultivates the presence of love in life
- the ash can be used medicinally, internally and externally
By incorporating agnihotra into dinacharya, many thousands of people around the world have experienced improved health, remarkable healing, more energy and less stress.
We at Hale Pule have personally experienced a softening in our hearts and continue the practice as an integral part of life. We invite you to enjoy it too.
More information on how to perform agnihotra and what is required is here.
Stories of Healing
The practice of agnihotra has been so helpful in attuning to the energy of the day. I can feel the opening of the energies at sunrise and the closing at sunset. The sunset fire in particular brings a sense of calm, relaxation and softness that supports a beautiful close to my day.
-Kelsey B.
Harold, a Hale Pule student, had a malignant tumor on his face. Rather than removing it surgically as he had in the past, he used agnihotra ash and ghee on it for one week. The tumor fell out naturally and healed completely.
At Hale Pule’s Durga Farms we use agnihotra ash combined with ghee and lokahi (plantain) on cuts and they heal very quickly with little, if any pain.
At Durga Farms we use the healing ash on the soil and plants for amazing results. This land was polluted with chemicals and overused for decades. It has become fertile ground for organic vegetables, fruits, native Hawaiian plants and birds.
Read more stories here.
Photos: HalePule.com
YOu don’t add apple cider vinegar to your warm water? I thhugot that was one of the important steps in the morning. I wish I could meditate. I’ve always wanted to learn TM, but it costs too darn much money.