10-24-2008, 02:05 PM
<img src='http://ignca.nic.in/images/agni/big/ba036_29.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Photographs of agnichayana by Prof. Frits Stall and Dr. Ranade
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Agnicayana is probably to be the oldest surviving ritual of humanity. If offers extraordinary insight into Vedic times and highlights the origin of many features of South Asian cultures. It provides a unique opportunity for the study of oral tradition and transmission. Cross-culturally, the Agnicayana raises important issues such as the origin and production of fire, its transfer from one place to another and its worship; as also the art of burning of istaka (bricks) which is an expression linguistically related to Avestan "Istya". <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Photographs of agnichayana by Prof. Frits Stall and Dr. Ranade
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Agnicayana is probably to be the oldest surviving ritual of humanity. If offers extraordinary insight into Vedic times and highlights the origin of many features of South Asian cultures. It provides a unique opportunity for the study of oral tradition and transmission. Cross-culturally, the Agnicayana raises important issues such as the origin and production of fire, its transfer from one place to another and its worship; as also the art of burning of istaka (bricks) which is an expression linguistically related to Avestan "Istya". <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->