Holy Fire
Agni is the Sanskrit word for fire and is the name of the Lord of fire.
The first hymn in the Rig Veda Samhita, the first book of four of the Vedas is addressed to Agni who in the Veda, is not a mere fire or even fire-god, but is a cosmic power, the Lord of the Divine Will who activates the human beings towards an all sided perfection. Here Agni himself is the priest in the symbolic ritual, he himself is the deity and he himself calls the other luminous powers or devas to manifest in the human aspirant. He dispells darkness and guards the Eternal Law. The human seeker prays to Agni to cling to him like a father to a son.
This first hymn sets the keynote to the entire Veda Samhitas. Therefor it is said that Agni is the foundation of the Vedas. All hymns begin with a praise for him.
The first hymn in the Rig Veda Samhita, the first book of four of the Vedas is addressed to Agni who in the Veda, is not a mere fire or even fire-god, but is a cosmic power, the Lord of the Divine Will who activates the human beings towards an all sided perfection. Here Agni himself is the priest in the symbolic ritual, he himself is the deity and he himself calls the other luminous powers or devas to manifest in the human aspirant. He dispells darkness and guards the Eternal Law. The human seeker prays to Agni to cling to him like a father to a son.
This first hymn sets the keynote to the entire Veda Samhitas. Therefor it is said that Agni is the foundation of the Vedas. All hymns begin with a praise for him.