Agni Gayatri Mantra

Agni Gayatri Mantra

Agni literally means

Fire; lightning; the sun;

Fire as one of the five traditional physical elements that make up the world of matter

The prominent and central fire-deity of the Vedic pantheon, who is hailed as the mediator between the Gods and humans, and the receiver of oblations and sacrifices of behalf of the Gods, who symbolizes the flame of Divine Will or Force of the Divine Consciousness working in the cosmic creation and manifestation; the sovereign guardian of the south-east quarter, the twin brother of Indra, the husband of Sudarśanā and Svāhā, and father of Dakşiņam, Gārhapatyam and Āhavanīyam[1]; the preceptor of the gods, protector of ceremonies, of men, the summit of the sky, the centre of the earth and the conferer of immortality[2]; one of the eight Vasus[3]; the south-east direction.

According to the scriptures, every elemental force is presided over by a deity. The presiding deity of tejas, fire and heat, is Agni. The Vedas place Agni, the deity of fire, get a key place in Vedic hymns. A large number of them are devoted to describing and praising Him. Some of his attributes are described as follows:

He is the Supreme God, the creator, the sustainer and the all-pervading cosmic spirit.

All the other deities are His different manifestations. He manifests himself as fire (agni) on this earth, as lightning and air (Indra and Vāyu) in the sky and as the sun (Surya) in the heavens.

He acts as a mediator between men and Devas by carrying the sacrificial offerings of men to Gods.

He is very powerful and merciful too.

Though an immortal, he lives among the mortals, in every house. He protects them by dispelling their difficulties and fulfills their wishes. Without him, the world can never sustain itself.