Āhuti
From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
By Swami Harshananda
Āhuti literally means ‘oblation’.
Āhuti is offering oblation to deities, into duly consecrated fire. It is an important part of Agnihotra and other Vedic (and tāntric) rites. The usual procedure is to melt the butter in a pot over the gārhapatya fire, purify it by dipping two pieces of darbha-grass, fill the juhṅ (offering spoon or ladle) with the melted butter (called ājya) and offer it into the āhavaniya fire after putting a samidh (sacrificial fuel) into it. ‘Svāhā’ is the mantra normally uttered by the adhvaryu while giving the āhuti. Oblation of a larger quantity of ājya is given at the end of a rite signifying its conclusion. This conclusion is called purṇāhuti.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore