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* Agni is the described as the son of Vaayu as per Rig Veda sukta (1.16.112). Fire is made by the attrition of two sticks (some scholars believe these to be from Sami trees) named as Arani, and sages get the strength to produce fire from it through the Vyaana vaayu (one of the panchavaayus), hence Agni is the son of Vaayu.
* Agni is the described as the son of Vaayu as per Rig Veda sukta (1.16.112). Fire is made by the attrition of two sticks (some scholars believe these to be from Sami trees) named as Arani, and sages get the strength to produce fire from it through the Vyaana vaayu (one of the panchavaayus), hence Agni is the son of Vaayu.
* Mahabharata Aanushasana parva (Chap. 85) mentions the association of the Sami tree and Agni devata. It is said that the heart (core) of the Sami tree branches have fire in them. Rishis use this tree branches to generate fire. After the curse of Bhrugu maharshi Agni hides himself in different places and ultimately devas find him in the Sami tree. Hence this tree is sacred and since this finding out of Agni after a long absence is like a rebirth, the Puranas mention it as being born from Sami Tree.
* Mahabharata Anushasana parva (Adhyaya 85) mentions the association of the Sami tree and Agni devata. It is said that the heart (core) of the Sami tree branches have fire in them. Rishis use this tree branches to generate fire. After the curse of Bhrugu maharshi Agni hides himself in different places and ultimately devas find him in the Sami tree. Hence this tree is sacred and since this finding out of Agni after a long absence is like a rebirth, the Puranas mention it as being born from Sami Tree.
* 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: | वायु: प्राणो हृदयं विश्वमस्य पद्भयां पृथिवी ह्येष सर्वभूतान्तरात्मा || (Mund. Upan. 2.1.4).<ref name=":2" /></blockquote>Meaning : Agni (Fire) is forehead of the Paramapurusha while Surya and Chandra are the eyes. Vaayu is the breath.
* 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: | वायु: प्राणो हृदयं विश्वमस्य पद्भयां पृथिवी ह्येष सर्वभूतान्तरात्मा || (Mund. Upan. 2.1.4).</blockquote>Meaning : Agni (Fire) is forehead of the Paramapurusha while Surya and Chandra are the eyes. Vaayu is the breath.
* 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).
* Agni has two consorts, Svaha and Svadha. Agni through Svaahadevi (invocation offering) and fathered three sons पुत्त्रास्त्रयः पावकः १ पवमानः २ शुचिः ३<ref>Shabdakalpadruma ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85 Agni])</ref> - 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. Suchi, born of Svahadevi is the Badavaagni or Badabaagni, or Vadavagni the Agni that resides in the underground parts of the earth (Agni. Pura. 20.16)<ref>Agni Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%A6 Adhyaya. 20])</ref>. Mahabharata's (Sabh. Parv. Adhy. 31<ref>Pt. Ram Narayandatt. ''Mahabharat Volume 1'' ([https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata%2001_%20Sanskrit-Hindi_Pandit%20Ramnarayan_Gita%20Press#page/n837/mode/2up Sabhaparva, Adhyaya 31]) Gorakhpur: Gita Press</ref>) the legend about Sudarshana, the daughter of King Neela of Mahishmatipura, who became the wife of Agnideva.
* Agni has two consorts, Svaha and Svadha. Agni through Svaahadevi (invocation offering) and fathered three sons पुत्त्रास्त्रयः पावकः १ पवमानः २ शुचिः ३<ref>Shabdakalpadruma ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%83/%E0%A4%85 Agni])</ref> - 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. Suchi, born of Svahadevi is the Badavaagni or Badabaagni, or Vadavagni the Agni that resides in the underground parts of the earth (Agni. Pura. 20.16)<ref>Agni Purana ([https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%A6 Adhyaya. 20])</ref>. Mahabharata (Sabh. Parv. Adhy. 31<ref>Pt. Ram Narayandatt. ''Mahabharat Volume 1'' ([https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata%2001_%20Sanskrit-Hindi_Pandit%20Ramnarayan_Gita%20Press#page/n837/mode/2up Sabhaparva, Adhyaya 31]) Gorakhpur: Gita Press</ref>) contains the legend about Sudarshana, the daughter of King Neela of Mahishmatipura, who became the wife of Agnideva.
==== पावकः ॥ Paavaka ====
==== पावकः ॥ Paavaka ====
'''Chandogya Upanishad''' <ref>Ganganatha, Jha. (1923). ''The Chandogya Upanishad and Sri Sankara's Commentary'', Fourth Volume, Madras: The India Printing Works</ref>, in a more sakarmaka marg, throws light on how a normal householder can enter the Brahmajana marga through the tending of Agnihotra as given in Upakosala's and Satyakama Jabali's conversation (Adhyaya 5). The essence of brahmavidya symbolized by [[Panchagni Vidya (पञ्चाग्नि विद्या)|Panchagnividya]] for the householder is given in this Upanishad in the form of the dialogue between Uddalaka and Shvetaketu.
