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| Thus, starting with the sacred agnihotras tended by the householder, as the sacred bearer of offerings, to the feared Kravaaya form of Fire which is invoked to burn corpses, and finally to the inner subtle form of representation of Jnana , Agni is the crucial lifeline of a grihastha engaged in Bharateeya samskriti. | | Thus, starting with the sacred agnihotras tended by the householder, as the sacred bearer of offerings, to the feared Kravaaya form of Fire which is invoked to burn corpses, and finally to the inner subtle form of representation of Jnana , Agni is the crucial lifeline of a grihastha engaged in Bharateeya samskriti. |
− | == Agni in Vedas == | + | == Agni in Rig Veda == |
− | === Rig veda ===
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| Rigveda starts with Agnisukta and thereafter many mandalas have suktas related to and in praise of Agni. The very first word, mantra and sukta of the oldest veda, Rig veda starts with Agni as revealed to Rishi Madhuchchandah Vaishvamitah in Gaayatri chandas. | | Rigveda starts with Agnisukta and thereafter many mandalas have suktas related to and in praise of Agni. The very first word, mantra and sukta of the oldest veda, Rig veda starts with Agni as revealed to Rishi Madhuchchandah Vaishvamitah in Gaayatri chandas. |
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| <blockquote>अग्निरस्मि जन्मना जातवेदा घर्तं मे चक्षुरम्र्तं म आसन | अर्कस्त्रिधातू रजसो विमानो.अजस्रो घर्मो हविरस्मि नाम || (Rig. Veda.3.26.7)</blockquote><blockquote>तरिभिः पवित्रैरपुपोद धयर्कं हर्दा मतिं जयोतिरनु परजानन | वर्षिष्ठं रत्नमक्र्त सवधाभिरादिद दयावाप्र्थिवी पर्यपश्यत || (Rig. Veda.3.26.8)</blockquote> | | <blockquote>अग्निरस्मि जन्मना जातवेदा घर्तं मे चक्षुरम्र्तं म आसन | अर्कस्त्रिधातू रजसो विमानो.अजस्रो घर्मो हविरस्मि नाम || (Rig. Veda.3.26.7)</blockquote><blockquote>तरिभिः पवित्रैरपुपोद धयर्कं हर्दा मतिं जयोतिरनु परजानन | वर्षिष्ठं रत्नमक्र्त सवधाभिरादिद दयावाप्र्थिवी पर्यपश्यत || (Rig. Veda.3.26.8)</blockquote> |
| * His third birth was in water (Rig Veda I.45.1). | | * His third birth was in water (Rig Veda I.45.1). |
− | * | + | * Agni excites ''Buddhi''(reason and intellect), the perceiving and the determining factor, and by illuminating the mind it makes one understand and comprehend the truth – प्रचेतसोऽग्ने देवाँ इह द्रवत् (Rig Veda I.xliv.7). |
− | === Yajur Veda ===
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− | | |
− | The 6th Kanda of Shatapatha Brahmana (SB 6.1.1.1) starts with the description of Agnichayana or building of the fire altar. This kanda describes the importance of Agni, the fire, who is identified with Prajapati, the Srustikarta, who is the source of life in this world. tells us that Prajapati was generated through the ''tapas'' of the ''rishis'' (equated with the non-existent of the Beginning), thereafter, through his own ''tapas'' Prajapati generated all the gods and all the creatures. He also generated Agni as the sacrificial fire and as the second self having wearied himself his glow and essence of him heated up and developed Agni (SB 10.6.5.2).
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− | === Saama Veda ===
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| === Atharva veda === | | === Atharva veda === |
| अग्नेर्होत्रेण प्रणुदे सपत्नान् - Atharvaveda 9.2.6 | | अग्नेर्होत्रेण प्रणुदे सपत्नान् - Atharvaveda 9.2.6 |
| == Agni in Brahmanas == | | == Agni in Brahmanas == |
| + | Shatapata Brahmana (Shukla Yajurveda) |
| + | |
| + | The 6th Kanda of Shatapatha Brahmana (SB 6.1.1.1) starts with the description of Agnichayana or building of the fire altar. This kanda describes the importance of Agni, the fire, who is identified with Prajapati, the Srustikarta, who is the source of life in this world. tells us that Prajapati. Prajapati as the Srutikarta creates all the celestial beings and heavenly bodies such as Aakasha and nakshtras. He also creates Agni as the sacrificial fire. |
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| + | Add the material collected from Shatapatabrahmana 6.1.1. (vedamu.org) |
| + | |
| Agni, also called as जातवेदसम्, meaning "the one who is knowlegeable from birth about all things that are born, created or produced."<sup>[59]</sup> He is the god of will-power, united with wisdom. | | Agni, also called as जातवेदसम्, meaning "the one who is knowlegeable from birth about all things that are born, created or produced."<sup>[59]</sup> He is the god of will-power, united with wisdom. |
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− | The Kanvasatpathabrahmanam (SB.IV.i.iv.11) calls Agni "wisdom" and the "ind."<sup>[note 15][61]</sup> Rishi Bharadavaja Barhaspatya, in a mantra addressed to Agni Vaishvanara<sup>[note 16]</sup> calls Agni "the mind swiftest among (all) those that fly."<sup>[62]</sup> Rishi Praskanva states that Agni represents great learning and enlightening wisdom, which ought to be sought, located and humbly approached. Agni excites ''Buddhi''(reason and intellect), the perceiving and the determining factor, and by illuminating the mind it makes one understand and comprehend the truth – प्रचेतसोऽग्ने देवाँ इह द्रवत् (Rig Veda I.xliv.7). | + | The Kanvasatpathabrahmanam (SB.IV.i.iv.11) calls Agni "wisdom" and the "ind."<sup>[note 15][61]</sup> Rishi Bharadavaja Barhaspatya, in a mantra addressed to Agni Vaishvanara<sup>[note 16]</sup> calls Agni "the mind swiftest among (all) those that fly."<sup>[62]</sup> Rishi Praskanva states that Agni represents great learning and enlightening wisdom, which ought to be sought, located and humbly approached. |
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| SB X.vi.5.8-9 | | SB X.vi.5.8-9 |