The word agni is in Sanskrit for "fire" (noun), cognate with Latin ignis (the root of English ignite), Russian ogon (fire), spelled agon and ogni, spelled agni (fires). Agni has three forms: fire, lightning and the Sun.
Agni or Fire is one of the most important of the Vedic gods. He is the god of fire, and the messenger of the gods, the acceptor of sacrifice. The sacrifices made to Agni go to the deities because Agni is a messenger from and to the other gods. He is ever young, because the fire is re-lit every day; but also he is immortal.
The Agni or the fire god is decipted with two or seven hands, two heads and three legs. In each head, he has seven fiery tongues with which he licks sacrificial butter. He rides a ram or in a chariot harnessed by fiery horses. His attributes are an axe, torch, prayer beads and a flaming spear. (The Book of Hindu Imagery: Gods, Manifestations and Their Meaning By Eva Rudy Jansen p. 64). Also, Agni is represented as red and two-faced, suggesting both his destructive and beneficent qualities, and with black eyes and hair, three legs and seven arms. He rides a ram, or a chariot pulled by goats or, more rarely, parrots. Seven rays of light emanate from his body. One of his names is Saptajihva, "having seven tongues.
The name of Agni god is the first word of the first hymn of the Rig Veda:
Agni I laud, the high priest, god, minister of sacrifice, The invoker, lavishest of wealth.
Agni is a deva, the god, the second only to Indra in the power and importance attributed to him in Vedic mythology, with 218 out of 1,028 hymns of the Rigveda dedicated to him. He is Indra?s twin, and therefore a son of Dyaus Pita father and Prithvi, the mother earth. He is married to Svaha, the "oblation" personified.
In Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, he is a lokapala, the guardian of the Southeast. Jigten lugs kyi bstan bcos: which translates, "Make your hearth in the southeast corner of the house, which is the quarter of Agni". He also plays a central role in most Buddhist homa fire-puja rites.
In all Vedic rituals, worships, inaugurations and most meditations the Agni, the fire or a lamp is used. The flame of fire is the indicator of what you have in store in the future. That is, for you and your family. The flame indicates the good or bad and answers many of the questions.
A. Misfortunes are indicated by the flame as follows:
1. If the flame rotates anticlockwise,
2. If the flame is not getting lighted easily and is not bright
3. If the flame sparks frequently making cracking sounds
4. If the flame is too diminished in size
5. If the flame suddenly gets extinguished despite oil and cotton
6. If the flame shakes to and fro without wind
7.
B. Success, happiness and best future is indicated by the flame as follows:
1. If the flame is thick and long
2. If the flame rotates clockwise
3. If the flame is easily lighted and continues
4. If the flame is smooth and making no cracking sounds
5. If the flame is beautiful and blessing
6. If the flame has blue, white and golden shades and is diamond shaped
7. If the flame is erect, study and unwavering
C. The different body parts of a man and planets, with regard to fireplace are as follows:
1. Fire material (Samagri) or Butter/Oil - Physical body- The Planet Moon
2. The cotton for flame- Soul- The Planet Sun
3. The flame- Longevity- The Planets Mars and Sun
4. Enlightenment of the flame or conversely- Success or obstacles-The Planets Jupiter/ Saturn
5. The fire place, or the body of the lamp, its size and shape- The house-The Vaastu- Purush
6. The Air, still or flowing- Friends/ Partners/Competitors/ Enemies
As the fire place or lamp is generator of life in every endeavor, success, happiness and prosperity, it must be maintained clean and be kept at auspicious place. The burnt cotton or ashes be flown into pure waters and not in any filthy drain. This will activate luck factors of the family. The elements like gold, brass or copper or mud must be used in the making of a fire place or lamp, as they represent fiery planets like Sun and Mars. The Silver or glass must never be used as they represent watery planets. This will result in greater melancholy and problems caused by the adverse and opposing results of the elements Fire and Water.
The inclination of flame in the following directions is predicted as:
1. East (Indra)- Progress and prosperity
2. South East (Agni)- Loss and accidents through fire and electricity
3. South (Yama)- Incurable diseases and untimely death
4. South West (Nairitya)- Psychosomatic diseases, fits like epilepsy or depression
5. West (Varuna)- Changes for the better, timely marriage of children
6. North West (Vayu)- Losses, loans, rise of hidden enemies, tensiolytic conditions
7. North (Kubera)- The recovery from diseases, surgeries and mishaps
8. North East (Ishana)- General good health of male members and children
9. Vertically upwards (Anant)- Gains and success in plans