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Written by Sri Swami Chandrashekarendra
Saraswati |
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The householder has the duty of performing a number of rites in the
sacred fire. Aupasana is the first of them. Agni is of the utmost
importance to the Vedic religion. This deity is called "Agni-Narayana".
The
hymns to Rudra also show that he has a connection with the god of fire.
In Tiruvannamalai (in Tamil Nadu) Isvara revealed himself as a mountain
of fire. In Kerala there is the custom of worshipping Amba [the Mother
Goddess] in the form of light (in the flame of the lamp); the idol or
yantra
is not important. The goddess is invoked in the lamp itself. We speak of
Subrahmanya who originated from Siva's third eye as fire incarnate. Thus
Agni is of great importance to us. According to researchers, the term
Aryan means fire-worshipper. Fire worship is the dominant feature of the
religion of Zoroastrianism which is a branch of Vedism.
The sacred fire should keep burning and glowing in home after home.
Ghee, milk and other oblations offered in it will produce the aroma that
will bring health and mental uplift to all.
I have already stated that whatever the deity invoked in a sacrifice,
the
oblation must be placed in the sacred fire. |
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