History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c47.s2.1.3

v3.c47.s2.1.3

2) the evening agnihotra is to be commenced before the sun sets and the morning one before the sun rises. Āśv. says that the homa is performed after the sun sets. There have been two views on this point from very ancient times viz. whether agnihotra is to be performed before sunrise or after sunrise. Vide Ait. Br. 24. 4-6 and Kauṣītaki Br. II. 9. Āp. (VI. 4. 7-9) mentions four views as to both evening or morning time for agnihotra viz. it should be the *saṁdhi* of day and night for both or it may be when the first star is seen or in the first watch of the night or in the 2nd (for evening agnihotra) and at dawn, or when a part of the disc of the sun just appears on the horizon or after the sun comes up. The householder performs agnihotra after finishing his *saṁdhyā* adoration. There is a difference of opinion, some holding that the homa in the gṛhya fire should precede the agnihotra in the Vedic fires, while others hold that it should come after the Vedic agnihotra.²²⁶⁰ The house-holder after performing saṁdhyā follows either of two modes (Kāt. IV. 13. 12 and IV 15. 2, Āp. VI. 5. 3, according to his *śākhā*), goes towards the āhavanīya through the space between the places of the gārhapatya and dakṣiṇāgni or by a route to the south of these two fire places and having gone round the āhavanīya sits down to the south in his usual place (or crosses from the western side of the āhavanīya and sits down to its south) and the wife also sits in her place (Kāt. IV. 13. 13, Āp. VI. 5.