________________
An hymn or two entire will show what was Agni to the Vedic poet. In the following, the Rig Veda's first hymn, he is addressed, in the opening stanza, under the names of house-priest, the chief sacrificial priest, and the priest that pours oblations. In the second stanza he is extolled as the messenger who brings the gods to the sacrifice, himself rising up in sacrificial flames, and forming a link between earth and heaven. In a later stanza he is called the Messenger (Angiras =[Greek: aggelos]),—one of his ordinary titles:
To AGNI (i. 1).
I worship Agni; house-priest, he, And priest divine of sacrifice, Th' oblation priest, who giveth wealth.
Agni, by seers of old adored,
To be adored by those to-dayMay he the gods bring here to us.
Through Agni can one wealth acquire, Prosperity from day to day, And fame of heroes excellent.
O, Agni! whatsoever the rite That thou surround'st on every side, That sacrifice attains the gods.
May Agni, who oblation givesThe wisest, true, most famous priestThis god with (all) the gods approach
Thou doest good to every man That serves thee, Agni; even this Is thy true virtue, Angiras.
