The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Agni, the mediator

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Friday, Sep 17, 2004

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Agni, the mediator

CHENNAI, SEPT. 17. Agni, the Lord of fire, wields an exalted status. A major portion of hymns in the Rig Veda samhita is dedicated to Agni. Often eulogised as the sustainer, He is ever present in all houses. Scholars say that different gods are propitiated by people for achieving goals of varying order. Siva is the granter of wisdom, Vishnu of liberation; goddess Amba is sought for harmony and Agni for prosperity.

Why is a woman married with fire as the witness? In order to preserve the flame at home, for it is a woman who qualifies prosperity by her pristine qualities, said Sri N. Neelabala Sarma in his discourse. There are three types of fire, but the perennial one is the one kept at home. It is said that in ancient times, one built a home for preserving the sacred Agni, who alone was the primary resident. Like servants who live in palatial homes to act as servitors, men and women were but a complementary force. To this day in many households, especially in the northern belts, the practice continues with men opting to sit out on benches, swings and other convenient planks in their compound, after completing their morning rituals. What is the significance of this fire? Agni is held to be a mediator between men and gods, carrying people's offerings to gods. The all-merciful Agni, a celestial lives among the mortals in every house and protects them from difficulties and sustains them. We do not enter into matrimony for bestial reasons, but rather for spiritual enhancement. The status of a wife is exalted when she becomes eligible to keep the auspicious home flame going. Traditionally, a wife becomes one only when she prepares rice in a special vessel with the perennial flame, after which she becomes eligible to cook on auspicious occasions such as siva Pooja and Srardas. Sanctified by the lord of fire, a wife is the torch-bearer of prosperity.

In the Mahabharata, Yudhishtra was confident of Draupadi's status as an ideal wife, which is why he invited sage Durvasa to partake of a meal with his huge entourage, even though it was well past the meal time. Draupadi, aware that not a morsel of food was left, prayed to Krishna to help. He responded to her distress call by asking her for food. Wondering if it was indeed the suitable time for Him to `sport', she nevertheless offered him the empty vessel. His act of whisking out food from a stray green leaf stuck to the vessel, is hailed by scholars as nothing but a symbolic gesture highlighting the virtues of an ideal wife.

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