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== Agni in Brahmanas ==

== Agni in Brahmanas ==

The role of Agni in Brahmanas highlight the use of fire as the chief carrier of the havishya with the chanting of mantras. The ritualistic part is always associated with the mantras and without which yagnas or ishtis are not possible.   

The role of Agni in Brahmanas highlight the use of fire as the chief carrier of the havishya with the chanting of mantras. The ritualistic part is always associated with the mantras and without which yagnas or ishtis are not possible.   

=== Madhyandhina satapatabrahmanam ===

=== Madhyandhina satapatabrahmanam ===

The Ushaasambharana kanda (6th Kanda) of Shatapatha Brahmana (Maadhyandina sakha) 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.   

The Ushaasambharana kanda (6th Kanda) of Shatapatha Brahmana (Maadhyandina sakha) 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.   

Summary : Agni is described here as the form of heat which is the root of all creation. He is created first and forms the base for all gross creation until the present time. Hence Agni is called अग्रिम् || Agrim (first)     

Summary : Agni is described here as the form of heat which is the root of all creation. He is created first and forms the base for all gross creation until the present time. Hence Agni is called अग्रिम् || Agrim (first)     

=== Kanvasatpathabrahmanam ===

=== Kanvasatpathabrahmanam ===

It proclaims Agni as wisdom or discriminating power.  The Adhvara (4th) kanda has 9 adhyayas each of which contains 4 brahmanas further divided into varying number of kaandikas describe the Agnistoma yagna wherein detailed procedures involving many "इष्टिः || isthis" (similar to a yagna) including the construction of the yagasala and invocation of Agni are given.  

It proclaims Agni as wisdom or discriminating power.  The Adhvara (4th) kanda has 9 adhyayas each of which contains 4 brahmanas further divided into varying number of kaandikas describe the Agnistoma yagna wherein detailed procedures involving many "इष्टिः || isthis" (similar to a yagna) including the construction of the yagasala and invocation of Agni are given.  

Meaning : Yajamani chants " To wisdom, to mind, to Agni - Svaaha". He intends with his mind, " May I perform the yagna". These two - wisdom and mind are within himself. He meditates upon both these deities (intent) in his own mind.   

Meaning : Yajamani chants " To wisdom, to mind, to Agni - Svaaha". He intends with his mind, " May I perform the yagna". These two - wisdom and mind are within himself. He meditates upon both these deities (intent) in his own mind.   

== Agni in Upanishads ==

== Agni in Upanishads ==

=== Isavasyopanishad ===

=== Isavasyopanishad ===

In this Upanishad, the last two mantras, as given below are a prayer to Agni who is the divine witness to the actions of every life form<blockquote>"वा॒युरनि॑लम॒मृत॒मथे॒दं भस्मा॑न्त॒म् शरी॑रम् ।"</blockquote><blockquote>"ॐ क्रतो॒ स्मर॑ कृ॒तम् स्म॑र॒ क्रतो॒ स्मर॑ कृ॒तम् स्म॑र ॥१७॥ (Isav. Upan. 17)"</blockquote><blockquote>"अग्ने॒ नय॑ सु॒पथा॑ रा॒ये अ॒स्मान्विश्वा॑नि देव व॒युना॑नि वि॒द्वान् ।"</blockquote><blockquote>"यु॒यो॒ध्य॒स्मज्जु॑हुरा॒णमेनो॒ भूयि॑ष्ठां ते॒ नम॑ उ॒क्तिं विधेम ॥१८॥ (Isav. Upan. 18)"</blockquote>Meaning : Let the breath merge with the Immortal being or Hiranyagarbha and let the body be reduced to ashes, remember your deeds. Let Agni lead us along the right path or the bright path of the Devas ([[Devayana and Pitrayana (देवयान मार्ग और पित्रयान मार्ग)|Devayana]] path from where there is no return to mortality).

