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Line 21: − The word ''agni'' is samskrit for "fire" (noun). Agni has three forms: 'fire', 'lightning' and 'the Sun'. Agni is the drying agent which neither wets nor moistens anything. + − Yaskacharya explains that the fire-god is called अग्नि (Agni) because he is अग्रणी (Agrani), the foremost leader, who is the ever awake disseminator of knowledge and the first principle of thought which manifests as Speech.+ − == Tretagni (Three Fires) ==+ − अग्नि (Agni) is carried at the front in all ritualistic undertakings (yajnas) as given in the Srauta sutras. Many Srauta yaagas require three fires called as [[Tretagni (त्रेताज्ञयः)|Tretagni]] which are invoked through procedures with chanting of mantras. − Agni is ascribed 3 names and placed in three sides of a yagnavedi – + − # गार्हपत्यः ॥ Gaarhapatya ( Agni used by grihastas for general domestic usage). It is placed to the west of the 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. − # दक्षिणाग्निः ॥ Dakshinaagni (Agni used to give offerings to pitris). It is also derived from the Gaarhapatya Agni and placed south of the yagnavedi. − ११.८.२ अग्नेश्चातुर्विध्याभिधायकं ब्राह्मणम् − 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]+ Line 54:
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Line 95: + − Agni has two consorts, Svaha and Svadha. Agni through Svaahadevi (invocation offering) and fathered three sons - Paavaka, Pavamana and Suchi, who in their turn had forty-five children. Thus, Agni, his three sons, and fortyfive grandsons, together constitute the fortynine Fires mentioned in the Puranas (अङ्गिरसम् Angirasam). Suchi, born of Svaahadevi is the Badavaagni or Badabaagni, or the Agni that resides in the underground parts of the earth (volcanoes) Agni Purana Chapter 20.
→Introduction
== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==
A large number of mantras of the Rig veda are devoted to describing and praising Agni. Some of his attributes are described as follows:
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>:
* '''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.
* '''First Rig Veda Suktam''' : Fire has a very prominent place since the Vedic period and the Rig Veda starts with the Agni sukta (Agnimeele purohitam...). Agni is second only to Indra in power and importance attributed to him in Vedic literature, with 218 out of 1,028 hymns of the Rigveda dedicated to him. With Varuna and Indra he is one of the supreme gods in the Rig Veda.
* '''First Rig Veda Suktam''' : Fire has a very prominent place since the Vedic period and the Rig Veda starts with the Agni sukta (Agnimeele purohitam...). Agni is second only to Indra in power and importance attributed to him in Vedic literature, with 218 out of 1,028 hymns of the Rigveda dedicated to him. With Varuna and Indra he is one of the supreme gods in the Rig Veda.
'''[[Amarakosha]]''' defines the following about Agni in स्वर्गवर्गः (Prathama kanda Slokas 53 - 57)<blockquote>अग्निर्वैश्वानरो वह्निर्वीतिहोत्रो धनंजयः । कृपीटयोनिर्ज्वलनो जातवेदास्तनूनपात् ॥ (Amara 1. स्वर्ग. 53)</blockquote><blockquote>बर्हिः शुष्मा कृष्णवर्त्मा शोचिष्केश उषर्बुधः । आशयाशो बृह्दभानुः कृशानुः पावकोनलः ॥ (Amara 1. स्वर्ग. 54)</blockquote><blockquote>रोहिताश्वो वायुसखः शिखावानाशुशुक्षणिः । हिरण्यरेता हुतभुग्दहनो हव्यवाहनः ॥ (Amara 1. स्वर्ग. 55)</blockquote><blockquote>सप्तार्चिर्दमुनाः शुक्रश्चित्रभानुर्विभावसुः । शुचिरप्पित्तमौर्वस्तु वाडवो वडवानलः ॥ (Amara 1. स्वर्ग. 56)</blockquote><blockquote>वह्नेर्द्वयोर्ज्वालकिलावर्चिर्हेतिः शिखा स्त्रियाम् । त्रिषु स्फुलिङ्गोग्निकणः संतापः संज्वरः समौ || (Amara 1. स्वर्ग. 57)</blockquote>Different names of Agni include Agni, Vaishvanara, Krushanu, Jaataveda, Barhihi, Paavaka, Analaha, Vayusakha, Hiranyareta, Havyavahana, Jwala, Chitrabhanu, Vadavanala and other names.
'''[[Amarakosha]]''' defines the following about Agni in स्वर्गवर्गः (Prathama kanda Slokas 53 - 57)<blockquote>अग्निर्वैश्वानरो वह्निर्वीतिहोत्रो धनंजयः । कृपीटयोनिर्ज्वलनो जातवेदास्तनूनपात् ॥ (Amara 1. स्वर्ग. 53)</blockquote><blockquote>बर्हिः शुष्मा कृष्णवर्त्मा शोचिष्केश उषर्बुधः । आशयाशो बृह्दभानुः कृशानुः पावकोनलः ॥ (Amara 1. स्वर्ग. 54)</blockquote><blockquote>रोहिताश्वो वायुसखः शिखावानाशुशुक्षणिः । हिरण्यरेता हुतभुग्दहनो हव्यवाहनः ॥ (Amara 1. स्वर्ग. 55)</blockquote><blockquote>सप्तार्चिर्दमुनाः शुक्रश्चित्रभानुर्विभावसुः । शुचिरप्पित्तमौर्वस्तु वाडवो वडवानलः ॥ (Amara 1. स्वर्ग. 56)</blockquote><blockquote>वह्नेर्द्वयोर्ज्वालकिलावर्चिर्हेतिः शिखा स्त्रियाम् । त्रिषु स्फुलिङ्गोग्निकणः संतापः संज्वरः समौ || (Amara 1. स्वर्ग. 57)</blockquote>Different names of Agni include Agni, Vaishvanara, Krushanu, Jaataveda, Barhihi, Paavaka, Analaha, Vayusakha, Hiranyareta, Havyavahana, Jwala, Chitrabhanu, Vadavanala and other names.
