Agni Upasana (Fire Worship)

Fire worship has been an essence of several culture throughout the world since the beginning of time. Zoroastrian culture gave utmost importance to eternally burning fires in the fire temples. Hebrew literature does talk about the importance of fire but for centuries the offerings are offered to God through fire in Jewish culture. And speaking of fire worship, one cannot deny the unparalleled degree of effort and analysis made by Vedic literature and post Vedic Indian sects such as Vaishnavism, Shaktism, Buddhism and Jainism.

The fire, according Vedas, exists in three forms –

• Vyoma — Fire that originated from the Hiranyagarbha during the big bang — it is consisted amongst the cores of most celestial bodies of the universe.
• Antariksha — the fire that exists in spaces such as lightening and also in the living bodies.
• Jataveda — the fire that exists on the surface of the earth and can be witnessed by living beings.

Agnihotra

Agni — a generic Sanskrit word for Fire — is a deity of utmost importance in Rigveda along with Indra and Prajapati. It is devata of 1042 mantras of the Vedas. Based on the samskaras performed on fire through Mantras and environmental rituals, the fire can be either beneficial psychologically, spiritually and physically, or it could lead to adverse effects.

Several scriptures classify types of fire and go into extensive details. Although there are several more classifications, complexities and analysis of each of them, we will only look at some major types for the purpose of simplicity.

• Garhapatya — The Earthly Agni appears at worship, for cooking and cooks the food for living beings.
• Vaishwanar — Fires responsible for Human digestion process and other bodily functions.
• Havyavaahan — Beneficial Fire of most of the Homa rituals. Havya means offering to Devata through fire and Vahana means carrier or ride; so Havyavaahan means one that carries the oblations of men to Devata;
• Varad — Purifying Fire set up during shanti rituals such Vastu Shanti and Udak Shanti
• Anal — Destructive fire that burns the forests and towns because of lack of control and samskaras.
• Paavak — Fire set up in a ritual merely for spiritual growth and meditation. One that purifies the mind and environment, such as Agnihotra ritual.

Agni is said to have seven tongues (seven forms of appearances in its flames based on heat, light, color, shape etc.) — (1) Hiranyaa, (2) Kanakaa, (3) Raktaa, (4) Aaraktaa, (5) Suprabhaa, (6) Bahuroopaa, and (7) Satee. It is said that meditating upon these seven tongues gives all kinds of materialistic, psychological and spiritual benefits.

Vedas often refer as fire set up during a fire ritual (yagya) as jatved. For instance, Shri-suktam specifically requests this Jataveda to awaken the laxmi — goddess of wealth and fetch it for the host.