In this Upanishad, the last two mantras, as given below are a prayer to Agni who is the divine witness to the actions of every life form<blockquote>"वा॒युरनि॑लम॒मृत॒मथे॒दं भस्मा॑न्त॒म् शरी॑रम् ।"</blockquote><blockquote>"ॐ क्रतो॒ स्मर॑ कृ॒तम् स्म॑र॒ क्रतो॒ स्मर॑ कृ॒तम् स्म॑र ॥१७॥ (Isav. Upan. 17)"</blockquote><blockquote>"अग्ने॒ नय॑ सु॒पथा॑ रा॒ये अ॒स्मान्विश्वा॑नि देव व॒युना॑नि वि॒द्वान् ।"</blockquote><blockquote>"यु॒यो॒ध्य॒स्मज्जु॑हुरा॒णमेनो॒ भूयि॑ष्ठां ते॒ नम॑ उ॒क्तिं विधेम ॥१८॥ (Isav. Upan. 18)"</blockquote>Meaning : Let the breath merge with the Immortal being or Hiranyagarbha and let the body be reduced to ashes, remember your deeds. Let Agni lead us along the right path or the bright path of the Devas ([[Devayana and Pitrayana (देवयान मार्ग और पित्रयान मार्ग)|Devayana]] path from where there is no return to mortality).

This is the prayer for the dissolution of the individual prana into the infinite prana.  Agni is prayed to as the chief priest of the sacrifice and the divine witness of all actions done by the individual, when the body is being being reduced to ashes. He is the principle intelligence which guides all thoughts and actions, a path to Universal Knowledge. Agni at the first step is like guide with a torch that illuminates the path of the soul.  

This is the prayer for the dissolution of the individual prana into the infinite prana.  Agni is prayed to as the chief priest of the sacrifice and the divine witness of all actions done by the individual, when the body is being being reduced to ashes. He is the principle intelligence which guides all thoughts and actions, a path to Universal Knowledge. Agni at the first step is like guide with a torch that illuminates the path of the soul.  

=== Kenopanishad ===

=== Kenopanishad ===

Agni reveals his identity as the heat energy and the ever-burning flame of the conscious force in matter, that makes up the entire world. Agni in an attempt to know what makes up Brahma is sent to Yaksha swaroopa Brahma himself who tests his abilities.  

Agni reveals his identity as the heat energy and the ever-burning flame of the conscious force in matter, that makes up the entire world. Agni in an attempt to know what makes up Brahma is sent to Yaksha swaroopa Brahma himself who tests his abilities.  

Kenopanishad expounds brahmavidya based on the principles that Jivatma and Paramatma are different and Brahman has to be realized by sadhana.  

Kenopanishad expounds brahmavidya based on the principles that Jivatma and Paramatma are different and Brahman has to be realized by sadhana.  

=== Katha Upanishad ===

=== Katha Upanishad ===

Kathopanishad given by कठमहर्षिः Katha maharshi is about the dialogue between Yama and Nachiketa, where the esoteric significance is about spiritual practice of the mankind. Nachiketa is given away to Yama (Mrityu devata or god of death) by his father Uddalaka as part of charity during a yagna. Nachiketa reaches Yamapuri and is informed that Yamadevata is not available so he fasts and keeps vigil at the gates awaiting the return of Yama. Seeing him Yama grants three boons to Nachiketa. As the second boon Nachiketa asks Yama as follows  

Kathopanishad given by कठमहर्षिः Katha maharshi is about the dialogue between Yama and Nachiketa, where the esoteric significance is about spiritual practice of the mankind. Nachiketa is given away to Yama (Mrityu devata or god of death) by his father Uddalaka as part of charity during a yagna. Nachiketa reaches Yamapuri and is informed that Yamadevata is not available so he fasts and keeps vigil at the gates awaiting the return of Yama. Seeing him Yama grants three boons to Nachiketa. As the second boon Nachiketa asks Yama as follows  

Yama expounds to Nachiketa the secrets of Agni that leads to heaven and the number and mode of setting of fire bricks required to build the altar.   

Yama expounds to Nachiketa the secrets of Agni that leads to heaven and the number and mode of setting of fire bricks required to build the altar.   

=== Kaushitaki Upanishad ===

=== Kaushitaki Upanishad ===

Kaushitaki Upanishad associated with the Rig Veda describes the role of Agni in the transit of soul in Devayana marga.  

Kaushitaki Upanishad associated with the Rig Veda describes the role of Agni in the transit of soul in Devayana marga.  

