Agni Stambha
Every question on the site tagged Agni Stambha, each answered from a timestamped source rather than a summary written from memory.
Notes from our sources
Misconception: Shiva first appeared as the agni stambha on Mahashivratri
Citing the Vidyeshvara Samhita of the Shiv Puran, the speaker says Sadashiva first appeared as a Jyotirlinga, a pillar of fire (agni-stambha), between Brahma and Vishnu when the two were contending over who was greater. The tithi at that moment was Margashirsha Krishna Paksha Tritiya and the nakshatra was Ardra Nakshatra. He says many people, and much written content, wrongly state that Shiva first appeared as the pillar of fire on Mahashivratri; he says that is not so, Shiva appeared in Margashirsha Maas.
Origin of Kaal Bhairav and the curse on Brahma: the agni stambha story
The speaker tells the story from the Shiv Puran. Brahma as a swan went up and Vishnu as a boar went down to find the ends of the agni-stambha, the first to return with an end to be the greater. After many kalpas Brahma found no end, but saw a falling ketaki flower and made it promise false witness in return for boons; Vishnu came back empty-handed and told the truth. When Vishnu then worshipped Brahma with sixteen upacharas on the strength of that lie, Shiva emerged in anger from the pillar, and from between his brows a terrible being appeared, Kaal Bhairava, who cut off the lying Brahma's fifth head with his nails. Carrying the brahma-kapal, Bhairav incurred the dosh of Brahmahatya. Brahma and Vishnu begged forgiveness; Shiva calmed, but cursed Brahma that he would not be worshipped in mrityu loka, while granting that he would be worshipped everywhere in yajna and in the form of Vishwakarma.
What does havan do, and what must be watched in the agni sthapana?
By Havan, every kind of atript shakti which is for your welfare, which has become uchchatit, which has come under the effect of vichar, becomes at once pleased and pacified, he says. But keep one thing in mind: do it by vidhi vidhan. The general vidhi is given on the channel — the vidhi of agni sthapana. When the wood is gathered and burnt all at once, the kravyad portion does not come out of it, and it becomes like the chita fire of a shamshan.
How should agnihotra be performed?
When the yajnopavit samskar takes place, he says, at that very time the upadesh for agnihotra is given. So agnihotra should be performed according to whatever upadesh was given.
What is the kravyadi amsha in a havan?
Every single vidhi of doing the havan has been explained, the speaker says: how you are to arrange the kunda, how the fire is to be kindled, and how the kravyadi amsha is to be taken out. The kravyadi amsha, he explains, means that the fire of the shamshaan is to be taken out.
No notes match "".