Changes

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==

Fire is one of the great five elements or Panchamahabhutas.<ref name=":0" /> In the Vedas, fire has been considered fundamental in the creation of the environment.<ref name=":1" /> The heat of fire is present in the form of energy in the entire universe.<ref name=":0">Vijnana - Level A ([https://nios.ac.in/media/documents/OBE_indian_knowledge_tradition/Level_A/Vijnana-A_Englishi_OBE/Science-A_E_Ch-9.pdf Chapter 9]), Noida: National Institute of Open Schooling (Open Basic Education Programme).</ref>  

Fire is one of the five great elements or Panchamahabhutas.<ref name=":0" /> In the Vedas, fire has been considered fundamental in the creation of the environment.<ref name=":1" /> The heat of fire is present in the form of energy in the entire universe.<ref name=":0">Vijnana - Level A ([https://nios.ac.in/media/documents/OBE_indian_knowledge_tradition/Level_A/Vijnana-A_Englishi_OBE/Science-A_E_Ch-9.pdf Chapter 9]), Noida: National Institute of Open Schooling (Open Basic Education Programme).</ref>  

== वेदेषु अग्निः ॥ Agni in the Vedas ==

== वेदेषु अग्निः ॥ Agni in the Vedas ==

In Vedic discussion, Fire has been referred to as Vaishvanara. It means the power that keeps the world engaged in work. This fire has been considered as the main factor in the creation of the universe.<ref name=":1" /> Viewing Agni as the benefactor of all, Rishi Madhucchanda Vaishvamitra, in the very first verse of the Rigveda, says,<ref name=":2">Sripad Damodar Satavlekar (1985), Rigveda ka Subodh Bhashya ([https://vedicheritage.gov.in/flipbook/Rigveda_Subodh_Bhasya_Vol_I/#book/9 Volume 1]), Pardi: Svadhyay Mandal.</ref><blockquote>अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं ... ॥१॥<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7.%E0%A5%A7 Sukta 1]</ref> agnimīle purohitaṁ ... ॥1॥</blockquote>Meaning: I praise Agni.<ref name=":2" />

In Vedic discussion, Fire has been referred to as Vaishvanara. It means the power that keeps the world engaged in work. This fire has been considered as the main factor in the creation of the universe.<ref name=":1" /> Viewing Agni as the benefactor of all, Rishi Madhucchanda Vaishvamitra, in the very first verse of the Rigveda, says,<ref name=":2">Sripad Damodar Satavlekar (1985), Rigveda ka Subodh Bhashya ([https://vedicheritage.gov.in/flipbook/Rigveda_Subodh_Bhasya_Vol_I/#book/9 Volume 1]), Pardi: Svadhyay Mandal.</ref><blockquote>अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं ... ॥१॥<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 1, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7.%E0%A5%A7 Sukta 1]</ref> agnimīle purohitaṁ ... ॥1॥</blockquote>Meaning: I praise Agni.<ref name=":2" /> Worshiping him and propounding the importance of fire, Rishi Kashyapa, in the Rigveda says,<blockquote>अग्निर्जागार तमृचः कामयन्तेऽग्निर्जागार तमु सामानि यन्ति । अग्निर्जागार तमयं सोम आह तवाहमस्मि सख्ये न्योकाः ॥१५॥<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 5, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AB.%E0%A5%AA%E0%A5%AA Sukta 44]</ref>

 

Worshiping him and propounding the importance of fire, Rishi Kashyapa, in the Rigveda says,<blockquote>अग्निर्जागार तमृचः कामयन्तेऽग्निर्जागार तमु सामानि यन्ति । अग्निर्जागार तमयं सोम आह तवाहमस्मि सख्ये न्योकाः ॥१५॥<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 5, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AB.%E0%A5%AA%E0%A5%AA Sukta 44]</ref>

agnirjāgāra tamr̥caḥ kāmayante'gnirjāgāra tamu sāmāni yanti । agnirjāgāra tamayaṁ soma āha tavāhamasmi sakhye nyokāḥ ॥15॥</blockquote>Meaning: Agni is always awake. Hence, the rchas always wish for him, the Samas yield to him and Soma finds his dwelling in him.<ref name=":3">Sripad Damodar Satavlekar (1985), Rigveda ka Subodh Bhashya ([https://vedicheritage.gov.in/flipbook/Rigveda_Subodh_Bhasya_Vol_II/#book/574 Volume 2]), Pardi: Svadhyay Mandal.</ref>

agnirjāgāra tamr̥caḥ kāmayante'gnirjāgāra tamu sāmāni yanti । agnirjāgāra tamayaṁ soma āha tavāhamasmi sakhye nyokāḥ ॥15॥</blockquote>Meaning: Agni is always awake. Hence, the rchas always wish for him, the Samas yield to him and Soma finds his dwelling in him.<ref name=":3">Sripad Damodar Satavlekar (1985), Rigveda ka Subodh Bhashya ([https://vedicheritage.gov.in/flipbook/Rigveda_Subodh_Bhasya_Vol_II/#book/574 Volume 2]), Pardi: Svadhyay Mandal.</ref>

In this way, Vaishvanara is spread everywhere. The whole earth is resplendent with this fire.

In this way, Vaishvanara is spread everywhere. The whole earth is resplendent with this fire.

