History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v4.c63.t2.955

v4.c63.t2.955

48\. 'The observance of *agnihotra*' or 'the acceptance of three fires'. Vyāsa (n. 1793) forbade the performance of śrauta *agnihotra* along with *sannyāsa* in Kali, but an exception was made by Devala in favour of its observance as also of resort to sannyāsa on the grounds stated above (in No. 47). Some digests and authors such as the Nirṇayasindhu ¹⁸⁷⁴ and Bhaṭṭoji explain that agnihotra of the sarvādhāna type is forbidden in Kali, but that of the ardhādhāna type is allowed. Agnihotra means '*ādhāna*', that is, setting up of the śrauta fires. When a man consecrates the three śrauta fires he may do so with half of his smārta fire and keep up the other half of the smārta fire. This is called *ardhādhāna*. If he does not keep the smārta fire separate, it is *sarvādhāna*. Laugākṣi quoted by the Nir. S. (III. p. 370), Bhaṭṭoji and others states this. The Mit. on Yāj. III. 45 mentions these two modes. Therefore, according to these explanations, sarvādhāna was allowed in former ages (and acc. to one interpretation up to 4400 years of Kali), while in Kali (or at least after 4400 years of Kali) only ardhādhāna is allowed.