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| 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> |
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− | In this verse, awake refers to being constant and continuous. Indirectly, it points towards the use and protection fo fire energy.<ref name=":1" /> While, metaphorically, the Rishi is emphasizing that knowledge yields only to those who are always engaged in efforts. It is such people that Sama approaches and in them, Soma in the form of great intellect dwells.<ref name=":3" /> | + | In this verse, awake refers to being constant and continuous. Indirectly, it points towards the use and protection of fire energy.<ref name=":1" /> While, metaphorically, the Rishi is emphasizing that knowledge yields only to those who are always engaged in efforts. It is such people that Sama approaches and in them, Soma in the form of great intellect dwells.<ref name=":3" /> |
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− | In our Vedic contemplation, Fire has been considered in three forms - | + | == अग्नेः महत्त्वम् ॥ Importance of Fire == |
| + | In Vedic contemplation, Fire has been described in three forms. |
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− | (1) Earthly fire
| + | # Earthly fire ie. fire on the earth. |
| + | # Space fire |
| + | # Dyusthani Fire ie. the solar fire. |
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− | (2) Space fire
| + | In this way, Vaishvanara is spread everywhere. The whole earth is resplendent with this fire. |
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− | (3) Ordinary (Dyosthani) 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. |
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− | The fire on earth is called earthly fire. Local electric fire is considered as space and solar fire as ordinary fire. In this way, this global fire spread everywhere. The whole earth is resplendent with this fire. | + | 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> |
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− | the importance of conserving fire (energy) in the Vedas. | + | 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. |
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| • To know the importance of Fire (energy) in the Vedas; and | | • To know the importance of Fire (energy) in the Vedas; and |
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| 10.1 IMPORTANCE AND CONSERVATION OF FIRE (ENERGY) IN VEDAS | | 10.1 IMPORTANCE AND CONSERVATION OF FIRE (ENERGY) IN VEDAS |
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− | While enlightening the importance of fire, the sage of the Rigveda prays to space fire to protect us from the disturbances of space.
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− | 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>
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− | '''(Rigveda 7.62.5)'''
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− | It means that the sun should protect us from celestial disturbances; wind from space disturbances and fire from earth's disturbances.
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− | The sage of the Atharvaveda prays for the protection from demoniacal fire -
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− | 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>
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− | '''(Atharvaveda 2.16.3)'''
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− | I.e. O Sun! You protect me by viewing me. It has been further said that O Sun illuminate us with his life force -
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− | 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>
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− | '''(Atharvaveda 2.21.3)'''
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− | Punishment has been named in the Vedas to destroy and harm fire (energy). The Atharvaveda prays that O Fire! Inure and afflict what hurts you -
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− | 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>
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− | '''(Atharvaveda 2.19.1)'''
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| Pointing to the importance of solar energy, the kaanv sage of the Rigveda says that the Continuous energy is received from the Sun - | | Pointing to the importance of solar energy, the kaanv sage of the Rigveda says that the Continuous energy is received from the Sun - |