290 
motion/' but he certainly did know that flame was but flame. 
And why, then, did he so reverence it, for its physical aspect 
does not fully explain his respect ? Because he knew that the 
mere ordinary earthly flame, born so mysteriously, is but the 
last and lowest link in a wondrous chain, which includes all 
fire, aerial and celestial, all light, all heat, and hence all 
life ; a chain which descends from the abode of “ those 
primeval heats whereby all life has lived," from the dwell- 
ing-place of Him who is “ a consuming fire." And this aspect 
of Agni will explain why the different divinities are identi- 
fied with him, and also his varied parentage. Thus, he is 
the son of heaven and earth, because they, regarded as the 
two halves of the all, necessai’ily include the sum total of 
igneous effulgence. He is the son of Dyaus alone, for he 
manifests himself in the visible sky, in lightning, and in the 
sun. He is produced by the dawn, a time when, as an old 
English poet tells us, “ The light shoots like a streak of 
subtle fire." He is produced by Indra between two clouds, 
struck together like the sticks on eai’tk. He is made by the 
gods, yet conversely he is also their sire ; for without Agni 
how could mortals know aught of the bright Devas, or how 
could they even exist? Lastly, he is the son of Dakslia 
and Aditi, that is to say, he is the manifestation of the 
Supreme Spirit throughout space. Whatever produces or 
occasions light and heat is the sire or mother of Agni ; and the 
result is real consistency accompanied by an apparent contra- 
diction. 
31. Agni , a Combination and Manifestation of the Vedic 
Divinities . 
Let us next notice how the Vedic divinities are identified 
with and combined in Agni. We read : — 
“ Thou Agni, art Indra, thou art Vishnu, the wide- 
stepping, 
Thou, Brahmanaspati, art a priest.* 
Agni, when kindled, is Mitra; Varuna is Javatedas,"f 
i.e. “All-possessing," a frequent epithet of Agni. 
“ Thou, Agni, art born Varuna, 
Thou art Aryaman in relation to maidens ; 
In thee, son of strength, are all the gods.J 
Thou, Agni, art the royal Varuna, 
Thou art Aryaman, thou art Tvashtri, 
* Rig-Veda , II. i. 3. 
t Ibid. 111. v. 4. 
t Ibid. \ . iii. 1, 2. 
