[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [State papers](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin) › [Āʾīn-i Akbarī](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari) › [The Ain i Akbari (Blochmann, Jarrett)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett) › 32.1 # The Institutes of Akbar 32.1 The Áín i Akbari (Blochmann, Jarrett) 32.1 - **Language:** English ### [32.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.32.1) His Majesty maintains that it is a religious duty and divine praise to worship fire and light; surly, ignorant men consider it forgetfulness of the Almighty, and fire worship. But the deep-sighted know better. As the external form of the worship of “the select” is based upon propriety, and as people think the neglect of some sort of worship abominable, there can be nothing improper in the veneration of that exalted element which is the source of man’s existence, and of the duration of his life; nor should base thoughts enter such a matter. How beautifully has Shaikh Sharafuddín Munyarí said,—“What can be done with a man who is not satisfied with the lamp, when the sun is down?” Every flame is derived from that fountain of divine light, (the sun), and bears the impression of its holy essence. If light and fire did not exist, we should be destitute of food and medicines; the power of sight would be of no avail to the eyes. The fire of the sun is the torch of God's sovereignty. At noon of the day, when the sun enters the 19th degree of Aries, the whole world being then surrounded by his light, they expose a round piece of a white and shining stone, called in Hindí Súrajkránt, to the rays of the sun. A piece of cotton is then held near it, which catches fire from the heat of the stone. This celestial fire is committed to the care of proper persons. - [Previous: 31](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.31) - [Next: 32.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.32.2) - [Up: 32](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.32) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.32.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.admin.ain-i-akbari~en-blochmann-jarrett.32.1) · Pramāṇa