Having learnt the basics of Yagna in the First Part of this series, we shall understand about the important Vedic Devata Agni, forms of Agni, and sacrifice materials and methods in this article.

Agni – the most important Yagna Devata

Agni is considered the most important Devata in Yagnas and Yagna rituals. He is believed to carry the offerings made in the Yagna to all the other Devas. The Vedic Granthas note that Agni was brought down from the heavens and hidden deep inside the earth’s core. Interestingly, this agrees with science and can be seen as a symbolism for the hot magma that makes up earth’s core. Agni becomes visible whenever the Yagna fire is lit and offerings are made.

Agni is described as having ten forms, which are divided into natural and ritualistic forms. In his natural forms, he appears as the ordinary earthly fire, as the lightning that can cause forest fires, as the celestial fire of the Sun, as the digestive fire within all living beings that makes life possible, and as the hidden destructive fire that rests beneath the sea and lies dormant in volcanoes, always ready to destroy the world when the time comes. His ritualistic forms include the sacred fire born from the rubbing of fire-sticks, the fire given to a student, the household fire, the ancestral fire, and the cremation fire which must always be respected but avoided in other circumstances.

These Agnis are:

Laukika Agni – the ordinary fire on earth.

Dava Agni – the fire of lightning, which can cause large forest fires.

Divya Agni – the celestial fire of the Sun.

Vaisvanara – the inner digestive fire that helps all living beings digest food, which is essential for life.

Badava (Vadava) Agni – the fire of total destruction, hidden under the sea, and believed to lie dormant in volcanoes, ready to destroy the world.

Brahma Agni – the sacred fire produced by rubbing fire-sticks (arani).

Prajapatya Agni – the fire given to a student (brahmachari) during the sacred thread ceremony, to which he offers sticks (samidha) daily.

Garhapatya Agni – the household fire, lit during marriage and maintained for daily worship throughout one’s life.

Dakshina Agni – the fire of the ancestors, into which offerings are made for them and used in rituals like exorcism (abhicara-yagna).

Kravyada Agni – the cremation fire, which must be respected but generally avoided.

There are also five sacred fires known as the Pancha Maha Agni. These include the Garhapatya fire established in the west of the sacrificial hall, the Dakshina or Anvaharya-pacana fire in the south, the Agnidhirya fire which is optional, the Avasathya fire in the north, and the Ahavaniya fire in the east. Among these, the Garhapatya fire must always be kept burning by the Agnihotrin, the person who performs the daily fire rituals, while the others are kindled from it whenever the occasion requires.

Sacrifices: Materials and Methods

In Yagna rituals, the sacred fire is maintained in hearths called Kundas. Devalayas (Mandirs) have a sacrificial hall, called the Yaga-Shala, with a brick Kunda that is permanent, since Yagnas are performed there regularly. Householders usually make use of a copper Kunda, which is temporary and portable.

The type and shape of hearths vary depending on the sacrifice. In most large Vedic Yagnas, three hearths made of bricks are required. The Garhapatya fire in the west is established by rubbing firesticks from trees such as Ashvattha or Shami. From this fire, the Ahavaniya fire in the east is kindled, and so is the Dakshina fire in the south, following the rules given in the Sankhyayana Sutra. According to the Sulba Sutra, the hearth for the Garhapatya fire should be circular, the hearth for the Ahavaniya fire square, and the hearth for the Dakshina fire must be shaped like a half-moon, a bow, or a winnow-basket.

The materials used in sacrifices are equally important. Sticks for kindling and maintaining the sacred fire are called Samidha. The preferred woods include Khadira, Palasha, Ashvattha, Nyagrodha, Shami, and Amra, but it is not strictly required to use only these; wood from local trees may also be used. Offerings in the fire can be from both plant and animal sources. Commonly used items include raw or boiled rice, flour, husk, roasted barley, milk, yogurt, ghee made from cow or goat milk, and even flesh depending on the type of Yagna.

In the next part, we shall learn about the types of Yagnas and officiating priests.