Significance of Fire offering
Synonyms: Burnt offering, Sacrificial offering, Holocaust, Fire sacrifice, Sacrifice
In Dutch: Vuur offer; In Finnish: Tulilahja; In Spanish: Ofrenda de fuego; In German: Feueropfer
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Hindu concept of 'Fire offering'
Fire offering in Hinduism encompasses ritualistic practices involving oblations made to fire, symbolizing purification, transformation, and divine connection through sacred rites, particularly Agnihotra, aimed at invoking blessings from deities and achieving desired outcomes.
From: Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi
(1) Rituals involving the offering of substances into the fire, often as a sacrifice to the deities.[1] (2) Specific kinds of rituals conducted using sacred fire, such as Agnihotra, which hold particular significance in Vedic traditions.[2] (3) Refers to offerings traditionally poured into fire, which can be spilt, spoilt, or wasted, and are considered inferior compared to what is offered to Brahmanas.[3]
From: Bharadvaja-srauta-sutra
(1) The practice of presenting offerings into the fire as part of the Agnihotra rituals.[4] (2) An element of the ritual where offerings are made to the fire as part of the practice.[5]
From: Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
(1) Oblations are offered in the fire with specific Mantras to various gods and forces while performing the ritual.[6] (2) Sacred acts involving fire that are part of the rituals performed to appease the deities and achieve desired outcomes.[7]
From: Vishnu Purana
(1) Sacrificial presentations made with fire, a significant aspect of Vedic rituals aimed at achieving desires.[8]
From: Markandeya Purana
(1) Sacrificial offerings made to fire that were defiled by the Nagas.[9]
From: Satapatha-brahmana
(1) An essential component of sacrifices where offerings are made to the fire god Agni, symbolizing the link between the sacrificer and the deities.[10]
From: Parama Samhita (English translation)
(1) A ritual of offering substances into fire as a spiritual practice intended to yield desired results or benefits.[11]
The concept of Fire offering in local and regional sources
Fire offering involves a ceremonial act where a purohita leads prayers and blessings for the community, emphasizing the role of Brahmanas in invoking divine favor through ritualistic fire and sacred chants amidst celebratory citizens.
From: History of Science in South Asia
(1) The text explicitly mentions the use of samidhs as the direct object within a fire offering, highlighting the importance of the fire ritual in this context.[12] (2) Having made a fire offering, and causing Brahmanas to pronounce benedictions amidst a crowd of glad citizens, the purohita, softly reciting the seed syllable, should have the invitational man-tras recited.[13]