18 - (The Origin of Fire)

Prajåpäla said:

1-3. O great sage, how did Agni, Ašhvins, Gaurï, Ganapati, Nägas, Skanda, Äditya, Chandra, Mätrus, Durgá, Diks, Kubera, Vishnu, Dharma, Shiva, Pitris and Chandra take birth? How did all these deities of the body attain concrete forms?

4. Also tell me, O sage, for each of these the food, name, and the sacred day of the month, on which each gives to the people the result of their worship. I wish to know all this secret.

Mahåtapas said:

5. When the omniscient soul in the form of Näràyana played himself with the form attained by the yogic power, he willed in himself the desire to enjoy.

6. Then the great cosmos (Mahäbhüta) was stirred, the wonderful basis of all existence (water) arose.

7. Pleased at this, he willed its transformation, and during this transformation, there arose the great fire.

8. This fire was burning with countless flames and with noise. The effulgent fire underwent transformation and then arose from it the terrific wind.

9. By the transformation of air, Ether (space) came into existence with sound as its distinctive quality.

10. The space, air, heat and water interacted among themselves.

11. The water was dried by the heat and wafted by the wind, and the sky was made distinct.

12. The whole mass thus solidified and hardened. Thus came into being this earth and later the trees and the rest in it.

13. By the harmonious combination of these four (water, fire, air and space) as well as by the preponderance of each, the earth attained five qualities established in it. Getting hard thus, it became the Brahmända (the universe).

 14. In it, God Näräyana having four hands and a fourfold form wished to create different beings taking the form of the creator.

15. Thinking about it as he did, he could not properly conceive it. Then he became extremely angry.

16. From that anger arose fire with a thousand flames and it came to burn the Creator himself. It was then told by him as follows.

17-18. “You bear (vaha) the offerings havya (for the gods) and kavya (the the manes)”. Thus Fire became Havyavãhana. But fire was itself hungry and asked Brahmä (the creator): what it might do. Brahma replied. “You will be gratified in three ways. ¹

1. This refers to the three sacred fires— Gärhapatya, Dakshinatya and Ähavaniya.

19. Propitiated by dakshinäs (offerings of money) first, you carry the dakshinas to the gods. So you be Dakshinägni.

20. You take what is offered to the gods in sacrifices all over the three worlds. So, O fire, you are Havyavähana.

21. The body is said to be Gruha (a home). Since you are its Lord, you be Gãrhapatya everywhere.

22. When propitiated by offerings you lead all men to final liberation. Therefore, you be Vaishvänara.

23. Dravina (money) is power and it is wealth. Since you give this, you are Dravinodäh (giver of money).

24. Sins disappear always. The word nis stands for certainty. Therefore, and also since you are everywhere, O Agni, you will get (the name) Tejas (splendour).²

2. This verse is highly corrupt and does not yield any cogent sense. Some matter seems to be missing between the two lines.

25. Since you blaze when Idhma (the bundle of sacred sticks) is placed in you and air blows, you are yourself Idhma.

26. O my son, surely people who sacrifice will propitiate you with offerings in these names in great sacrifices.”