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== अग्निः यज्ञाः च ॥ Agni and Yajnas ==

== अग्निः यज्ञाः च ॥ Agni and Yajnas ==

Kindling of fire in a kunda (altar or yajnavedi) is the most important usage aspect of Agni, since ancient times. Shatapatabrahmana (Kanva) outlines the process of Agnyadhana (installation of the fire) and setting up the two Agnis () by for the purpose of yajnas. A unique feature about Agni is that it is classified and called by different names based on its purpose in yajnas (Srauta and smarta), the ahutis (oblations) offered and its use in loukika kriyas (cooking).

Kindling of fire in a कुण्डम् ॥ kunda (altar or यज्ञवेदी ॥ yajnavedi) is the most important usage aspect of अग्निः ॥ Agni, since ancient times. शतपथब्राह्मणम् ॥ Shatapatabrahmana (काण्वम् ॥ Kanva) outlines the process of अग्न्याधानम् ॥ Agnyadhana (installation of the fire) and setting up the two अग्नि-s || Agnis () by for the purpose of यज्ञाः ॥ yajnas. A unique feature about Agni is that it is classified and called by different names based on its purpose in यज्ञाः ॥ yajnas (श्रौतः ॥ Shrauta and स्मार्तः ॥ smarta), the आहुति-s ॥ ahutis (oblations) offered and its use in लौकिकक्रियाः ॥ laukika kriyas (cooking).

=== एकाग्निः ॥ Ekagni (One Fire) ===

=== एकाग्निः ॥ 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.<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> Agni acts as the intermediary between man and devatas as the divine sacrificial priest.  

गृह्याग्निः || Grhyagni is also called औपासनाग्निः ॥ aupasanagni since the daily rite of उपासना ॥ upasana is performed in it by the गृहस्थः ॥ grhastha. This is the fire contained in one "कुण्डम् ॥ kunda" and so it is called "एकाग्निः ॥ ekagni". Rites conducted in the family are included in the chapter called "एकाग्निकाण्डम् ॥ Ekagni-kanda" in the आपस्तम्बसूत्रम् ॥ 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> अग्निः ॥ Agni acts as the intermediary between man and देवताः ॥ devatas as the divine sacrificial priest.  

In Rig veda, the first sukta, where Agni is praised for his presence, he brings in all other deities to bless the yagnakarta (performer of the vedic ritual) with abundance, wealth and fulfill the desires when pleased. Grhyagni or Aupasana Agni and Srautagni the are thus maintained by the grihasthas, and offerings (ghee, rice, purnaahuti etc) are made to Agnideva to fulfill the worldly desires. The Taittiriya samhita outlines the different activities of a householder as the one who tends the Grhyagni for the welfare of nature, animals and plants and fellow human beings.  

In ऋग्वेदः ॥ Rigveda, the first सूक्तम् ॥ sukta, where अग्निः ॥ Agni is praised for his presence, he brings in all other deities to bless the यज्ञकर्ता ॥ yajnakarta (performer of the vedic ritual) with abundance, wealth and fulfill the desires when pleased. गृह्याग्निः ॥ Grhyagni or औपासनाग्निः ॥ Aupasana Agni and श्रौताग्निः ॥ Shrautagni are thus maintained by the गृहस्थाः ॥ grhasthas, and offerings (ghee, rice, पूर्णाहुतिः ॥ purnaahuti etc) are made to अग्निदेवः ॥ Agnideva to fulfill the worldly desires. The तैत्तिरीयसंहिता ॥ Taittiriya samhita outlines the different activities of a householder as the one who tends the गृह्याग्निः ॥ Grhyagni for the welfare of nature, animals and plants and fellow human beings.  

=== त्रेताग्निः ॥ Tretagni (Three Fires) ===

=== त्रेताग्निः ॥ Tretagni (Three Fires) ===

अग्नि (Agni) is carried at the fore front in all ritualistic undertakings (yajnas) given in the Srauta sutras. Some Srauta yaagas require three fires called as [[Tretagni (त्रेताग्नयः)|Tretagni]] which are invoked through procedures with chanting of mantras. Example : Somayaga  

अग्निः (Agni) is carried at the fore front in all ritualistic undertakings (यज्ञाः ॥ yajnas) given in the श्रौतसूत्राणि ॥ Shrauta sutras. Some श्रौतयागाः ॥ Shrauta yagas require three fires called as त्रेताग्निः ॥ [[Tretagni (त्रेताग्नयः)|Tretagni]] which are invoked through procedures with chanting of मन्त्राः ॥ mantras. Example: सोमयागः ॥ Somayaga  

Agni is ascribed 3 names and placed in three sides of a yagnavedi –   

अग्निः ॥ Agni is ascribed 3 names and placed in three sides of a यज्ञवेदी ॥ yajnavedi –   

# गार्हपत्यः ॥ Gaarhapatya (Agni maintained by ahitagnis on a daily basis). It is placed to the west of the yagnavedi. 

# गार्हपत्यः ॥ Garhapatya (अग्निः ॥ Agni maintained by आहिताग्नि-s ॥ ahitagnis on a daily basis). It is placed to the west of the यज्ञवेदी ॥ yagnavedi. 

