Agni, Hindu God of Fire: In
early Hindu belief, Agni is one of the most important of the Vedic
gods. He is the god of fire, and much of his importance comes from
the role of fire in sacrifices and rituals. As the fire which consumes
the offerings to the gods, he is seen as the mediator between heaven
and earth.
He
was so important to the ancient Indians that 200 hymns in the Rig
Veda are addressed to him, and eight of its ten books begin with praises
dedicated to him.
To
honor
Agni, Hindus are expected to face fires in the proper direction
for different purposes. When facing East, the fire should be used
for sacrifices to the gods; when facing South, the fire should be
used for sacrifices to the spirits of the dead. Fires should face
west when used for cooking.
As
Hinduism evolved over the centuries, Agni's status fell off dramatically.
He became an incarnation of either Shiva or Brahma. Eventually he
has come only to be called on by lovers.
