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Agni is the chief terrestrial deity personified by the sacrificial fire which is the centre of the ritual poetry of the Rig Veda. The earth enveloped in darkness and the sky, become visible when Agni is born; the acquisition of fire by man is regarded as a gift of the gods. Agni is only compared and not identified with the Sun.   
 
Agni is the chief terrestrial deity personified by the sacrificial fire which is the centre of the ritual poetry of the Rig Veda. The earth enveloped in darkness and the sky, become visible when Agni is born; the acquisition of fire by man is regarded as a gift of the gods. Agni is only compared and not identified with the Sun.   
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'''Vedas''': '''अग्निर्होता - Agni as Hota'''  
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=== '''Vedas''': '''अग्निर्होता - Agni as Hota''' ===
 
   
In the Vedic literature, Agni occupies, after Indra, the most important position. Agni occupies a prominent place in the Vedas and particularly the Brahmanas.  There are over 200 hymns addressed to and in praise of Agni. Apart from that Agni also has the role of a mantra-drashta as to him are revealed many mantras of the 9th Mandala of Rig veda.     
 
In the Vedic literature, Agni occupies, after Indra, the most important position. Agni occupies a prominent place in the Vedas and particularly the Brahmanas.  There are over 200 hymns addressed to and in praise of Agni. Apart from that Agni also has the role of a mantra-drashta as to him are revealed many mantras of the 9th Mandala of Rig veda.     
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The Taittiriya samhita outlines the different activities of a householder as the one who tends the Agnihotra for the welfare of nature, animals and plants and fellow human beings.     
 
The Taittiriya samhita outlines the different activities of a householder as the one who tends the Agnihotra for the welfare of nature, animals and plants and fellow human beings.     
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'''Upanishads''' :      
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=== '''Upanishads''' : '''Jnanapradayaka''' ===
 
   
In Isavasyopanishad, Agni is worshiped as the torch bearer to the departing soul, leading it through the path of the Devatas (Devayana) towards the Parabrahman.  He is the witness to the deeds of all beings.         
 
In Isavasyopanishad, Agni is worshiped as the torch bearer to the departing soul, leading it through the path of the Devatas (Devayana) towards the Parabrahman.  He is the witness to the deeds of all beings.         
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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).       
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Puranas :        
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Puranas :        
    
=== Jataveda and Kravyād ===
 
=== Jataveda and Kravyād ===
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=== Water ===
 
=== Water ===
Agni is also called ''Arka'', "water," the accessory to worship, and the cause of fire that covers all food which covers all life (Yajurveda V.vii.5).
      
== Devata Swaroopam ==
 
== Devata Swaroopam ==
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=== Birth and Family ===
 
=== Birth and Family ===
 
Agni is the son of Brahma. In the Visnu Purana, Agni, called ''Abhimāni'' is said to have sprung from the mouth of the Virat purusha, the Cosmic Man. In another version, Agni is the son of Dharma (Eternal Law) and Vasubhāryā (daughter of Light).  A sage of the Rig Veda (Sukta IV.iii.11) states that the Sun became visible when Agni was born.<sup>[28]</sup>
 
Agni is the son of Brahma. In the Visnu Purana, Agni, called ''Abhimāni'' is said to have sprung from the mouth of the Virat purusha, the Cosmic Man. In another version, Agni is the son of Dharma (Eternal Law) and Vasubhāryā (daughter of Light).  A sage of the Rig Veda (Sukta IV.iii.11) states that the Sun became visible when Agni was born.<sup>[28]</sup>
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Agni is also called ''Arka'', "water," the accessory to worship, and the cause of fire that covers all food which covers all life (Yajurveda V.vii.5).
    
In some Hindu symbolism, Agni's parents are said to be the two components of the fire drill used to start the fire, and when young he was said to be cared for by ten servants who are represented by the ten fingers of the man who starts the fire.  Agni hid from the gods, but Atharvan??? found him and raised him, thus combining the divine and the human worlds, transforming the sublime and the subtle to the gross and the material.   
 
In some Hindu symbolism, Agni's parents are said to be the two components of the fire drill used to start the fire, and when young he was said to be cared for by ten servants who are represented by the ten fingers of the man who starts the fire.  Agni hid from the gods, but Atharvan??? found him and raised him, thus combining the divine and the human worlds, transforming the sublime and the subtle to the gross and the material.   

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