Insights into the Nature of Agni

The Third Mantra

समुद्रे त्वा नृमणा अप्स्वन्तर्नृचक्षा ईधे दिवो अग्न ऊधन्
तृतीये त्वा रजसि तस्थिवांसं ऋतस्य योनौ महिषा अहिन्वन्

In these three places, we praise you, worship you — in the water as Badavagni, also in the rain clouds as lightning. These are the two places in water where Agni is present. In the Surya Mandala he is there as Surya himself. And on earth, whenever yajnas take place, he is also inside those ritwiks, the scholars who chant the mantras.

The Next Mantra

अक्रन्ददग्निः स्तनयन्निव द्यौः क्षामा रॆरिहद्वीरुधः समञ्जन्
सद्यो जज्ञानो वि हीमिद्धो अख्यदा रोदसी भानुना भात्यन्तः

May Agni roar, may powerful Agni roar, to protect us — like the garjana of the megha, the thunder. That is Agni roaring when he is active, to say, 'I am there to protect you.' And roaring Agni — may he destroy those who are troubling us. As Surya, he alone causes rains, produces all the plants and grains that nourish us. And he is always there in the sky, lighting up the world.

The Next Mantra

उशिक् पावको अरतिः सुमेधा मर्तेष्वग्निरमृतो नि धायि
इयर्ति धूममरुषं भरिभ्रदुच्छुक्रेण शोचिषा द्यामिनक्षत्

This Agni is so blissful. Just imagine — suppose the smoke that comes out of homa kunda — what if it doesn’t go up, what if it stays around? It will trouble the eyes; you won’t be able to do the homa for long. He is so caring — Agni is so caring — he sends the smoke up so that it doesn’t trouble us. And isn’t this smoke that becomes the rain clouds? They look the same. The smoke emanating from the yagagni is what becomes the rain clouds and nourishes us with rains.

And he is immortal. He only gives immortality to the yajamana, by giving place in swarga to the yajamana.

The Next Mantra

विश्वस्य केतुर्भुवनस्य गर्भ आ रोदसी अपृणायज्जायमानः
वीडुं चिदद्रिमभिनत् परायञ्जना यदग्निमयजन्त पञ्च

All-knowing — Agni is all-knowing. He is the origin of everything. Like garbha, he is inside everything. As soon as he was born, he lighted up the sky as Surya and as fire on earth. Lamps are Agni only. We saw lightning — vidyut is Agni only. So today, the electricity that we have, which lights up our nights — that is Agni only.

He carries the offerings to the Surya Mandala, to Swarga. He splits the rain clouds — the formidable clouds — as lightning.

श्रीणामुदारो धरुणो रयीणां मनीषाणां प्रार्पणः सोमगोपाः
वसोः सूनुः सहसो अप्सु राजा वि भात्यग्रे उषसामिधानः

Agni is udara, magnanimous when it comes to giving wealth — he has no limits. He is a giver because all wealth is with him only. He possesses all wealth in the first place — that’s why he is able to give. Not only wealth — whatever you ask for, he gives.

He is the protector of yajnas. He is ignited at dawn to perform Agnihotra.

Even the concept of Trimurthis revolve around Agni only.
Creator Brahma created by performing yajna. He was the first one ever to perform yajna.
Vishnu — Yajno vai Vishnuh
And Samhara Murthy Rudra — Kalagni Rudra is Agni itself.

Agni is the king of the water, the lord of water. We think fire and water are enemies. Water extinguishes fire. But see — lightning occurs in the middle of rain clouds, which is water. There is Agni in the ocean — the Badavagni. That means they work together as and when required.

In fact, there is concept in the yajna that Agni and water are husband and wife. That’s why in homas there is always water kept near Agni, like in Apastamba Sutra we say:

Praktoyama anyam nindhaya — and keep a bowl of water towards the east of Homagni.
This signifies that fire and water as husband and wife should be together — then only the result of the yajna will come, as their progeny.

These are great insights. They open up your thinking.

Next Mantra

यस्ते अद्य कृणवद्भद्रशोचेऽपूपं देव घृतवन्तमग्ने
प्र तं नय प्रतरां वस्यो अच्छाभि द्युम्नं देवभक्तं यविष्ठ

Agni Deva is being addressed as youthful, energetic — Yavistha.
Whoever is making you offerings, give him lot of wealth — make him prosperous.

Next Mantra

आ तं भज सौश्रवसेष्वग्न उक्थ उक्थ आ भज शस्यमाने
प्रियः सूर्ये प्रियो अग्ना भवात्युज्जातेन भिनददुज्जनित्वैः

Also, you prompt, encourage the yajamana to perform more and more good karmas, yajnas. May this yajamana be dear to Surya Deva. May he attain greatness with the child that is born.

This is the reason this set of mantras is chosen in Jatakarma — it connects to the context, you see.

Originally, these mantras are used for a different purpose in yajna. Because of the reason that this term here — ujjatena bhinadad — they have been adopted in Jatakarma.

Not only this child — those who are yet to be born. May this devotee of Agni attain fame and greatness through his descendants — sons, grandsons.

Next Mantra

त्वामग्ने यजमाना अनु द्यून् विश्वा वसूनि दधिरे वार्याणि
त्वया सह द्रविणमिच्छमाना व्रजं गोमन्तमुशिजो वि वव्रुः

A famous legend is mentioned here. Once Asuras stole the cows used in the yajnas of Devas and put them in a cave, and closed the entrance of the cave with a stone.

Agni Deva led the Devas to a battle with the Asuras. Brihaspati strategized. They defeated the Asuras and got back the cows. Agni is being praised for his valour.

Also, those who are desirous of wealth — they always follow you. They worship you every day. Because you are the custodian of all wealth. Agni is to be worshiped if you want wealth — lot of wealth.

Next Mantra

दृशानो रुक्म उर्व्या व्यद्यौद्दुर्मषमायुः श्रिये रुचानः
अग्निरमृतो अभवद्वयोभिर्यदेनं द्यौरजनयत् सुरेताः

There was a Maharshi called Vatsapri. This set of eleven mantras is called Vaatsapra Sukta. By praising Agni with this Sukta, Vatsapri attained Agniloka. That is the power of these mantras.

When praised, the brilliant Agni gives long life and prosperity. He has only given immortality to Devas.

Why is Jatakarma starting with Stuti of Agni?
Because in Vedic system, the primary god for the householder is Agni. He is called Gruhapati — Lord of the House. He rules over the house. All other Devas are accessed through Agni only. You can only make offering in Agni. He only takes them to other Devas.

That’s why.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi