KarmaVaani
Vedic tradition
अग्निAgni
Vaishvanara · Jatavedas · Havyavahana · Pavaka
The god of fire, messenger between people and the gods.
- Abode
- Every hearth and altar
- Consort
- Svaha
- Vahana
- Ram
- Colour
- Red
- Arms
- 4
Agni is fire, the first god named in the Rigveda and the one most hymned after Indra. He carries the offerings poured into the sacred fire up to the gods, and is present at every Hindu rite of passage: the wedding vows are taken around him, and he receives the body at the end. He is also the fire of digestion within each body.
Mantra
ॐ अग्नये स्वाहा
Om Agnaye Svaha
To Agni, svaha: said as an offering is poured into the fire.
How Agni is shown
A red figure with two faces and flames for hair, holding a ladle, riding a ram.
- Two faces
- Fire that both creates and destroys.
- Seven tongues of flame
- The seven offerings he receives.
- Sruk (ladle)
- The offering poured into him.
Stories
The first hymn
The Rigveda opens with Agni: 'I praise Agni, the household priest, the god of the sacrifice, who brings the gods.' For the Vedic people every ritual began with lighting him.
