Agni - John Dowson

Fire, one of the most ancient and most sacred objects of Hindu worship. He appears in three phases - in heaven as the sun, in mid-air as lightning, on earth as ordinary fire.  Agni is one of the chief deities of the Vedas, and great numbers of the hymns are addressed to him, more indeed than to any other god.  He is one of the three great deities -Agni, Vayu (or Indra), and Surya - who respectively preside over earth, air, and sky, and are all equal in dignity.  "He is considered as the mediator between men and gods, as protector of men and their homes, and as witness of their actions; hence his invocation at all solemn occasions, at the nuptial ceremony & c.  Fire has ceased to be an object of worship, but is held in honour for the part it performs in sacrifices."  Agni is represented as having seven tongues, each of which has a distinct name, for licking up the butter used in sacrifices.  He is guardian of the south-east quarter, being one of the eight lokapalas (q.v.), and his region is called Pura-jyotis.

Source : Hindu Mythology & Religion

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