Agni in Rigveda

Agni in the Ṛgveda: The Fire that Civilizes

Agni is a principal deity of the Rigveda, the divine fire, priest of sacrifice, messenger between gods and mortals, and lord of the household. He is invoked as "the chosen Priest, God, minister of sacrifice, the hotar, lavishest of wealth."[1-1.1] More hymns are addressed to him than to nearly any other deity, and the Rigveda opens with his praise.

Names and Epithets

Agni bears numerous titles. He is called Jātavedas ("knower of all that lives"),[1-44.1] Vaiśvānara ("belonging to all men"),[1-59.1] Aṅgiras (the earliest seer),[1-1.6][1-31.1] Tanūnapāt, and Narāśaṁsa.[3-29.11] He is addressed as "Son of Strength,"[1-26.10] "Lord of the House,"[1-12.2] "Child of Waters,"[3-9.1] and "Bearer of Oblations."[3-9.6]

Birth and Origins

Agni is described as having multiple origins. He is "brought to life from out of the waters, from the stone: From out the forest trees and herbs that grow on ground."[2-1.1] Three births are ascribed to him: "First Agni sprang to life from out of Heaven: the second time from us came Jātavedas. Thirdly the Manly-souled was in the waters."[10-45.1] He is "Child of a double birth"[1-140.2] and "Sprung from two mothers."[1-31.2]

Mātariśvan is said to have brought him from afar: "Him Mātariśvan brought to us from far away produced by friction, from the Gods."[3-9.5] He was discovered by the Bhṛigus: "The Bhṛigus established thee among mankind for men, like as a treasure."[1-58.6]

Form and Appearance

Agni is depicted with vivid imagery. He is "Flame-haired,"[3-17.1] "with hair of flame,"[1-45.6] possessing "teeth of flame"[1-58.5] and "jaws of gold."[2-2.5] He has a "tongue" used to taste oblations,[1-12.6] and is described as "four-eyed"[1-31.13] and "thousand-eyed."[1-79.12] His path is black, marked by smoke: "Black is thy path, Agni, changeless, with glittering waves!"[1-58.4]

He is "seven-rayed, the triple-headed"[1-146.1] and has "seven tongues."[1-58.7] His smoke is his banner: "Smoke-bannered spreader of the light."[1-44.3]

Functions and Roles

Priest and Messenger

Agni's primary role is as the divine priest (hotar) who conveys offerings from mortals to gods: "We choose Agni the messenger, the herald, master of all wealth."[1-12.1] He performs multiple priestly functions: "Thine is the Herald's task and Cleanser's duly timed; Leader art thou, and Kindler for the pious man. Thou art Director, thou the ministering Priest: thou art the Brahman, Lord and Master in our home."[2-1.2]

Household Lord

He is the domestic fire, "Lord of the House,"[1-12.2] dwelling in every home: "guest in every house, finds like a swift-winged bird a home in every tree."[10-91.2]

Protector and Slayer of Demons

Agni protects worshippers and destroys evil spirits (Rakṣasas): "Burn thou up all the Rikṣasas, O Agni; ward thou off curses from our sacrifices."[1-76.3] He is invoked to "Smite down as with a club, thou who hast fire for teeth, smite thou the wicked."[1-36.16] Hymn 10-87 is devoted to his destruction of Yatudhānas (sorcerers).

Identification with Other Gods

Agni is identified with many deities: "Hero of Heroes, Agni! Thou art Indra, thou art Viṣṇu... Thou, Brahmaṇaspati... Agni, thou art King Varuṇa... As Mitra... Aryaman... Tvaṣṭar... Rudra... Pūṣan... Savitar... Bhaga."[2-1.3-7] "Agni is Mitra when enkindled duly."[3-5.4]

Vaiśvānara

As Vaiśvānara, Agni is universal: "Centre art thou, Vaiśvānara, of the people, sustaining men like a deep-founded pillar."[1-59.1] "The forehead of the sky, earth's centre, Agni became the messenger of earth and heaven."[1-59.2] He measured out the firmament and attained heaven by his might.[6-8.2]

Cosmic Role

Agni sustains and pervades the cosmos. "He hath filled heaven and earth and the great realm of light."[3-2.7] He is "germ of waters, germ of woods, germ of all things that move not and that move."[1-70.3] At his birth "light became apparent. The Deities, the broad earth, and the heavens, and plants, and waters gloried in his friendship."[10-88.2]

Funerary Role

Agni conducts the dead. As the cremation fire he is asked: "Burn him not up, nor quite consume him, Agni... when thou hast matured him, then send him on his way unto the Fathers."[10-16.1] Two forms are distinguished — the flesh-eating fire sent to Yama's realm, and Jātavedas who carries oblations to the gods.[10-16.9-10]

Worship

Agni is kindled with fuel and ghee (clarified butter): "With fuel, Agni, and with oil, desirous, mine offering I present."[3-18.3] He is produced by friction of fire-sticks: "The men from fire-sticks, with their hands' swift movement, have, in deep thought, engendered glorious Agni."[7-1.1] Worshippers seek from him wealth, heroic sons, long life, protection, and forgiveness of sin: "Pardon, we pray, this sin of ours, O Agni."[1-31.16]