According to Shabdakalpadruma, अङ्गयन्ति अग्य्रं जन्म प्रापयन्ति इतिव्युत्पत्त्या... अङ्गति ऊर्द्ध्वं गच्छति इति . अगि गतौ
Meaning : Agni is that which goes upward, and who was "first born" derived from the dhatu - अग् used in the meaning कुटिलायां गतौ (as in Panini's Dhatupatha) meaning that which moves crookedly.
Agni has three forms: 'fire', 'lightning' and 'the Sun'. Agni is the drying agent which neither wets nor moistens anything.
हविः प्रक्षेपाधिकरणेषु गार्हपत्याहवनी-यदक्षिणाग्निसभ्यावसथ्यौपासनाख्येषु षड्ग्निषु .
Yaskacharya explains that the fire-god is called अग्नि (Agni) because he is अग्रणी (Agrani), the foremost leader, who is the ever awake disseminator of knowledge and the first principle of thought which manifests as Speech.
== Role of Agni ==
== Role of Agni ==
Mundakopanishad, explains how a person progresses through the different ashrams in life and the rules and consequences of not tending to the Agnihotra by a grihasta (Mund. Upan. 1.2.2 to 1.2.4).
Mundakopanishad, explains how a person progresses through the different ashrams in life and the rules and consequences of not tending to the Agnihotra by a grihasta (Mund. Upan. 1.2.2 to 1.2.4).
=== Panchagni (Five Fires) ===
Panchagni means 5 Agnis or fires. In vedic and puranic literature, Panchagni has been mentioned as a methodology used for performing severe austerities. 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.
According to Puranic Encyclopaedia<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>, 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.
=== Tretagni (Three Fires) ===
अग्नि (Agni) is carried at the front in all ritualistic undertakings (yajnas) as given in the Srauta sutras. Many Srauta yaagas require three fires called as [[Tretagni (त्रेताग्नयः)|Tretagni]] which are invoked through procedures with chanting of mantras.
Agni is ascribed 3 names and placed in three sides of a yagnavedi –
# गार्हपत्यः ॥ Gaarhapatya ( Agni used by grihastas for general domestic usage). It is placed to the west of the 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.
# दक्षिणाग्निः ॥ Dakshinaagni (Agni used to give offerings to pitris). It is also derived from the Gaarhapatya Agni and placed south of the yagnavedi.
११.८.२ अग्नेश्चातुर्विध्याभिधायकं ब्राह्मणम्
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]
=== जातवेदाः ॥ Jataveda and क्रव्याद ॥ Kravyaad ===
=== जातवेदाः ॥ Jataveda and क्रव्याद ॥ Kravyaad ===
Agni has two forms: Jaataveda and Kravyaada:
Agni has two forms: Jaataveda and Kravyaada:
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]
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]
: हविः प्रक्षेपाधिकरणेषु गार्हपत्याहवनीय-दक्षिणाग्निसभ्यावसथ्यौपासनाख्येषु षड्ग्निषु ।
== देवतास्वरुपम् ॥ Agnidevata Swaroopam ==
== देवतास्वरुपम् ॥ Agnidevata Swaroopam ==
==== Birth and Family ====
==== Birth and Family ====
* Agni was born to Pururavas as a son named Jaatavedas according to Shrimad Bhaagavatam (Navama Skanda, Chap 14).
* Agni was born to Pururavas as a son named Jaatavedas according to Shrimad Bhaagavatam (Navama Skanda, Chap 14).
Mahabharata's Sabha Parva (Chap. 31) talks about Sudarshana, as the wife of Agni deva. She was the daughter of King Neela of Mahishmatipura.
Mahabharata's Sabha Parva (Chap. 31) talks about Sudarshana, as the wife of Agni deva. She was the daughter of King Neela of Mahishmatipura.
* पुत्त्रास्त्रयः पावकः १ पवमानः २ शुचिः ३ Agni has two consorts, Svaha and Svadha. Agni through Svaahadevi (invocation offering) and fathered three sons - Paavaka, Pavamana and Suchi, who in their turn had forty-five children. Thus, Agni, his three sons, and fortyfive grandsons, together constitute the fortynine Fires mentioned in the Puranas (अङ्गिरसम् Angirasam). Suchi, born of Svahadevi is the Badavaagni or Badabaagni, or Vadavagni the Agni that resides in the underground parts of the earth (volcanoes) Agni Purana Chapter 20.
==== पावकः ॥ Paavaka ====
==== पावकः ॥ Paavaka ====
Offended by Agni, Bhrigu had cursed Agni to become the devourer of all things on this earth, but Brahma modified that curse and made Agni the purifier of all things he touched.
Offended by Agni, Bhrigu had cursed Agni to become the devourer of all things on this earth, but Brahma modified that curse and made Agni the purifier of all things he touched.