The history of Angiras

Markandeya said : Brihaspati had a celebrated wife belonging to the lunar world. He begot on her six sons, all of them by different fires and one daughter.

The fire in which oblations of ghee are offered at the Paurnamashya and at other sacrifices was a son of Brihaspati and that high-souled one is called Shanyu.

At the Chaturmasya and the Ashvamedha sacrifices, animals are first offered in his honour; this powerful fire is indicated by numerous flames.

Shanyu's wife was called Satya; she was of matchless beauty; she sprang from Dharma for the sake of truth, the blazing fire was his son and he had three daughters of great religious merit.

The fire which is honoured with the first oblations at sacrifices is his first son called Bharadvaja, the second son of Shanyu is called Bharata in whose honour oblations of Ghee are offered with the sacrificial laddle at all the Paurnamasya sacrifices.

Besides these, there were then other sons, of whom Bharata was the eldest. He had a son named Bharata and a daughter called Bharati.

The Bharata Agni was the son of Prajapati Bharata Agni. O best of the Bharata race, because he was greatly honoured, therefore he was called “great".

Vira was the wife of Bharadvaja, she gave birth to Vira. It is said by the Brahmanas that he is worshipped like Soma with offering of Ghee.

He is joined with Soma in the secondary oblations of Ghee and is called Rathaprabhu and Rathadhvana and Kumbhareta.

He begot a son on his wife Sarayu named Siddhi and covered the Sun with his splendour. As he is the presiding genius of fire, he is always mentioned in all fire hymn.

The fire Nischyavana only praises the earth; he never suffers in reputation, splendour and prosperity.

The sinless fire Satya blazing with pure flame was his son. He is free from all stain, he is not defiled by sin, he is the regulator of time.

That fire has another name called Nishkriti, because he accomplishes the Nishkriti of all creatures, when properly worshipped, he gives good fortune.

Son of Satya is called Svana who is the generator of all diseases, he inflicts severe sufferings on men for which they loudly cry. He moves in the intelligence of all creatures; the other fire is called Vishvajit by mean of spiritual wisdom.

O descendant of Bharata, the fire, which is known as the internal heat by which all foods are digested, is called Sarvabhuk and was begotten by him.

He is self-controlled, he is of great religious merit, he is a Brahmachari and he is worshipped by the Brahmanas at the Paka sacrifice.

The sacred river Gomati was his wife and by him all religious-minded men perform their sacrifices.

That terrible water-drinking sea fire called Vadava has the tendency to go upwards and hence it is called Urdhvabhaga, It stands in the Prana.

The sixth son is called the Svishtakrit, for him oblations became Shveta; Udagdvara oblations are always made in his honour.

When all creatures are calmed the fire named Brihaspati becomes full of fury. This inexorable, fearful and highly wrathful fire is the daughter of Brihaspati. He is known by the name of Svaha and is present in everything.

He had a son like whom there was none in heaven in personal beauty. And therefore he was called by the celestials “Kama Agni”.

He had another son, called Amogha, who was the destroyer of all his enemies in battle. Assured of success he controls his wrath. He is armed with a bird, he is seated on a chariot and is adorned with garlands of flowers; she had another son named Uktha, praised by the three Uktha. He is the originator of the great words (the Vedas) and he is therefore called Samasvasa.