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==    Introduction ==
 
==    Introduction ==
A large number of mantras of the Rig veda are devoted to describing and praising Agni. Some of the attributes are summarized as follows<ref>Vettam. Mani, (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia : A comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature].'' Delhi:Motilal Banasidass.</ref>:  
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A large number of mantras of the Rig veda are devoted to describing and praising Agni. Some of the attributes are summarized as follows<ref name=":1">Vettam. Mani, (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia : A comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature].'' Delhi:Motilal Banasidass.</ref>:  
 
*    '''Panchabhutas''' : Fire is one of the Panchabhutas or the five traditional elemental forces that make up the world of matter.   
 
*    '''Panchabhutas''' : Fire is one of the Panchabhutas or the five traditional elemental forces that make up the world of matter.   
 
*    '''Bearer of Sacrificial Offerings''' : The presiding deity of tejas, fire and heat, Agni is revered as the receiver of oblations and sacrifices of men on behalf of the Devatas.  
 
*    '''Bearer of Sacrificial Offerings''' : The presiding deity of tejas, fire and heat, Agni is revered as the receiver of oblations and sacrifices of men on behalf of the Devatas.  
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<blockquote>सूर्यः द्युस्थानः । वायुः वा इन्द्रः वा अन्तरिक्षस्थानः । अग्निः पृथिवीस्थानः ।(Nirukta 7.5)<ref name=":0">Nirukta ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 7])</ref></blockquote>
 
<blockquote>सूर्यः द्युस्थानः । वायुः वा इन्द्रः वा अन्तरिक्षस्थानः । अग्निः पृथिवीस्थानः ।(Nirukta 7.5)<ref name=":0">Nirukta ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83 Adhyaya 7])</ref></blockquote>
 
* Self illumine bodies such as Surya in the Antariksha or heavenly Cosmic regions.  
 
* Self illumine bodies such as Surya in the Antariksha or heavenly Cosmic regions.  
* Lightning in the Aakasha or Sky (Vayu and Indra denoting wind and lightning)  
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* Lightning in the Aakasha or Sky (Vayu and Indra representing wind and lightning)  
 
* Fire (Flame or Agni) on the Prithivi or Earth   
 
* Fire (Flame or Agni) on the Prithivi or Earth   
* Vadavagni or Badabaagni in water (underground volcanic structures)   
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* बडवाग्निः ॥ Badabaagni (Vadavagni) in water (underground volcanic structures) as given in Shabdakalpadruma, बडवायाः समुद्रस्थितायाः घोटक्या मुखस्थोऽग्निः । समुद्रस्थाग्निः ।<ref>Shabdakalpadruma ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%AC बडवाग्निः])</ref>  
* Jataraagni in all mortal beings as hunger    
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* जठराग्निः ॥ Jataraagni (hunger) in all mortal beings as fire that cooks food in the stomach as given in Vachaspatyam, जठरस्थितोऽग्निः । कौक्षेये अन्नादिपाचके वह्नौ “अन्नरसोजठराग्निना पच्यमानोरक्ततां प्रतिपद्यते”।<ref>Vachaspatyam ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%9C जठराग्निः])</ref>    
 
Thus, as an element that lights up and consumes everything He plays a very significant role in Sristi.
 
Thus, as an element that lights up and consumes everything He plays a very significant role in Sristi.
 
*  '''Devataswaroopam''' : He is prominent as the twin brother of Indra and the husband of Svāhā and Svadhā, and the father of Daksiham, Garhapatyam and Ahavanīyam.  
 
*  '''Devataswaroopam''' : He is prominent as the twin brother of Indra and the husband of Svāhā and Svadhā, and the father of Daksiham, Garhapatyam and Ahavanīyam.  
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=== Ekagni (One Fire) ===
 
=== Ekagni (One Fire) ===
Grhyagni is also called aupasanagni since the daily rite of aupasana is performed in it by the grhastha. This is the fire contained in one "kunda" and so it is called "ekagni". Rites conducted in the family are included in the chapter called "Ekagni-kanda" in the Apastamba-sutra.  
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Grhyagni is also called aupasanagni since the daily rite of aupasana is performed in it by the grhastha. This is the fire contained in one "kunda" and so it is called "ekagni". Rites conducted in the family are included in the chapter called "Ekagni-kanda" in the Apastamba-sutra.<ref>Sri Sri Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi Swamiji, (2000) ''[http://www.kamakoti.org/hindudharma/part5/chap5.htm Hindu Dharma (Collection of Swamiji's Speeches between 1907 to 1994)]''Mumbai : Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan</ref>
    
