The history of Angirasa

Markandeya said : Mudita, the favourite wife of the fire named Svaha, live in water. Svaha who was the lord of the sky, begot on his that wife a greatly sacred fire named Adbhuta. There is a tradition among the Brahmanas, namely that this fire is the ruler and the inner soul of all creatures.

That fire is adorable and effulgent, he is the lord of all the Bhutas here. And that fire under the name of Grihapati is always worshipped at all sacrifices and conveys all the oblations that are made in this world.

That great son of Svaha, the great Adbhuta fire, is the soul of the waters and the prince and the regent of the sky and the lord of everything great.

His son, the Bharata fire, consumes the dead bodies of all creatures. His first Kratu is known as Niyata at the performance of Agnishtoma.

That mighty chief fire (Svaha) is always missed by the celestials, for when he sees Niyata coming towards him, he hides himself in the sea for fear.

Seeing him in every direction, the celestials could not find him out and seeing Atharvan, the fire thus spoke to him.

"O hero, carry the oblations for the celestials. I am unable to do it for the want of strength. Becoming the red-eyed fire, be good enough to do me this favour."

Having thus spoken to Atharvan, the fire went away to some other place. But his place of concealment was divulged by the fish, Upon them he passed this course in anger.

You shall be the food of all creatures in various ways." Then the fire spoke to Atharvan (again as he did before).

Though entreated by the celestials, he did not agree to continue to carry the oblations. He then became insensible and abandoned his body.

Leaving his material body, he entered into the nether world. Coming in contact with the earth, he created different force and perfume arose from his puss, the Deodar tree from his bones, grass from this phlegm, the Marakata jewel from his bile and the black iron from his liver. All the worlds have been established with these three substances. The clouds were made from his nails and corals from his arteries,

O King, various other metals were produced from his body. Thus leaving his material body, he lay absorbed in meditation.

He was roused by the penance of Bhrigu and Angirasa. The mighty Agni, thus gratified by their penance, blazed forth in great effulgence.

But seeing the Rishi, he in fear again entered the great ocean. When he thus disappeared, all the worlds were filled with fear and came to Atharvan for protection. The celestials and others then began to adore Atharvan.

Atharvan overhauled the whole sea and (at last) finding Agni, he himself (then) began the creation. Thus the fire was destroyed and rescued from the sea. thus was he revived by the exalted Atharvan; and thus from that time he always carries the oblations of all creatures.

Living in the sea and travelling in various countries, he produced the various fires mentioned in the Shastras.

The river Sindhu, the five rivers, the Devika, the Sarasvati, the Ganga, the Shatakumbha, the Sarayu, the Gandaki, the Charmnavati, the Mahi, the Medhya, the Medhatithi, the three rivers Tamravati, the Vetravati, the Kaushiki, the Tamasa, the Narmada, the Godavari, the Vena, the Upavena, the Bhima, the Vadava, the Bharati, the Suprayoga, the Kaveri, the Murmura, the Tungavena, the Krishnavena, the Kapila and the Sonabhadra, these rivers are said to be the mothers of the fires.

Adbhuta had a wife named Priya and Vibhurasi was his eldest son. There are as many kinds of Soma sacrifices as the number of fires mentioned. All these fires were first born from the spirit of Brahma, but they also sprung from the race of Atri.

He in his own mind conceived these sons in order to extend the creation. These fires all sprung from his Brahmic body.

I have thus narrated to you the history of the origin of the (different) fires. They are great, effulgent and matchless in prowess; and they are the destroyer of darkness.

Know that the prowess of all fires is the same as that of the Adbhuta fire as described in the Vedas. All these fires are one and the same.

This adorable and exalted being, the firstborn fire, must be considered as all the fires, for like the Jyotishtoma sacrifice, he came out of Angira's body in various forms.

I have thus told you the history of the great Agni race. When duly worshipped with hymns they carry the oblations of all creatures to the celestials.