Vedic worship of fire is extremely detailed and complicated with many layers of symbol and meaning. The Vedas are the original source of information about yagna. Yagnas have been performed from ancient times to purify the natural environment and to secure timely rains so that the crops may be good and there may be prosperity, general well-being and happiness all around. With the performance of yagna changes are induced in the atmosphere, which evoke effects in the whole biosphere. If offerings are made to Agni, he would carry it to Surya and other deities in the sky. Fire also had its devata in Agni, and all these devatas were interconnected. So the idea arose that material offerings to the deities in the sky could be made through fire. It was also observed that when fire burned, the smoke rose to the sky, leaving only ashes, and water heated in vessels also rose to the sky as vapour. It was observed that the sun drew up the waters with its heat and the vapours rose to the sky to form clouds, returning as rain, and the earth produced vegetation вЂ“ a circulation between the sky and the earth. Gradually the link between Surya, the friend of all beings in the sky, and Agni, who lives among men on earth was established, conceived as different aspects of the one supreme self-luminous deity who also resides in all beings as the warmth of life and assimilates all food offerings poured into the jatharagni (fire in the stomach), which digests all food. At night they had to depend on fire (Agni) for heat and light. So people began to offer prayers to Surya in the morning and evening. The sun (Surya) was the great luminary in the sky who gave light and warmth to the world and was the source of life on earth and its sustenance (Pushan). Yagnas are sacred rituals to invoke and propitiate various deities (energies) using fire as a revered medium for the attainment of various boons and general well-being. Sacred fire has the ability to convert the material offerings into psychic components, as offerings to the deities presiding over the yagnas. Sacred fire acts as a link between manвЂ™s consciousness and the cosmic consciousness. As the divine personification of the fire of sacrifice, Agni is the mouth of the gods, the carrier of the oblation and the messenger between the human and the divine.

Agni is equally the fire of the sun, of lightning and of the flame that humanity lights for purposes of worship. In the ancient Vedic scriptures, Agni is the messenger between the people and God.

вЂњI offer my humble prayer to Agni, who is the Absolute Divine, the awakener of the inner energy and the giver of prosperity.вЂќ вЂњAgni mide purohitam yagnasya devam ritvijam hotaram ratna dhatamamвЂќ The first sloka in the Rig Veda is to Agni, to fire: Throughout time, fire has been venerated as a symbol of spirit.

Sacred fire symbol