Agni

**Pantheon**: Hindu

**Title**: God of Fire

**Authority**: Fire

Agni literally means “fire”: the name is etymologically related to *ignite,* the Hindu god of fire. Because Agni is fire, he is a deity with whom people have daily contact he is said to be manifest as the vital spark in mankind, birds, animals, plants and life itself. He is fire and he is the spirit of fire. When you gaze at a flame, you gaze at Agni. He appeared in lightning, in celestial sun flares, in the sacred blaze rising from the altar and in household fires.

Fire and its relation to sacrifice was a dominant feature of the fire cult during Vedic times. The flames and the aroma of the sacrifice rose into the sky and were thus assumed to be the most effective way to reach the all-powerful beings. Agni is called the messenger and mediator between heaven and earth, announcing to the gods the hymns sung to them and conveying offerings of their worshippers. He invited the worshippers by his crackling flames, bringing fire down on the sacrifice. The priest would chant:

Agni, the divine ministrant of the sacrifice, the great bestower of treasure.

May one obtain through Agni, wealth and welfare.’

Gustav Holst wrote Hymn to Agni, based on a hymn in the Rig-Veda. The work is scored for male chorus and orchestra.

Agni is still important as the god of domestic and ritual fire and for spells for the increase of wealth, material goods, creativity and domestic protection. Agni is an equal-opportunity spirit. He loves all people, regardless of wealth, power, influence, or lack thereof. He lives in any home with a hearth, no matter how humble or poor. Light a candle and there he is! He is *everyone’s* friend. Agni is the fire that cooks food and provides warmth and safety. He was at one time a critically important deity.

The Hindu epic poem The Mahabharata tells how Agni, having devoured too many offerings, lost his power. To regain his strength he wanted to consume a whole forest. At first Indra prevented him, but eventually Agni tricked Indra and accomplished his task. In another Hindu epic, The Ramayama, Agni is the father of Nila, who aids the hero Rama.

In the sacred Indian collection of hymns the Rig-Veda, Agni has more hymns addressed to him than has any other god except the storm god, Indra. Over two hundred hymns in the Rig Veda are dedicated to him. Eight of its ten books start with praise for Agni as Vedic Lord of Fire. Agni serves as mediator between people and other spirits, accepting and delegating burned offerings. An offering that fails to ignite has been rejected by Agni. He protects people both before and after life:

* An incantation in the Rig Veda requests that he protect fetuses from physical and magical danger.
* Agni has the power to grant immortality or cleanse one’s sins at the moment of death.
* He is a psychopomp, guiding souls to other realms.

Souls of the deceased are believed to ascend with smoke from funeral pyres, hence the ancient preference of many Indo-European peoples for cremation as opposed to burial or other methods of disposing of cadavers.

Agni is the spirit of unquenchable erotic fire. He may be invoked by lovers seeking flames of passion and by men seeking to invigorate or enhance their virility: to burn all night like a constant fire.

Agni is also called Vahni (he who receives the burnt offerings); Brihaspati (lord of sacred speech) in his role as creative force; Vitihotra (he who sanctifies the worshipper); Dhananjaya (he who destroys riches); Kivalana (he who burns); Dhumektu (he whose sign is smoke); Chagaratha (he who rides on a ram), referring to his mount; Saptajihva (he who has seven tongues); Pavaka (the purifier); and Grihapati, when referring to household fire. Associated with Agni are the Bhrigus (roasters or consumers), spirits who nourish a fire and are the makers of chariots. Also associated with Agni is Kravyad, the fire that consumes bodies on a funeral pyre. In Hindu folklore today a kravyad is a flesh-eating goblin or any carnivorous animal.

**Manifestations:** Agni *is* fire and lightning. He also manifests in the form of a three-legged, two-headed man. Each head has seven tongues of flame. He has two or seven arms. His faces are red; his eyes and long, wild hair are black. His face shines from butter smeared on it. He wears a yajñopavita (a Brahmanical thread) and a garland of fruit. Fire issues from his mouth, and seven streams of glory radiate from his body.

**Consort**: Svaha, a solar deity

**Attributes:** A flaming spear, torch, axe, prayer beads

**Colour:** Red

**Planets**: The Sun; the stars are sparks from his fire.

**Bird:** Parrot

**Mounts**: A ram (as in Aries, the first fire sign) or a chariot pulled by flaming horses

**Offering**: Ghee (clarified butter); place a cotton wick in ghee and burn it like a candle.

## Smite Lore

There are few elements as destructive or as purifying as fire. Agni, God of Fire, is the embodiment of both of these qualities, with a head for each.

Though the source of his origin warrants debate - for there are many tales of his parentage ranging from two simple sticks rubbed together, to the cosmic energy that made all things at the beginning of time - Agni is a pivotal and important God with many duties to the Pantheon. He is the twin brother to Indra, God of the Heavens and Rains and chief among warriors. Conversely, Agni is chief among priests, acting as messenger between mortals and Gods. Every Hindu ritual and prayer is performed in front of a fire of some kind, so Agni carries the words and sacrifices, traveling between the Earth and the Heavens. He is welcome in every home and every hearth and much beloved by the Faithful.

Through his flames, Agni provides heat and light, but also cleanses impurities. Smoke from his pyres create the air and hold the Heavens aloft. The sun, a source of fire itself, brings life-giving energy to the world, and his lightning streaks the sky during storms.

For all his kindness and service, Agni has two faces. One is the face of kindness and purity, turned towards the people and Gods. His other face, grim and resolute, guides the God of Fire, to play his role in the cosmic cycle of creation and destruction, to burn and blacken all the atrocities of the world to ash.

## Appearances in Modern Media

From SmiteFrom Shuumatsu no Valkyrie/ Record of RagnarokFrom Reign of DragonsFrom Rage of BahamutFrom Force of WillFrom Age of IshtariaFrom Brave FrontierFrom Kamihime ProjectFrom Monster StrikeFrom Shin Megami TenseiFrom Dragalia Lost
## Information Source

A Solitary Pagan

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes

Encyclopedia of World Mythology and Legend, Third Edition – Written by Anthony S. Mercatante & James R. Dow