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Rigveda Devatas (ऋग्वेदे देवताविचारः) (view source)
Revision as of 23:15, 6 January 2022
, 23:15, 6 January 2022→Introduction to Important Rigvedic Deities
==== [[Agni (अग्निः)|अग्निः ॥ Agni]] ====
==== [[Agni (अग्निः)|अग्निः ॥ Agni]] ====
As the most invoked deity in the Vedas, Agni enjoys a prominent position as a Rigvedic deity. Agni has various positions from the elemental fire to a reference as Paramatma. Agni symbolizes the yajnas; all yagaas or yajnas are based on Agni, without him no divine activity can be conducted. He is the intermediary messenger between the devatas and the humans, considered as "the mouth" of the devatas. All oblations, aahutis and dravyas offered to other devatas are conveyed by Agni.
As the most invoked deity in the Vedas, Agni enjoys a prominent position as a Rigvedic deity. Agni has various positions from the elemental fire to a reference as Paramatma. Agni symbolizes the yajnas; all yagaas or yajnas are based on Agni, without him no divine activity can be conducted. He is the intermediary messenger between the devatas and the humans, considered as "the mouth" of the devatas. All oblations, aahutis and dravyas offered to other devatas are conveyed by Agni. Along with Indra he is worshipped as a protector of environment. Atharvaveda describes his Virat swaroopa as having four kinds of presentation - as Agni on earth (elemental fire), Agni in water, Surya and Electricity (Vidyut). Wherever the tattvas of Agni such as tejas (brilliance), urja (energy) are seen, in those forms we worship Agni as the devata. Thus we find Agni pervading all over the universe; the celestial regions, atmospheric region, earth, electricity, air and in all directions.
[[Tretagni (त्रेताग्निः)|Tretagni]] or the three Agnis - Garhapatya, Ahavaniya and Dakshinagni are of prime importance in the Vedas. Apart from these, other forms of Agni include - Kravyaada (used in [[Antyesti (अन्त्येष्टिः)|Antyesti]] samskar etc), Akravyaada (used on Yajnas and other auspicious times), Sankasuka (used as a joining force) and Vikasuka (used as breaking force) forms.
In a human form Agni is described as Ghrtapusta (one who is nourished with ghrta or ghee), Ghrtamukha (one having ghee in his mouth), Ghrtakesha (one having ghee as strands of hair), Haritakesha etc. He is also represented as an Vrshabh (ox), Ashva (horse), Vatsa (a calf), and a divine bird. His food is said to be wood and ghee. He is said to have seven faces and seven tongues as per [[Atharvaveda (अथर्ववेदः)|Atharvaveda]] and Mundakopanishad. According to Shri. Aravind Ghosh Agni.
== References ==
== References ==