88. Vedic God Agni as Witness, Judge, Master and Mediator

Agni, the fire is an important element to the Indians and about 200 hymns in the Rig Veda is addressed to him, and eight of its ten books begin with praises to Agni. Agni is the personification of the fire which consumes the offerings given by mortals to the Absolute, so he is seen as the mediator between heaven and earth. The light Agni emits is the light of knowledge hence he is considered illuminator of knowledge who lights up the path that leads to Truth. Agni is known Grhapati (Master of the house) though an immortal being he has taken up his abode amongst mortals, and he is believed to protect the family and make it prosper. He is the first guest of every house. It is a belief that Agni manifested in south direction is meant for sacrifices to the dead, while that which burns to the east is meant as oblation to the Absolute, and a fire burning west is a fire meant for cooking food. Agni is an eternal being but even today he is considered ever young and present in all things fire-like. He is present in the lightning that strikes from storms and bursts the land into fire, he is present in the column of smoke that is said to hold the Heavens up from the Earth, and he is present in the Sun shining down. He is also viewed as present where the allegorical fire burns in peoples’ stomach as “Jataragni” and help digestion, and in people themselves, as the tiny flame that generates life. Agni imparts immortality on mortals, and is regarded as one able to cleanse the sins committed by humans during their life if confessed. Hence in ancient days there was a conviction where a person who was suspected of any crime used to take up the vow of “Agnipravesha” wherein the accused would come out clean, though it was symbolic to use fire for this procedure. It was considered that the CONSCIOUS of the person was like Agni and he would not deceive it. Hence we refer TRUTH to be the glisten of Agni. Agni is revered as a Divine witness. Thus, a Hindu wedding is fully consecrated when witnessed by fire (Agnisakshi). According to Yalgnavakya Smrithi, Saptapadi or Saat Phere involves taking seven steps walking around the fire for completion of marriage for all legal purposes. Why was Agni the chosen one to be the witness by our ancient, and most importantly for marriage they could have considered any other element or thing????? Agni is the one and only element of all the five elements (Earth, Ether, Water, Air and Fire) that cannot be adulterated. Any witness should be truthful and unbiased. If one looks for anything like that in the whole of creation of Absolute it is only Agni. Young couples who are in a verge of starting a family are made to take a vow in front of Agni as witness since it is the only element which is not adulterated. Agni will burn anything which is put into it in an intention to pollute or adulterate it. We can pollute or adulterate anything but not fire. In fact water and wind can control fire if the fire is small compared to them; if fire is rave then both support it.