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| Agni The Fire God |
" Agni " or the fire god is a prominent deity of the Vedas. More and more hymns but with the single exception of Indra are addressed to him. Various accounts are given regarding the origin of Agni. He is called the son of Brahma and is reckoned amongst the children of Kasypa and Aditi and hence one of the Aditiyas. There are several other descriptions too regarding Agni. In pictures he is represented as a red man having three legs and seven arms dark eyes and eyebrows and hair and wears the Brahminical thread and also has a garland of fruit. Flames or fire issue from his mouth. Agni is immortal who has taken up his abode with mortals as their guest. He is the Lord, protector, king of men. He is the Lord of the house dwelling in every abode a guest in every home and lives in every family. He is considered as a mediator between gods and men and till the present day is worshipped and his blessings is sought on solemn occasions like marriage death etc. In old hymns Agni or fire is spoken of as dwelling in the two pieces of wood which on being rubbed produces fire and its marked as remarkable thing that a living being should spring out of dry wood. The highest divine functions are ascribed to Agni.. The Earth, heaven and all things obey his commands. The Gods fear and do homage to him.
Agni has various names:- " Vahni " He who receives the homa or burnt sacrifice.
" Vitihotra " He who santifies the worshipper.
" Dhananjaya " He who is victorious or destroys riches.
" Jivalana " He who burns.
" Dhumketu " He whose sign is smoke.
" Rohitaswa " Having red horses.
" Suchi or Sukra " The bright.
" Sapta Jiva " The seven tounged.
" Tomaradhara " The javelin bearer.
Fire happens to be one of the most ancient and most sacred object of Hindu worship. He appears in three phases - in heaven as the Sun, in mid air as lightning, on earth as ordinary fire and is one of the chief deities of the Vedas. He is considered as the mediator between man and gods as protector of men and their homes and as a witness of their actions and hence his invocation during solemn occassions. In a hymn of Rig-Veda attributed to Vasistha rishi Indra and other gods are called upon to destroy the " Kravyads " the flesh or the " Rakshasas who are enemies of Gods and Agni himself is a Kravyad but takes a different character. In the Mahavarata Agni is represented as having exhausted his vigour and desiring to consume the whole of Khandava forest as a means recruiting his strength but was prevented by Indra but having obtained assitance from Krishna and Arjuna he baffled Indra and accomplished his feat. In the Vishnu Purana he is called " Avimani " and the eldest son of Brahma. His wife is " Swaha " and by her he had three sons, Pavaka, Pavamana and Suchi and they altogether had fortyfive sons which means altogether fortynine persons identical with fortynine fires. In the Hari - Vansa he is described as clothed in black, having smoke for his standard and carrying a flamed javelin. The worshippers of Agni prosper are wealthy and live long. He watches with thousand eyes to all who brings him food and nourishes him with oblations. No mortal enemy can by any wonderous power gain mastery over him. He resides in the highest heaven generates the gods and ordains the order of the Universe.
Agni has various names:- " Vahni " He who receives the homa or burnt sacrifice.
" Vitihotra " He who santifies the worshipper.
" Dhananjaya " He who is victorious or destroys riches.
" Jivalana " He who burns.
" Dhumketu " He whose sign is smoke.
" Rohitaswa " Having red horses.
" Suchi or Sukra " The bright.
" Sapta Jiva " The seven tounged.
" Tomaradhara " The javelin bearer.
Fire happens to be one of the most ancient and most sacred object of Hindu worship. He appears in three phases - in heaven as the Sun, in mid air as lightning, on earth as ordinary fire and is one of the chief deities of the Vedas. He is considered as the mediator between man and gods as protector of men and their homes and as a witness of their actions and hence his invocation during solemn occassions. In a hymn of Rig-Veda attributed to Vasistha rishi Indra and other gods are called upon to destroy the " Kravyads " the flesh or the " Rakshasas who are enemies of Gods and Agni himself is a Kravyad but takes a different character. In the Mahavarata Agni is represented as having exhausted his vigour and desiring to consume the whole of Khandava forest as a means recruiting his strength but was prevented by Indra but having obtained assitance from Krishna and Arjuna he baffled Indra and accomplished his feat. In the Vishnu Purana he is called " Avimani " and the eldest son of Brahma. His wife is " Swaha " and by her he had three sons, Pavaka, Pavamana and Suchi and they altogether had fortyfive sons which means altogether fortynine persons identical with fortynine fires. In the Hari - Vansa he is described as clothed in black, having smoke for his standard and carrying a flamed javelin. The worshippers of Agni prosper are wealthy and live long. He watches with thousand eyes to all who brings him food and nourishes him with oblations. No mortal enemy can by any wonderous power gain mastery over him. He resides in the highest heaven generates the gods and ordains the order of the Universe.
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