Altar of Fire Assignment PDF

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Livia Renaud 300115897

January 17, 2020

Altar of Fire Assignment In the documentary, Altar of Fire, a group of Brahmins from southwest India are followed while performing an ancient ritual called Agnicayana. This ritual lasts 12 days and involves the assistance from 17 priests, Soma juice, and countless months of preparation in order to participate in the ritual. The film was recorded in 1975 and was possibly the last time the Agnicayana was performed. The Agnicayana is very important to the Vedic people and serves as a sacrifice to Agni, the god of fire. The ceremony is performed by reciting many passages of ancient Sanskrit of which has been passed down orally for generations. The Agnicayana is exclusively male and is reserved for the highest class. The Agnicayana is performed over 12 days while a bird-shaped altar is built out of clay bricks. For the rest of his life, the yajamana is responsible for performing the fire ritual every morning and night. 1) Agnicayana is translated into “piling of fire” and is the Vedic ceremony in which serves as a sacrifice to Agni who is the God of Fire. 2) When the yajamana sponsors the sacrifice, they are therefore able to gain the benefits from the sacrifice. 3) Through this mode of instruction, the teaching may be using physical reinforcement in order to teach the student the tradition of the mantras. If the student associates certain mantras with the manipulation of his head, this may allow him to better remember the mantras and their importance. Vedic mantras are also traditionally passed down orally from teacher to student and the student in this scene may be learning the mantra in order to someday pass it down. 4) The biggest symbol used during the Agnicayana is the bird that serves as the altar. The bird symbolizes the god Agni who is believed to serve as a messenger. The bird represents the transmission of the seed of life. The bird is also believed to bring the ambrosia to Agni. Another symbol used during Agnicayana is the placement of the geometric bricks in order to build the altar. The bricks are symbolic of the universe and every piece symbolizes a different part of the harmony of the cosmos. On the first day of the ritual, 17 priests bring 3 pots of fire to the ritual site. Each pot has a different symbolism associated with it which adds to the significance of the ritual. For example, the main ritual pot symbolizes the womb of all creation and is made by hand out of clay. 5) When the yajamana drink the soma juice, it is believed that he is able to connect directly with the gods during a trance-like state. This state is induced because soma is a hallucinogenic plant that allows for other-worldly visions. 6) During the construction of the altar, the symbolic shape of a bird is being constructed. This bird is very important in Vedic traditions and is representative of the survival of new life. 7) The destruction of the altar could symbolize the completion of the sacrifice and that Agni has received and acknowledged the ritual. It could also mean that peace in the cosmos has been rearranged for the better.

8) At the end of the ritual when the altar is burned, this is seen as the ultimate offer to Agni. When the bricks that make up the bird are burned, the cosmos is believed to have put back in order and all is well because Agni is pleased.

External Sources: Agnicayana - Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia. (2020). Hindupedia.com. Retrieved 15 January 2020, from http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Agnicayana The Agnicayana Ritual - Mahavidya. (2010). Mahavidya.ca. Retrieved 16 January 2020, from http://www.mahavidya.ca/2010/08/19/the-agnicayana-ritual/ Cartwright, M., & Cartwright, M. (2020). Agni. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16 January 2020, from https://www.ancient.eu/Agni/ Vedic Rituals (Yajna) | Mahavidya. (2016). Mahavidya.ca. Retrieved 16 January 2020, from http://www.mahavidya.ca/category/vedic-religion/vedic-rituals-yajna/...