Purchase: http://www.der.org/films/altar-of-fire.html This film records a 12 day ritual performed by Mambudiri Brahmins in Kerala, southwest India, in April 1975. This event was possibly the last performance of the Agnicayana, a Vedic ritual of sacrifice dating back 3,000 years and probably the oldest surviving human ritual. Long considered extinct and never witnessed by outsiders, the ceremonies require the participation of seventeen priests, involve libations of Soma juice and oblations of other substances, all preceded by several months of preparation and rehearsals. They include the construction, from a thousand bricks, of a fire altar in the shape of a bird.
a film by Robert Gardner and J.F. Staal for The Film Study Center at Harvard University
distributed by Documentary Educational Resources
this is the true heritage and culture of India which has been maintained by south Indian brahmins but have been fogotten by north Indian brahmins.they too need to revive it.
rish517 3 weeks ago
Thank You! Amazing records! I did not know that F. Staal has recorded the video. The only misprint Mambudiri, must be Nambudiri tradition.
dvirabian 10 months ago
thaks
ensn210 11 months ago
Dear Frits Staal, good on you, you opener of hearts and classifier of the temporary manifestations of the Infinity! Om!
skydrake3 1 year ago 2
Thank you so much for this posting.
Shakambaridasi 1 year ago
i think ppl are underestimating what they a watching here
TheKjason 2 years ago
this documentary is incredible, i've watched it over 10-15 times.
creepysinger 2 years ago
thank you so much for posting this.
gnulebin 2 years ago
wow
fijitec 2 years ago
thanks
ivananowhere 2 years ago