=== Tretagni (Three Fires) ===
 
=== Tretagni (Three Fires) ===
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Kravyaad (क्रव्याद) is the form of Agni which consumes corpses, the fire of the funeral pyre; the fire that burns the corpses can consume everything. In this form, after one’s death and at the time of cremation, Agni heats up and burns the body (SB 2.2.4.8) and is the fastest way to unite the body's panchabhutas (five elements) back into them. Agni thus releases the Jeevatma from the body, and the soul then starts its ascent to the higher realms based on its Karma.   
 
Kravyaad (क्रव्याद) is the form of Agni which consumes corpses, the fire of the funeral pyre; the fire that burns the corpses can consume everything. In this form, after one’s death and at the time of cremation, Agni heats up and burns the body (SB 2.2.4.8) and is the fastest way to unite the body's panchabhutas (five elements) back into them. Agni thus releases the Jeevatma from the body, and the soul then starts its ascent to the higher realms based on its Karma.   
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११.८.२ अग्नेश्चातुर्विध्याभिधायकं ब्राह्मणम्
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चत्वारो ह वा अग्नयः। आहित उद्धृतः प्रहृतो विहृतोऽयमेव लोक आहितोऽन्तरिक्षलोक उद्धृतो द्यौष्प्रहृतो दिशो विहृतोऽग्निरेवाहितो वायुरुद्धृत आदित्यः प्रहृतश्चन्द्रमा विहृतो गार्हपत्य एवाहित आहवनीय उद्धृतोऽथ यमेतमाहवनीयात्प्राञ्चं प्रणयन्ति स प्रहृतोऽथ यमेतमुदञ्चम्पशुश्रपणायाहरन्ति यं चोपयङ्भ्यः स विहृतस्तस्मात्प्रहार्येऽग्नौ पशुबन्धेन यजेत - ११.८.२.[१]
   
== देवतास्वरुपम् ॥ Agnidevata Swaroopam ==
 
== देवतास्वरुपम् ॥ Agnidevata Swaroopam ==
 
==== Birth and Family ====
 
==== Birth and Family ====
 
There are different statements in different texts about the birth of Agni.   
 
There are different statements in different texts about the birth of Agni.   
* Agni descended from Vishnu in the following order according to Puranic Encyclopedia <ref>Mani, V. (1975). ''[https://archive.org/details/puranicencyclopa00maniuoft Puranic encyclopaedia : A comprehensive dictionary with special reference to the epic and Puranic literature.]'' Delhi:Motilal Banasidass.</ref>(based on Bhagavata and Mahabharata) :  Vishnu - Brahma - Angiras - Brihaspati - Agni.  
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* Agni descended from Vishnu in the following order according to Puranic Encyclopedia<ref name=":1" /> (based on Bhagavata and Mahabharata) :  Vishnu - Brahma - Angiras - Brihaspati - Agni.  
    
* Agni is the described as the son of Vaayu as per Rig Veda sukta (1.16.112). Fire is made by the attrition of two sticks (some scholars believe these to be from Sami trees) named as Arani, and sages get the strength to produce fire from it through the Vyaana vaayu (one of the panchavaayus), hence Agni is the son of Vaayu.  
 
* Agni is the described as the son of Vaayu as per Rig Veda sukta (1.16.112). Fire is made by the attrition of two sticks (some scholars believe these to be from Sami trees) named as Arani, and sages get the strength to produce fire from it through the Vyaana vaayu (one of the panchavaayus), hence Agni is the son of Vaayu.  
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== References ==
 
== References ==
# The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore
   
#  
 
#  
 
# http://ignca.nic.in/Vedic_portal_rigveda_shakala_Samhita_m01.htm  Agni Sukta (1.1) and (1.26) as given in Vedic heritage portal with pronunciation.
 
# http://ignca.nic.in/Vedic_portal_rigveda_shakala_Samhita_m01.htm  Agni Sukta (1.1) and (1.26) as given in Vedic heritage portal with pronunciation.

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