Is Cow dung the only material that can be used to prepare Agnihotra fire?
Dried cakes made from the dung of Cow family can be used for preparing the Agnihotra Fire. It need not necessarily be of a cow. The dung of bull or a calf may as well be used to make dried cakes. However any material other than the dung of Cow family should not be used. Fresh cow dung as well as fumes produced by burning dry cow dung cakes have healing properties. It is capable of eradicating harmful bacteria. It is observed that cow-dung and the ash produced from its use in Agnihotra has power to control the dangerous effects of radiation.