Ep 29 | Noreen Dillman - Solocast. Prelude: Aligning with Fire - the Power of Agnihotra

The Healthy Peaceful Podcast

Welcome to my first solocast - it’s a prelude to an upcoming interview with Gau Bodepudi, the creator of AWAKENINNERFIRE.COM – essentially cultivating community around the practice of agnihotra in his hometown, Austin, Texas. Agnihotra is an ancient Vedic technology, its purpose to heal individual and planet, the environment near and far, by attuning to nature’s rhythms. Examples of personal healing include: reducing stress levels, releasing negative habit patterns and addictions. Examples of planetary healing include: enhancing food production, replenishing soil nutrients, reducing atmospheric pollution including nuclear radiation. The word “agni” means fire; “hotra” means healing. While Gau’s day job is that of patent attorney, he has taken on the role of film producer and is currently producing a documentary titled “Awaken the Inner Fire.” (Its website is agnihotradocumentary.com.) His aim: to prove this ancient wisdom with modern science. He has already filmed one clinical trial, documenting the benefits of agnihotra in Baltimore and is planning to document another at UC Santa Barbara. Gau’s purpose: to highlight the benefits of agnihotra in healing individuals and planet, creating a sustainable world and ultimately, saving the planet.

In this upcoming interview, we will touch upon the elements of agnihotra and how it is performed including the timing. Agnihotra is performed at the junction points of the day – sunrise and sunset - both powerful touchpoints that allow us to attune to nature’s subtle vibratory energy. We will touch upon how he started to practice agnihotra and why it is important to his life purpose, including the importance of his spiritual teacher. I was struck by what his teacher told him: “You cannot escape from the responsibility of being a leader because you know more than the others.” It was then that he realized he was trying to escape from such responsibility - as leadership requires stepping up and being exposed, vulnerable. Along with responsibility, leadership requires risk – and hence, vulnerability. We will touch on the importance of community around the agnihotra practice. I’m jazzed about exploring with Gau how he conceived of the documentary film; his trajectory from patent attorney to documentary filmmaker and what this journey has been like for him: its purpose; how he tracks progress; why scientific studies are important.

Gau used the term “scientific humility.” I want to ask him what he means by this. I also want to explore his journey as a novice filmmaker: what he considers his biggest challenges and accomplishments. The text of one of his posts: “I have come to admire what filmmakers do.” I am wondering what exactly he admires (maybe everything!) Also, where does he get the energy and drive to mount and sustain a project like this – one which would overwhelm many. If inclined, you can support Gau’s project on the website: agnihotradocumentary.com

I really love the three blog posts he wrote connecting Ayurveda and agnihotra. His intention was to explore how Ayurveda can help us better understand agnihotra. Again, “agni” means fire and “hotra” means healing. He describes how Ayurveda views agni: agni is the digestive power in our physiology, but also means the power of life, the power to transform. In Ayurveda, agni is the single most important marker of our personal health. If agni is balanced, our overall physical health is balanced. The main agni is jathar agni in Ayurveda and it

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With sincere gratitude,
Noreen