Book Presentation
„Agni. The Symbolism and the Ritual of Fire”

by Dr. K. Parvathi Kumar

Sample:

CHAP. 20. THE PRAYER

Since Fire knows the intricate paths of Creation from the supra cosmic plane to the infernal planes, if we seek the favour of the Fire it leads us to the right path. The Fire worshippers always pray the Fire by saying: “Please ensure that I walk the right Path, because you know every Path. You know the Path of black magic and you know the Path of white magic. Please ensure that out of my ignorance I don t fall into a black magic path. Please ensure that I don't fall into the hands of a false teacher. Please ensure that I do not fall into the illusions of the creation and that I stay with you at all times"

There are false teachers and there are real Teachers. If we worship Fire, He will ensure that we follow that Path which is beneficial to us. Fire insulates us from the paths of ignorance. Fire also helps to burn up the impurities in us.

There is a prayer seeking the Fire to burn up the impurities in us. The impurities in the mental, emotional and physical body prevent us from progressing well in the Path. If there are impurities in the gasoline, it does not burn well. If there are impurities in the candle, the candle does not burn well. From ancient-most times people were making a Fire and were worshipping it to seek purification, to bum up the impurities. Igniting the Fire outside is symbolic of igniting the Fire inside. The flame outside is symbolic of formation of the Solar Fire/Light. Rituals were conceived by the ancients on the principle of "imitation". The Divine plan is imitated symbolically through rituals to initiate the related intelligences in the ritualist.

Unless we are pure we cannot enflame the Fire within us. It Is like purifying gasoline and other inflammable material before enflaming. That is why it is said: "Don't play with Fire". Fire is Fire. If we carry impurities, the first thing is to seek purity from the Fire; then only we can enflame the Fire. Fire can cause the destruction of all the impure traits in us.

We make Fire and look to the flame, which is brilliant orange or golden. We keep looking at it and submit one by one the impurities that we know in ourselves. This is the ancient most confession, a much better confession than the present confessional methods. The one who receives confession is supposed to be as pure as Fire. If we give out our guilt, the person who listens to it should be able to receive it and burn it up, otherwise what is the fun in confession? If a fee is fixed for confession, it is commerce. The very original concept of confession comes from the individual confession to the Fire.

The following prayer is suggested either a the beginning or at the end of the Ritual:

AGNE NÂYA SUPATHÂ RÂYE ASMÂN

VISHWÂNI DEVA VAYUNÂNI VIDWÂN.

YUYODHYA ASMAD JUHURÂNAM ENO

BHÛYISHTHÂM TE NAMA UKTIM VÎDHEMA.

Oh, Lord Agni, the foremost one,

the knower of the intricate Paths of creation!

Lead us by the simple righteous Path

to felicity. Destroy our past Karma,

eliminate from us the attraction

to dubious and ignorant paths.

We offer our worship to you in obedience.

The purpose of Fire ritual is to eliminate impurities in us and to eliminate the weeds that hinder the growth. The weeds and seeds are within every man. The weeds are of ignorance while the seeds are of knowledge. Knowledge leads us to right action. Ignorance leads us to false attractions. An intelligent truth seeker should eliminate weeds and nourish seeds. Fire helps destroying the weeds. The seeds and weeds are what we carry as our good and ignorant traits. Through Fire ritual one can seek burning up of the weeds, elimination of false attractions and protection from dubious paths. This is a major work of discipleship.

Worship of Agni should enable one to function with right attitude in the world. One should be able to establish right human relationship. The practice should also enable withdrawal of senses from the sense objects of the world, at will. The disciple who can withdraw at will from the activity of externalisation through senses in compared to, the Sun that withdraws his rays. When the rays of the Sun are withdrawn the Sun globe is visible. Likewise, when externalisation from senses is withdrawn, the Soul is visible. Sun is the Soul. The Sun globe appears like a golden disc when the rays are withdrawn. Likewise, the disciple also experiences his golden form when he suspends the activity of senses. This golden form is the subtle body which is immortal and divine.

Unless the first prayer of suspension of sense activities happen, the second step of experiencing the solar disc is not possible.

PÛSHAN EKARSHYE

YAMA SÛRYA PRÂJÂPATYA VYÛHA RASHMÎN SAMÛHA TEJAHA.

YATTE RÛPAM KALYÂNATAMAM

TATTE PASYÂMI YO SAVASAU PURUSHAHA

SOHAM ASMI.

"Oh! Solar God, you are the son of

Prajapathi. You are lone ranger of the sky.

You are all nourishing and all regulating.

Please withdraw your rays and brilliance.

By your grace I would then be able to see

your beautiful golden disc."

These (two) prayers are from the Upanishad Isavasya. Thus Fire ritual helps a disciple on the Path.

The 3^rd prayer is as under:

HIRANMAYENA PÂTRENA

SATYASYA APIHITAM MUKHAM.

TATVAM PÛSHAN APÂVRUNU

SATYA DHARMÂYA DRUSHTAYE.

“O Sun God!

The Truth is hidden by your enchanting,

brilliant golden disc.

Please be kind to discover the disc

to enable me to see the Truth,

if you deem that I am fit to see

by my righteous behaviour."

This 3^rd prayer is given by Master Djwhal Khul in 'Treatise on White Magic' as:

"Unveil to us the face of the

true spiritual sun, hidden by a disc of golden

light, that we may know the truth

and do our whole duty

as we journey to Thy sacred feet."

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