Sushmajee
Dictionary Of Hindu Religion | Dictionary
Dictionary-A | |
Agni (Fire) |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P-Q R S T-U V-W-X Y-Z See also Panchaagni Its synonyms are - Aag, Anal, Bhooritej, Chitrabhaanu, Havyavaahan, Hutaashan, Jaatavedaa, Jwaalaa, Paarthiv, Paavak, Pingesh, Plavang, Rudragarv, Hiranyakrit, Shikhee, Vahni, Vaishwaanar, Vibhaavasu. According to MBH, G-3-Youth/22, Once Sahadev (one of the Paandav) went for victory tour at the time of Yudhishthir's Raajsooya Yagya, he met a King named Neel who was protected by Agni Dev, so as he wanted to defeat him, Agni Dev restricted him. So he prayed him - "I bow you, my efforts are only for you. You are called Paavak because you sanctify everything. You are the mouth of gods and you are Havyavaahan because you carry the Ghee poured on you. You are called Jaatavedaa because Ved have emerged for ministering you. You are called Chitrabhaanu because you are the chief of Devtaa, Anal, Vibhaavasu, Hutaashan, Jwaalaa, Shikhee, Vaishwaanar, Pingesh, Plavang, Bhooritej. You are the same from whom Kumaar (Skand) has taken birth. You are called Rudragarv and Hiranyakrit...."
(1) Sacred fire. Agni is of several kinds - Also called Vahni. The eight forms of Vahni (Fire) are Agni
has 10 Kalaa - (1) Dhoomraa, (2) Archi, (3) Ooshmaa, (4) Jwalinee, (5)
Jwaalinee, (6) Vis-phulinginee, (7) Sushree, (8) Suroopaa, (9) Kapilaa, (10) Havya-Kavyavaahaa. The Agni Deity A. Mission and special features - Providing the path for dispersion
of Deities from the absolute ether (Aakaash) element to the site of the
fire sacrifice (Yagya). Every spiritual rite (Sanskaar) is performed in
the presence of fire. In the Indian scriptures of Deities, Agni is
accorded status only next to Indra, the king of Deities. In the Rig Ved,
Agni is referred to as the presiding Deity of the home (Grihapati) and
an excellent guest. He is the liaison between Deities and man. Since it
is he who delivers the oblations offered in the Fire (Havi) by man to
deities in every spiritual rite he is invoked on the altar (Sthandil)
first. The name of Agni used in every spiritual rite varies. After the
ritual of invoking Agni, oblations are offered to the principal deities
through it and then the respective spiritual rites are performed. He is
the presiding deity of the south-western direction B. Science behind the idol C. Family - Consorts - Swaahaa and Swadhaa. "Swaahaa - She is one of the consorts of Lord Agni. When performing a sacrificial fire (Hom), at the end of a Mantra an oblation is offered after chanting Swaahaa only because it is believed that a sacrificial fire bestows benefits only if Swaahaa is uttered in this way. When praying to Agni, Sage Grutsamad says, “O Agni deliver the oblation offered through the fire amidst chanting of the word Swaahaa to deities.” (Rig Ved 2.3.11).Swaaha is the daughter of Daksh Prajaapati and Prasooti. She acquired the ability to deliver food to Deities because of her austerities. She gave birth to four sons namely the three fires Paavak, Pavamaan and Shuchi and Swaarochish Manu (Brahm Vaivart Puraan 2.40). The Devee Bhaagvat narrates her story as - "Lord Vishnu manifested in the form of a sacrificial fire so that deities would get food. Braahman began to offer oblations in that sacrificial fire. However Agni would not deliver that part of the oblation to the respective Deity. Hence the Deities approached Lord Brahmaa once again. Then he meditated upon the female deity (Devee) and she manifested herself in the form of a woman. Lord Brahmaa named her Swaahaa and instructed her to deliver oblations which were offered in the fire amidst chanting of her name to the Deities. She accepted the task. Then Agni married her and she bore three sons, their names being Gaarhapatya Agni (the fire worshipped in the home), Dakshinaagni (the fire placed in the south) and Aavaahneeya Agni (the sacred fire lit for a specific spiritual purpose). Since then Braahman began to offer oblations suffixing Swaahaa to the Mantra and deities began to receive their share of oblations. When offering an oblation the name of the Deity is chanted along with the name of the Deity - for example "Indraaya Swaahaa" means "I offer this oblation to Indra". It is said that Swaahaa should be worshipped with the Mantra “Om hreem shreem, vaahni jaayaayai devyai Swaahaa". His vehicle is : A chariot drawn by four parrots.
D. Spiritual practice - Hindu and Zoroastrians worship Agni. Agnihotree - He is the one who performs the ritual of Agnihotra, that is concentrates on Agni and keeps a fire lit in his home throughout his life. He ritualistically worships the Gaarhapatya, Aahvaaneeya and Dakshinaagni fires everyday in the morning and evening. Some Agnihotree offer oblations to the Gaarhapatya fire in the morning and evening and to the Aahvaaneeya and Dakshinaagni Fires only during the day. The sacred fire is offered oblations twice, at sunrise in the morning and after sunset in the evening. In the morning, an oblation is offered to the Soorya Deity and in the evening to Agni. Agnihotree also give offerings to all living beings and the seven great sages (Saptarshi) along with the fire. An Agnihotree couple has to carry the fire with them even during travel. An oblation offered to it consists of sacrificial firewood (Samidhaa), milk and water. The Tongues of Agni (Fire) These tongues are different with the difference of Samidhaa. Bahuroopaa, Atiroopaa, and Saatwikaa - these Agni Jihvaa are used in Yog Karm.
In Aagyaa Hom it becomes Hiranyaa Agni; Whatever
Samidhaa (the wood or the material to be put in fire) is used in Havan,
Vaishwaanar Dev exists in those Samidhaa. When an Aahuti is offered in
Agni. Agni Dev helps in all phases of life. One should offer Aahuti in
the mouth of Agni, if it is offered at some other place it gives wrong
results. Hiranyaa is the tongue of Agni while offering Aahuti with Ghee;
while in other Aahuti it is called Gananaa, Vakraa, Krishnaabhaa,
Suprabhaa, Bahuroopaa, and Atiroopaa. Names
of Agni in Various Tyes of Yagya
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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/06
Contact: sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on
07/08/11