The history of Angiras

Markandeya said : The fire named Bharata was bound by severe rules of asceticism; Pushtimati is his another name; when he is satisfied he grants pushti (development) to all creatures and therefore he is called Bharata.

The fire named Shiva is ever engaged in worshipping the force (of nature). As he always relieves the sufferings of creatures, he is called Shiva.

When Tapa acquired great ascetic merit, an intelligent son, named Purandara was born to him to inherit all these ascetic merits.

Another son was also born to him, named Ushma. This fire is seen in all vapours. Another son named Manu was also born; he officiated as Prajapatya.

The Brahmanas learned in the Vedas then speak of the deeds of the fire named Shambhu. Then the Brahmanas speak of the greatly effulgent fire (called) Avasathya.

Tapa thus created the five Urjaskara fires, they were as brilliant as gold. They all partake of the Soma in sacrifices.

The greatly exalted sun, when fatigued is known as the Prashanta (fire). He created the fearful Asura and various other creatures of the earth.

Angira also created the Prajapati Bhanu, the son of Tapa. He is also called Brihadbhanu by Brahmanas learned in the Vedas.

Bhanu's wife was Supraja and Brihadbhanu, the daughter of Supraja; they gave birth to six sons, hear about their progeny.

The fire who gives strength to the weak is called Balada. He is the first son of Bhanu.

The fire, who appears as terrible when all the elements are in tranquility, is called the Manyuman fire; he is the second son of Bhanu.

The fire in whose honour oblations of Ghee are poured in the Darsha and Paurnamasya sacrifices is known as Vishnu in this world. He is called Dhritiman or Angira.

The fire to whom with Indra, the Agrayana oblation is made is called Agrayana fire. He is the (fourth) son of Bhanu.

The fifth son of Bhanu, is Agraha who is the source of the oblations which are daily made for the performance of the Chaturmasya rites. Stubha is the sixth son of Bhanu, Nisha was the name of another wife of that Manu who was known under the name of Bhanu. She gave birth to one daughter, the two Agni-somas and also five other fire deities. The effulgent fire, who is honoured with the first oblations with the deity of clouds, is called Vaishvanara.

The fire who is called the lord of all the worlds is named Vishvapati, the second son of Manu.

The daughter of Manu is called Svistakrit, for by offering oblations to her, one acquires great merit. That damsel named Rohini was the 'aughter of Hiranyakashipu;

But on account of her evil deeds, she became his wife. That fire was however a Prajapati. The other fire which sits on the vital airs of all creatures is called Sannihita. It is the cause of our perception of sound and form.

The divine spirit whose course is marked by black and white stains, who is the supporter of the fire, who though free from sin is the accomplisher of tainted Karma, whom the wise man consider to be a great Rishi, is the fire named Kapila, the propounder of that system of (Yoga) called Sankhya.

The fire, through whom the elementary spirits always receive the offering called Agra made by other creatures at the performance of all the peculiar rites in the world, is called Agrani.

Those other effulgent fires, celebrated all over the world, were created for rectification of the Agnihotra rites when marked by any defect. If the fires inter-lap each other by the action of the wind, then the rectification must be made with the Ashtakapala rites in honour of the fire named Suchi.

If the southern fire comes in contact with the two other fires, then rectification must be made by the performance of the Ashtakapala rites in honour of the fire named Viti.

If the fire named Nivasa comes in contact with the fire called Davagni, then Ashtakapala rites must be performed in honour of the fire called Suchi.

If the perpetual fire is touched by a woman in her monthly course, then for rectification the Ashtakapala rites must be performed in honour of the fire named Vasumana.

If at the time of the Agnihotra sacrifice, the death of any creature is spoken of or any animal dies, then rectification must be made with the performance of the Ashtakapala rites in the honour of the fire Surabhiman.

The Brahmana who is unable to offer oblations to the sacred fire for three nights, on account of illness must make Prayaschitya by performing Ashtakapala rites in honour of the southern fire.

He who has performed the Darsha and the Paurnamasya rites, must make the rectification by performing Ashtakapala rites in honour of the northern fire named Pathikrit.

If the fire of a lying-in-room comes in contact with the eternal sacred fire, then rectification must be made with the performance of Ashtakapala in honour of the fire named Agniman.