'''Chandogya Upanishad''' <ref>Ganganatha, Jha. (1923). ''The Chandogya Upanishad and Sri Sankara's Commentary'', Fourth Volume, Madras: The India Printing Works</ref>, in a more sakarmaka marg, throws light on how a normal householder can enter the Brahmajana marga through the tending of Agnihotra as given in Upakosala's and Satyakama Jabali's conversation (Adhyaya 5). The essence of brahmavidya symbolized by [[Panchagni Vidya (पञ्चाग्नि विद्या)|Panchagnividya]] for the householder is given in this Upanishad in the form of the dialogue between Uddalaka and Shvetaketu.
'''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)<ref>Swami Sharvananda, (1920) ''Mundaka and Mandukya Upanishads'' Madras : Sri Ramakrishna Math</ref>.
'''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)<ref name=":2">Swami Sharvananda, (1920) ''Mundaka and Mandukya Upanishads'' Madras : Sri Ramakrishna Math</ref>.
== Agni and Puranas ==
== Agni and Puranas ==
Svahadevi, places Agni's energy so fallen 6 times, in a pot, which takes the form of lustrous boy with 6 heads and pairs of hands. This valorous son of Agni was called Skanda by maharshi Viswamitra. Saptarishis except Vasishta hearing this news forsake their wives assuming infidelity on their part. However, later on learning the truth, they take their wives back (Maha. Vanaparva Adhyaya 223 - 227)<ref>Pt. Ram Narayandatt. Mahabharat Volume 2 ( [https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata%2002_%20Sanskrit-Hindi_Pandit%20Ramnarayan_Gita%20Press#page/n723/mode/2up Vanaparva Adhyaya 225]) Gorakhpur: Gita Press</ref>. Skanda, as the leader of the army of devatas was instrumental in the death of Taarakasura. Indra then offers his daughter, Devasena, to Skanda.
Svahadevi, places Agni's energy so fallen 6 times, in a pot, which takes the form of lustrous boy with 6 heads and pairs of hands. This valorous son of Agni was called Skanda by maharshi Viswamitra. Saptarishis except Vasishta hearing this news forsake their wives assuming infidelity on their part. However, later on learning the truth, they take their wives back (Maha. Vanaparva Adhyaya 223 - 227)<ref>Pt. Ram Narayandatt. Mahabharat Volume 2 ( [https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata%2002_%20Sanskrit-Hindi_Pandit%20Ramnarayan_Gita%20Press#page/n723/mode/2up Vanaparva Adhyaya 225]) Gorakhpur: Gita Press</ref>. Skanda, as the leader of the army of devatas was instrumental in the death of Taarakasura. Indra then offers his daughter, Devasena, to Skanda.
In the Anushasana Parva (Adhyayas 84 to 86)<ref>Pt. Ram Narayandatt. Mahabharat Volume 6 ( [https://archive.org/stream/Mahabharata04SanskritHindiPanditRamnarayanGitaPress/Mahabharata06_Sanskrit-hindi_panditRamnarayan_gitaPress#page/n353/mode/2up Anushasana Parva Adhyaya 85]) Gorakhpur: Gita Press</ref>, the legend of Kartikeya is touched upon again (continued as given in Ramayana). When the effulgence of Shiva slipped and Parvati became angry as she was denied the privilege of bearing Shiva's son, she cursed the Devatas that henceforth they will not bear children. When devatas approach Brahma, he instructs them to search for Agni, who was absent and hence excluded from the curse of Parvati. Devatas go in search of him and finally find him hiding in the Sami tree.
इत्युक्त्वा निःसृतोऽश्वत्थादग्निर्वारणसूचितः। प्रविवेश शमीगर्भमथ वह्निः सुषुप्सया॥ (Maha. Anush. Parv. 13-85-36)
=== अग्निप्रवेसम् ॥ Agnipravesham ===
=== अग्निप्रवेसम् ॥ Agnipravesham ===
Valmiki Ramayana (Yuddhakanda Sarga 118<ref>Valmiki Ramayana ([http://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/yuddha/sarga118/yuddha_118_frame.htm Yuddhakanda Sarga 118])</ref>) describes the Agnipareeksha or 'Fire ordeal' undergone by Sitadevi after death of Ravanaasura. Bhagavan Sri Rama, informs Sita that he has released her from her bondage from Ravanaasura and that she is free to go to the place of her choice. Unable to bear the thought of going anywhere else other than being with her husband Rama, she choses to enter the fire. Agni proving Sita's chastity returns her back to Sri Rama. There are different versions to this event, however, the role of Agni is as a witness to all deeds and as a purifier has been significant throughout different eras.
Valmiki Ramayana (Yuddhakanda Sarga 118<ref>Valmiki Ramayana ([http://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/yuddha/sarga118/yuddha_118_frame.htm Yuddhakanda Sarga 118])</ref>) describes the Agnipareeksha or 'Fire ordeal' undergone by Sitadevi after death of Ravanaasura. Bhagavan Sri Rama, informs Sita that he has released her from her bondage from Ravanaasura and that she is free to go to the place of her choice. Unable to bear the thought of going anywhere else other than being with her husband Rama, she choses to enter the fire. Agni proving Sita's chastity returns her back to Sri Rama. There are different versions to this event, however, the role of Agni is as a witness to all deeds and as a purifier has been significant throughout different eras.