# आहवनीयः॥ Aahavaniya (Agni used for yaagas where a particular offerings are made to deities). It is derived from the Gaarhapatya agni and placed east of the yagnavedi.  

# आहवनीयः॥ Ahavaniya (अग्निः ॥ Agni used for यागाः ॥ yagas where a particular offerings are made to deities). It is derived from the गार्हपत्य-अग्निः ॥ Garhapatya agni and placed east of the यज्ञवेदी ॥ yajnavedi.  

# दक्षिणाग्निः ॥ Dakshinaagni (Agni used to give offerings to pitris). It is also derived from the Gaarhapatya Agni and placed south of the yagnavedi.

# दक्षिणाग्निः ॥ Dakshinagni (अग्निः ॥ Agni used to give offerings to पितृ-s || pitrs). It is also derived from the गार्हपत्य-अग्निः ॥ Garhapatya Agni and placed south of the यज्ञवेदी ॥ yajnavedi.

=== पञ्चाग्निः ॥ Panchagni (Five Fires) ===

=== पञ्चाग्निः ॥ Panchagni (Five Fires) ===

Panchagni means 5 Agnis or fires<ref name=":1" />. In vedic and puranic literature, Panchagni has been mentioned as a methodology adopted for performing severe penance. There are many instances of तपस् ॥ tapas (penance) for thousands of years, performed by different celestial beings including कुबेरः ॥ Kubera, पार्वती ॥ Parvati and असुराः ॥ asuras such as महिषासुरः ॥ Mahishasura and तारकासुरः ॥ Tarakasura, by standing or sitting in the midst of a set of five fires called Panchagni.

पञ्चाग्निः ॥ Panchagni means 5 अग्नि-s || Agnis or fires<ref name=":1" />. In vedic and puranic literature, पञ्चाग्निः ॥ Panchagni has been mentioned as a methodology adopted for performing severe penance. There are many instances of तपस् ॥ tapas (penance) for thousands of years, performed by different celestial beings including कुबेरः ॥ Kubera, पार्वती ॥ Parvati and असुराः ॥ asuras such as महिषासुरः ॥ Mahishasura and तारकासुरः ॥ Tarakasura, by standing or sitting in the midst of a set of five fires called पञ्चाग्निः ॥ Panchagni.

According to Puranic Encyclopaedia, रोहिणी ॥ Rohini - a daughter, सोमः ॥ Soma - a son and अग्निः ॥ [[Agni (आग्निः)|Agni]], were born to निशा ॥ Nisha, the third wife of मनुः ॥ [[Manu (मनुः)|Manu]]. Besides them, they begot five sons in the form of Agni (fire) and these five are called Panchagnis. They are वैश्वानरः ॥ Vaishvanara, विश्वपतिः ॥ Vishvapati, सन्निहितः ॥ Sannihita, कपिलः ॥ Kapila and अग्रणी ॥ Agrani. Such a penance that is performed amidst the five agnis is said to be very austere and is performed with an intention to please ब्रह्मा ॥ [[Brahma (ब्रह्मा)|Brahma]] or the others in the Trinity for obtaining material boons.  

According to Puranic Encyclopaedia, रोहिणी ॥ Rohini - a daughter, सोमः ॥ Soma - a son and अग्निः ॥ [[Agni (आग्निः)|Agni]], were born to निशा ॥ Nisha, the third wife of मनुः ॥ [[Manu (मनुः)|Manu]]. Besides them, they begot five sons in the form of अग्निः ॥ Agni (fire) and these five are called पञ्चाग्नि-s ॥ Panchagnis. They are वैश्वानरः ॥ Vaishvanara, विश्वपतिः ॥ Vishvapati, सन्निहितः ॥ Sannihita, कपिलः ॥ Kapila and अग्रणी ॥ Agrani. Such a penance that is performed amidst the five अग्नि-s || agnis is said to be very austere and is performed with an intention to please ब्रह्मा ॥ [[Brahma (ब्रह्मा)|Brahma]] or the others in the Trinity for obtaining material boons.  

 

== अग्निदेवतास्वरुपम् ॥ Agnidevata Svaroopa ==

== अग्निदेवतास्वरुपम् ॥ Agnidevata Svaroopa ==

==== Birth and Family ====

==== Birth and Family ====