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Agni (Samskrit: अग्निः) means Fire, Lighting, Purifier.  The Vedas place Agni, the deity of fire, in a key place in Vedic mantras. Fire was the one of the main elements that brought about a change in the way human civilizations evolved as man learnt to colonize.  During evolution, taming of the fire is a significant step as man learnt to eat cooked food and thereby moved away eating raw things (especially raw meat). Cooking of food further led to man's living in societies and thereby led to expansion of the concept of domestication of animals and agricultural systems. Thus harnessing the powers of nature plays an important role in the evolution of man and this fact is explicit in Vedas as Agni was significantly praised for his prowess.

Agni (Samskrit: अग्निः) means Fire, Lighting, Purifier.  The Vedas place Agni, the deity of fire, in a key place in Vedic mantras. Fire was the one of the main elements that brought about a change in the way human civilizations evolved as man learnt to colonize.  During evolution, taming of the fire is a significant step as man learnt to eat cooked food and thereby moved away eating raw things (especially raw meat). Cooking of food further led to man's living in societies and thereby led to expansion of the concept of domestication of animals and agricultural systems. Thus harnessing the powers of nature plays an important role in the evolution of man and this fact is explicit in Vedas as Agni was significantly praised for his prowess.

==   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 his attributes are described as follows:  

*   '''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 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 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.

*    '''Dikpalaka''' : He is the one of the [[अष्टदिक्पालकाः ॥ Astadikpalakas]] or the presiding deities of the eight directions as described in Devi bhagavatam (Chap. 8).  Among them He is the आग्नेयदिशादिपतिः ॥ Aagneyadishadhipati  or the sovereign guardian of the Aagneya direction or the south-east quarter.

*    '''Dikpalaka''' : He is the one of the [[अष्टदिक्पालकाः ॥ Astadikpalakas]] or the presiding deities of the eight directions as described in Devi bhagavatam (Chap. 8).  Among them He is the आग्नेयदिशादिपतिः ॥ Aagneyadishadhipati  or the sovereign guardian of the Aagneya direction or the south-east quarter.

*   '''Swaroopa/Nature''' : He has a five-fold existence and manifests as the  

*   '''Swaroopa/Nature''' : He has a five-fold existence and manifests as the  

** Fire (Flame or Agni) on the Bhuva or Earth  

** Fire (Flame or Agni) on the Bhuva or Earth  

** Lightning in the Aakasha or Sky  

** Lightning in the Aakasha or Sky  

** Jataraagni in all mortal beings as hunger   

** Jataraagni in all mortal beings as hunger   

Thus, as an element that lights up and consumes everything He plays a very significant role in Sristi.

Thus, as an element that lights up and consumes everything He plays a very significant role in Sristi.

* '''Devataswaroopam''' : He is prominent as the twin brother of Indra and the husband of Svāhā and Svadhā, and the father of Dakşiņam, Gārhapatyam and Āhavanīyam.  

* '''Devataswaroopam''' : He is prominent as the twin brother of Indra and the husband of Svāhā and Svadhā, and the father of Dakşiņam, Gārhapatyam and Āhavanīyam.  

* '''Jnana Tattvam''' : He is also known as the God of Knowledge. Knowledge or nature of every object is known only in the presence of Light or Deepam.  But Fire is, by nature, self illumine and does not need another lamp to reveal its nature.   

* '''Jnana Tattvam''' : He is also known as the God of Knowledge. Knowledge or nature of every object is known only in the presence of Light or Deepam.  But Fire is, by nature, self illumine and does not need another lamp to reveal its nature.   

== Etymology ==

== Etymology ==

'''[[Amarakosha]]''' defines the following about Agni in स्वर्गवर्गः (Prathama kanda Slokas 53 - 57)

'''[[Amarakosha]]''' defines the following about Agni in स्वर्गवर्गः (Prathama kanda Slokas 53 - 57)

* Mundakopanishad describes the origin of Sristi and the Panchabhutas.  Thus, from the Paramapurusha arises Agni as one of the five elements.   

* Mundakopanishad describes the origin of Sristi and the Panchabhutas.  Thus, from the Paramapurusha arises Agni as one of the five elements.   

<blockquote>अग्निमूर्धा चक्षुषी चन्द्रसूर्यौ दिश: श्रोत्रे वाग्विवृताश्च वेदा: ।</blockquote><blockquote>वायु: प्राणो हृदयं विश्वमस्य पद्भयां पृथिवी ह्येष सर्वभूतान्तरात्मा ।। (Mund. Upan. 2.1.4).</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : Agni (Fire) is forehead of the Paramapurusha while Surya and Chandra are the eyes. Vaayu is the breath.  </blockquote>

<blockquote>"अग्निमूर्धा चक्षुषी चन्द्रसूर्यौ दिश: श्रोत्रे वाग्विवृताश्च वेदा: ।</blockquote><blockquote>वायु: प्राणो हृदयं विश्वमस्य पद्भयां पृथिवी ह्येष सर्वभूतान्तरात्मा ।।" (Mund. Upan. 2.1.4).</blockquote><blockquote>Meaning : Agni (Fire) is forehead of the Paramapurusha while Surya and Chandra are the eyes. Vaayu is the breath.  </blockquote>

* 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.   

