Sukta 32
Rishi: Atharvanic tradition (edition-dependent Anukramaṇī attribution).
Devata: Agni (implied by āhuti-vṛdh and approach to the oblation-fed power), or a generalized life-bestower.
Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (common in āyuṣya formulae; edition-dependent).
គាថាអាយុស្យៈមួយកថានេះសំដៅទៅកាន់អំណាចវ័យក្មេងជាទីស្រឡាញ់ដែល "លូតលាស់ដោយយញ្ញៈ" (អាហុតិ-វ្ឫធ) សុំឲ្យប្រគល់អាយុយឺនយូរដល់អ្នកសូត្រ។ តាមរយៈការចូលទៅជិតដោយគោរព (ឧប...អគន្ម) និងការនាំយកនូវការថ្វាយបង្គំ (ពិភ្ឫតោ នម:) មន្ត្រៈនេះចាត់ទុកអាយុយឺនយូរជាអំណោយដែលបញ្ចេញតាមរយៈអំណាចពិសិដ្ឋដែលត្រូវបានបរិភោគដោយត្រឹមត្រូវ - ដែលជាធម្មតាគឺអគ្នីក្នុងភ្លើងក្នុងផ្ទះ។
Kind of charm
Mantras
Inside Sukta 32
How it unfolds
- How it opens
Declares the aim ‘dīrghāyuḥ’ and approaches the dear, most-admired, youthful power.
- What it asks
A direct personal petition: ‘let him make long life for me’ (dīrgham āyuḥ kṛṇotu me).
- Where its power lies
The deity is ‘āhuti-vṛdh’—strengthened by offerings—implying dependable efficacy when rite and reverence are present.
- How it closes
The approach is sealed with ‘bibhṛto namaḥ’ (bearing reverence), culminating in the longevity grant.
Famous verses
dīrgham āyuḥ kṛṇotu me
āhuti-vṛdham
bibhṛto namaḥ
Kind of hymn
Paustika (Prosperity) / Āyuṣya (Longevity)
What it is for
Extension of lifespan and stabilization of vitality for the reciter/patron through reverent approach and oblation-supported invocation.
Who it is for
Householders, patrons seeking longevity, and Atharvanic practitioners performing brief āyuṣya recitations in a domestic fire context.
Also used as
- Āyuṣya
- Śāntika
The deity
The youthful, dear, and most-admired sacred force that grows through offerings; as Agni, he is the oblation-bearer and household vitality, translating rite into life and duration.
Powers of the deity
- Increases through āhuti (oblation-fed expansion of power)
- Bestows dīrghāyus (long life) and steadies vitality
- Carries prayers/offerings to the divine order
- Purifies and protects the patron’s life-force through ritual presence
Why the deity is called
To secure long life by drawing near to the oblation-strengthened power with reverence, so that longevity is granted as a ritually activated boon.
The seer
- Atharvanic (Anukramaṇī attribution varies by recension/edition)Atharvan. Āyuṣya and paustika formulae: longevity, vitality, strengthening of life-breath through domestic rite, reverence, and oblation-fed power
Other hymns of this seer
- AV 7.31
- AV 7.33
- AV 8.2 (āyuṣya-themed portions, edition-dependent attributions)
Preparing for the rite
- Establish a clean domestic fire (gārhapatya or household hearth) and seat the patron facing east.
- Prepare ghee (ājya) for a simple āhuti; maintain silence/mental focus on ‘dīrghāyus’.
- Perform basic purification: sipping water (ācamana) and steadying breath; optionally touch head/heart while intending longevity.
The rite
- At the start, recite the mantra once (or in a small count such as 3/9/27 by local practice) while ‘drawing near’ the fire mentally and physically.
- Offer a ghee āhuti on the phrase implying oblation-fed growth (āhuti-vṛdh) and conclude with a clear personal petition (…kṛṇotu me).
- End with namas (reverence) and a silent resolve for long life; optionally circumambulate the fire once.
What it needs
- Ghee (ājya) for āhuti
- Domestic fire (agni)
- Optional: water for ācamana
When
Morning or evening (sandhyā) is preferred; also suitable on birthdays, recovery periods, or before major undertakings when longevity is ritually sought.
The main substance
Ghee (ājya) as āhuti
How it is prepared
Warm or liquefy ghee; keep it in a clean ladle. Offer a small āhuti into a steady household flame during or immediately after recitation.
Frequently Asked Questions
It is recited to obtain dīrghāyus—long life—by approaching the oblation-strengthened sacred power (commonly understood as Agni) with reverence.
The epithet āhuti-vṛdh (“grown by oblations”) naturally points to Agni, who is strengthened by offerings in the household fire and can then bestow vitality and duration.
No. The core rite is minimal: focused recitation and, ideally, a small ghee āhuti into a clean domestic flame, accompanied by a clear intention for long life.
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