What is "agnicayana"

__NOTOC__ The Agnicayana ( "the building up of the fire altar") or Athirathram is a category of advanced Śrauta rituals.

After one has established the routine of the twice-daily routine of Agnihotra offerings and biweekly dara-purna-masa offerings, one is eligible to perform the Agnistoma, the simplest soma rite. After the agnistoma, one is eligible to perform more extensive soma rites and Agnicayana rites. There are various varieties of Agnicayana.

Agnicayana continues to be performed in Andhra.