"Athirathram" redirects here. For the Malayalam film, see Athirathram (film).
The Agnicayana (ati-rātra agni-cayana; lit. 'over-night piling up of the fire')[1] or Athirathram (Malayalam: അതിരാത്രം) is a category of advanced Śrauta rituals.
After one has established the routine of the twice-daily routine of Agnihotra offerings and biweekly darśa-purna-masa offerings (Full and New Moon rites), one is eligible to perform the Agnistoma, the simplest soma rite.[2] After the agnistoma, one is eligible to perform more extensive soma rites and Agnicayana rites.[3] There are various varieties of Agnicayana.[4]
Agnicayana continues to be performed in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.[5]
- ^ Knipe 2015, p. 36.
- ^ Knipe 2015, p. 41-49, 220-221.
- ^ Knipe 2015, p. 46-47, 220-233.
- ^ Knipe 2015, p. 222-233.
- ^ Knipe 2015, p. 46.