The Rig Veda: An Anthology

Agni, the personification of the ritual fire, is one of the most prominent gods in the Rig Veda and the subject of many hymns and dedications. This chapter contains nine poems focusing on the god, demonstrating his centrality in Vedic ritual and mythology. As the carrier of sacrificial offerings to the gods, Agni mediates between the divine and human worlds; as the patron of priests, he intercedes with the gods on behalf of men. Many of the hymns about Agni are clear-cut references to the kindling of the sacrificial fire, but the mythology of the god, depicted in several poems, is obscure. His birth is enigmatic; after being born, he vanishes for a period, hidden in the waters or in the body of a demon before the gods coax him to return.

The first hymn of the Rig Veda is a straightforward invocation of Agni, inviting him to the sacrifice (1.1). The poem praises Agni as “the priest with the sharp sight of a poet” (99)—through his cooperation in the sacrifice, the pious worshipper will become wealthy and father many sons. As the patron deity of priests, Agni is a father to the priestly clans, and the poet prays that Agni may dwell with men and grant them happiness.