"from what root agni is derived? he is the foremost leader, he makes everything to which it inclines, a part of himself. it is derived from three verbs, says sakapuni, 'from going, from shining or burning and from leading.' he indeed takes the letter a from root i ( to go ), the letter g from root anj ( to shine ), or dah ( to burn ) with root ni ( to lead ) as last member." ( nirukta 7.14)
this was meaning of agni as said in nirukta. now people may doubt there are so many devtas, and agni is also one of them. but all of devtas are actually same. this is clear from rig veda 1.164.46
"they call agni indra, mitra and varuna; ( they ) also ( say ) that he is the divine garutman of beautiful wings. the sages speak of him who is one in various ways; they call him agni, yama, matarisvan."
the devta of this mantra is surya. that also is agni, and as mantra itself says they are various names of devtas because of its different actions, while they are one in essence. agni is garutman ( so called ) because he is praised or whose soul is great. another significant feature in this mantra is agni is imaged as bird with beautiful wings. this is connected to image of two svans ( one of aatma and another jeev ) on tree ( human body ) as described in another vedic context. he is also called matarisvan, ( the mother in which it grows ) which may be representing the expanding universe as of course agni pervades whole universe. all these features clearly shows that the agni in vedas can never be just a terrestrial fire in fire altar. but much more than that. it's the soul of universe. and all other devtas are also different names of agni. further agni is called jatvedas, which is described in nirukta 7.19 as follows.
"from what root is jatavedas derived?
he knows all created beings, or he is known to all created beings or else he pervades every created being or he has all created beings as his property or wealth or he has all created beings as his knowledge i.e discernment."
agni is also called vaishvanara which is defined in nirukta 7.21 as "he leads all men or all men leads him". rig veda 1.98.1 is for vaishvanara agni as,
"may we be in the goodwill of vaishvanara for he indeed is the king, the refuge of all worlds. born from this world, he beholds this entire universe. vaisvanara stretches with sun."
"i will proclaim the greatness of bull. supplicating men attend upon him who is slayer of vrtra. the vaishvanara agni killed demon, shook the waters and shattered sambara." ( rig veda 1.59.6)
vaishvanara agni is here described as slayer of vritra while this function is of indra. this further confirms the statement in rv 1.164.46 that all devtas are basically same.
this was meaning of agni as said in nirukta. now people may doubt there are so many devtas, and agni is also one of them. but all of devtas are actually same. this is clear from rig veda 1.164.46
"they call agni indra, mitra and varuna; ( they ) also ( say ) that he is the divine garutman of beautiful wings. the sages speak of him who is one in various ways; they call him agni, yama, matarisvan."
the devta of this mantra is surya. that also is agni, and as mantra itself says they are various names of devtas because of its different actions, while they are one in essence. agni is garutman ( so called ) because he is praised or whose soul is great. another significant feature in this mantra is agni is imaged as bird with beautiful wings. this is connected to image of two svans ( one of aatma and another jeev ) on tree ( human body ) as described in another vedic context. he is also called matarisvan, ( the mother in which it grows ) which may be representing the expanding universe as of course agni pervades whole universe. all these features clearly shows that the agni in vedas can never be just a terrestrial fire in fire altar. but much more than that. it's the soul of universe. and all other devtas are also different names of agni. further agni is called jatvedas, which is described in nirukta 7.19 as follows.
"from what root is jatavedas derived?
he knows all created beings, or he is known to all created beings or else he pervades every created being or he has all created beings as his property or wealth or he has all created beings as his knowledge i.e discernment."
agni is also called vaishvanara which is defined in nirukta 7.21 as "he leads all men or all men leads him". rig veda 1.98.1 is for vaishvanara agni as,
"may we be in the goodwill of vaishvanara for he indeed is the king, the refuge of all worlds. born from this world, he beholds this entire universe. vaisvanara stretches with sun."
"i will proclaim the greatness of bull. supplicating men attend upon him who is slayer of vrtra. the vaishvanara agni killed demon, shook the waters and shattered sambara." ( rig veda 1.59.6)
vaishvanara agni is here described as slayer of vritra while this function is of indra. this further confirms the statement in rv 1.164.46 that all devtas are basically same.
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