While enlightening the importance of fire, the Rigvedic Rishi prays to space fire to protect people from the disturbances of the space.<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>सूर्यो नो दिवस्पातु वातो अन्तरिक्षात् । अग्निर्नः पार्थिवेभ्यः ॥१॥<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AB%E0%A5%AE Sukta 158]</ref> sūryo no divaspātu vāto antarikṣāt । agnirnaḥ pārthivebhyaḥ ॥1॥</blockquote>Meaning: May the sun protect us from celestial disturbances, wind from space disturbances and fire from earth's disturbances.

While enlightening the importance of fire, the Rigvedic Rishi prays to space fire to protect people from the disturbances of the space.<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>सूर्यो नो दिवस्पातु वातो अन्तरिक्षात् । अग्निर्नः पार्थिवेभ्यः ॥१॥<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AB%E0%A5%AE Sukta 158]</ref> sūryo no divaspātu vāto antarikṣāt । agnirnaḥ pārthivebhyaḥ ॥1॥</blockquote>Meaning: May the sun protect us from celestial disturbances, wind from space disturbances and fire from earth's disturbances. The Atharvavedic Rishi also prays to the Sun for protection. He says,<ref name=":1" />  <blockquote>सूर्य चक्षुषा मा पाहि स्वाहा ॥३॥<ref>Atharvaveda, Kanda 2, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AC Sukta 16]</ref> sūrya cakṣuṣā mā pāhi svāhā ॥3॥</blockquote>Meaning: O Sun! May you protect me with the power of your vision.<ref name=":4">Sripad Damodar Satavlekar (1985), Atharvaveda ka Subodh Bhashya ([https://vedicheritage.gov.in/flipbook/Atharvaveda_Subodh_Bhashya_Vol_I/#book/245 Volume 1]), Pardi: Svadhyay Mandal.</ref> Further, the Sun is asked to illuminate people with his life force.<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>सूर्य यत्तेऽर्चिस्तेन तं प्रत्यर्च योऽस्मान् द्वेष्टि यं वयं द्विष्मः ॥३॥<ref>Atharvaveda, Kanda 2, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%A7 Sukta 21]</ref> sūrya yatte'rcistena taṁ pratyarca yo'smān dveṣṭi yaṁ vayaṁ dviṣmaḥ ॥3॥</blockquote>Infact, describing the Agni and Surya as amongst the deities with the inner strength to scorch, the Atharvavedic Rishi prays to them to destroy any hatred in them towards people or vice versa.<ref name=":4" /> <blockquote>अग्ने यत्ते तपस्तेन तं प्रति तप योऽस्मान् द्वेष्टि यं वयं द्विष्मः ॥१॥<ref>Atharvaveda, Kanda 2, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AF Sukta 19]</ref> agne yatte tapastena taṁ prati tapa yo'smān dveṣṭi yaṁ vayaṁ dviṣmaḥ ॥1॥</blockquote>

 

 

That is, the rays of the sun continue to spread everywhere with the help of its superlative power.

The Atharvavedic Rishi also prays to the Sun for protection. He says,<ref name=":1" />  <blockquote>सूर्य चक्षुषा मा पाहि स्वाहा ॥३॥<ref>Atharvaveda, Kanda 2, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AC Sukta 16]</ref> sūrya cakṣuṣā mā pāhi svāhā ॥3॥</blockquote>Meaning: O Sun! May you protect me with the power of your vision.<ref name=":4">Sripad Damodar Satavlekar (1985), Atharvaveda ka Subodh Bhashya ([https://vedicheritage.gov.in/flipbook/Atharvaveda_Subodh_Bhashya_Vol_I/#book/245 Volume 1]), Pardi: Svadhyay Mandal.</ref>

The energy of this sun (solar energy) is currently very important, so we need to pay attention to solar energy. We should use the energy we get from the sun.

Further, the Sun is asked to illuminate people with his life force.<ref name=":1" /> <blockquote>सूर्य यत्तेऽर्चिस्तेन तं प्रत्यर्च योऽस्मान् द्वेष्टि यं वयं द्विष्मः ॥३॥<ref>Atharvaveda, Kanda 2, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%A7 Sukta 21]</ref> sūrya yatte'rcistena taṁ pratyarca yo'smān dveṣṭi yaṁ vayaṁ dviṣmaḥ ॥3॥</blockquote>Infact, describing the Agni and Surya as amongst the deities with the inner strength to scorch, the Atharvavedic Rishi prays to them to destroy any hatred in them towards people or vice versa.<ref name=":4" /> <blockquote>अग्ने यत्ते तपस्तेन तं प्रति तप योऽस्मान् द्वेष्टि यं वयं द्विष्मः ॥१॥<ref>Atharvaveda, Kanda 2, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A8/%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AF Sukta 19]</ref> agne yatte tapastena taṁ prati tapa yo'smān dveṣṭi yaṁ vayaṁ dviṣmaḥ ॥1॥</blockquote>the importance of conserving fire (energy) in the Vedas.  

the importance of conserving fire (energy) in the Vedas.  

• To know the importance of Fire (energy) in the Vedas; and

• To know the importance of Fire (energy) in the Vedas; and

10.1 IMPORTANCE AND CONSERVATION OF FIRE (ENERGY) IN VEDAS

10.1 IMPORTANCE AND CONSERVATION OF FIRE (ENERGY) IN VEDAS

Sage Gritsamad (x`rLen) of the RigVeda states that energy is produced by the rays of the sun which have the power to burn instantly.

Sage Gritsamad (x`rLen) of the RigVeda states that energy is produced by the rays of the sun which have the power to burn instantly.