स एतं देवयानं पन्थानमापद्याग्निलोकमागच्छतिस वायुलोकं स आदित्यलोकं (Kaushitaki Upanishad 1.3)

स एतं देवयानं पन्थानमापद्याग्निलोकमागच्छतिस वायुलोकं स आदित्यलोकं (Kaushitaki Upanishad 1.3)

=== Chandogya Upanishad ===

=== Chandogya Upanishad ===

Chandogya upanishad (Chap 5 and 6) describes ''[[Panchagni Vidya (पञ्चाग्नि विद्या)|Panchagnividya]]'', the meditation on the five fires (symbolic). Panchagnividya, however, is not actually fires in the physical sense, or an outward sacrificial activity, nor a penance or tapas but deals with the knowledge or meditation to know the inner meaning of the common phenomenon of birth and death.  

Chandogya upanishad (Chap 5 and 6) describes ''[[Panchagni Vidya (पञ्चाग्नि विद्या)|Panchagnividya]]'', the meditation on the five fires (symbolic). Panchagnividya, however, is not actually fires in the physical sense, or an outward sacrificial activity, nor a penance or tapas but deals with the knowledge or meditation to know the inner meaning of the common phenomenon of birth and death.  

It is a method of meditation wherein evolution and the cycle of samsara-chakra is understood such that a householder frees himself from the bondage of the samsara-chakra. This all inclusiveness and comprehension of various aspects of the world and their relationship to the Universe is the secret of the meditation that is Panchagnividya. It explains the interconnectivity of everything that exists, with creation as a kind of sacrifice. Each manifestation, the microcosm, is a manifestation of ''Prakrti'', the macrocosm.

It is a method of meditation wherein evolution and the cycle of samsara-chakra is understood such that a householder frees himself from the bondage of the samsara-chakra. This all inclusiveness and comprehension of various aspects of the world and their relationship to the Universe is the secret of the meditation that is Panchagnividya. It explains the interconnectivity of everything that exists, with creation as a kind of sacrifice. Each manifestation, the microcosm, is a manifestation of ''Prakrti'', the macrocosm.

The Dialogue of the Three Fires with Upakosala, the student of Satyakama Jabali, reveals Agni's knowledge of the Brahman.   

The Dialogue of the Three Fires with Upakosala, the student of Satyakama Jabali, reveals Agni's knowledge of the Brahman. Upakosala was sitting sorrowfully and quietly in the yagnashala after Satyakama Jabali left without teaching him the science of brahmavidya. 

 

अथ हाग्नय: समूदिरे, तप्तो ब्रह्मचारी कुशलं न: पर्यचारीद्धन्तास्मै प्रब्रवामेति तस्मै होचु: ॥ ४ ॥ (Chan. Upan. 4.10.4)  

 

 

 

The vyahiritis to be performed if the sacrificial fires are injured are mentioned very beautifully in this Upanishad.   

The vyahiritis to be performed if the sacrificial fires are injured are mentioned very beautifully in this Upanishad.   

=== Mundaka Upanishad ===

=== Mundaka Upanishad ===

Mundakopanishad (1.2.1-5) describes the role of Agni in Karmakanda before a householder rises up in the Jnanamarga.  The procedure to light the Agnihotra and the consequences of not conducting the Agnihotra is explained in detail in this Mundaka.   

Mundakopanishad (1.2.1-5) describes the role of Agni in Karmakanda before a householder rises up in the Jnanamarga.  The procedure to light the Agnihotra and the consequences of not conducting the Agnihotra is explained in detail in this Mundaka.   

Meaning : That Agni, devours with his seven tongues or flames namely Kālī (black), Karālī (terrible),Manojava (speedy as the mind), Sulohita (very red), Sudhumravarna (coloured like thick smoke'), Sphulingini (emitting sparks) and Vishwaruchi (having the fuel as the Sun)

Meaning : That Agni, devours with his seven tongues or flames namely Kālī (black), Karālī (terrible),Manojava (speedy as the mind), Sulohita (very red), Sudhumravarna (coloured like thick smoke'), Sphulingini (emitting sparks) and Vishwaruchi (having the fuel as the Sun)

=== Brihadaranyaka Upanishad ===

=== Brihadaranyaka Upanishad ===

Brihadaranyaka upanishad (I.ii.5)

Brihadaranyaka upanishad (I.ii.5)