* yoga sastra and brahmavidya             

* yoga sastra and brahmavidya             

== Agni In Ramayana ==

== Agni In Ramayana and Mahabharata ==

=== कार्तिकेय ॥ Kaartikeya ===

=== कार्तिकेय ॥ Kaartikeya ===

Parvati angry at being denied motherhood curses that the Devas wives would be infertile and never enjoy parental happiness furthermore. She angered by Prithvi for being a part of this matter, curses her to be uneven and 'one with many husbands' (Earth having many landscapes is ruled by many kings (called as Bhupati)). She curses Agni that he would be an all-consumer, without distinction between pure and impure things and and everything that touches him would turn into ash (bhasma).  

Parvati angry at being denied motherhood curses that the Devas wives would be infertile and never enjoy parental happiness furthermore. She angered by Prithvi for being a part of this matter, curses her to be uneven and 'one with many husbands' (Earth having many landscapes is ruled by many kings (called as Bhupati)). She curses Agni that he would be an all-consumer, without distinction between pure and impure things and and everything that touches him would turn into ash (bhasma).  

=== शिबिचक्रवर्तिः ॥ Shibi Chakravarty ===

=== शिबिचक्रवर्तिः ॥ Shibi Chakravarty ===

Shibi (Usheenara) Chakravarthy, belonging to the Ikshvaku dynasty, the ancestor of Bhagavan Sri Rama, was famous for his righteousness and charity. Indradeva who wanted to test his daatrutvam (sense of charity), assumed the form of an eagle and Agnideva assumed the form of a dove who was a prey to the eagle. The dove takes sharanagati or  refuge in Shibi Charavarty, who then offered an equal weight of his own flesh to the eagle in exchange of dove's life.  Assuming the dove to weigh a little, Shibi offered a portion of his flesh, but soon he had to offer himself as the food to the eagle. Shibi's sacrifice for the bird was highly praised and both Agni and Indra offered him heavens in return (Mahabharata, Vanaparva Chapter 131).

Shibi (Usheenara) Chakravarthy, belonging to the Ikshvaku dynasty, the ancestor of Bhagavan Sri Rama, was famous for his righteousness and charity. Indradeva who wanted to test his daatrutvam (sense of charity), assumed the form of an eagle and Agnideva assumed the form of a dove who was a prey to the eagle. The dove takes sharanagati or  refuge in Shibi Charavarty, who then offered an equal weight of his own flesh to the eagle in exchange of dove's life.  Assuming the dove to weigh a little, Shibi offered a portion of his flesh, but soon he had to offer himself as the food to the eagle. Shibi's sacrifice for the bird was highly praised and both Agni and Indra offered him a place in the heavens in return (Mahabharata, Vanaparva Chapter 131).

 

== Ayurvedic Perspective ==

== Ayurvedic Perspective ==

Agni is an important entity in Ayurveda. Agni is the fiery metabolic energy of digestion called as Jataraagni, allows assimilation of food while ridding the body of waste and toxins, and transforms dense physical matter into subtle forms of energy the body needs. 

Agni is an important vital entity in Ayurveda. Agni is the indispensable agent involved in the process of Paaka (Digestion and transformation).  Different Ayurvedic texts mention that Agni is Pitta, one of the tridoshas of the human body, which are vaata, pitta and kapha.  Different texts mention different numbers of Agni present in the body, however according to the function and site of action there are 13 in number - 1 Jatharagni, 5 Bhutagnis and 7 Dhatvaagni.  

Jataraagni determines the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, ''Bhuta-agni'' determines the production of bile in the liver, ''Kloma-agni'' determines the production of sugar-digesting pancreatic enzymes and so forth. The nature and quality of these ''agnis'' depend on one’s ''dosha'' which can be – ''vata'', ''pitta'' or ''kapha''.

Jataraagni, the most important, aids in digestion of four types of food and transforms it into Rasa and Mala (waste and toxins), thus converting the gross matter to subtle substance thereby providing energy for body's needs. 

Agni is also known as ''Vaisvanara'', food.^{[note 27]} Just as the illuminating power in the fire is a part of Agni’s own effulgence, even so the heating power in the foods digestive and appetizing power is also a part of Agni's energy or potency.

Ayurveda also defines three types of Agni based on the digestion types and Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) - Vishaamgni, Teekshanagni, Mandaagni.  Samaagni is a state of balanced Agni of the body.  

== References ==

== References ==

# Mahabharata Vana parva (Chap 131) https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata%2002_%20Sanskrit-Hindi_Pandit%20Ramnarayan_Gita%20Press#page/n417/mode/2up

# Mahabharata Vana parva (Chap 131) https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata%2002_%20Sanskrit-Hindi_Pandit%20Ramnarayan_Gita%20Press#page/n417/mode/2up

# Valmiki Ramayana (Balakanda) http://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/vr_index.htm

# Valmiki Ramayana (Balakanda) http://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/vr_index.htm