Vedic Mythology c5.s3.t2.23

c5.s3.t2.23

Owing to the diverse births above described, Agni is often regarded as having a triple character²², which in many passages is expressly referred to with some form of the numeral 'three'. This earliest Indian trinity is important, for on it is based much of the mystical speculation of the Vedic age²³. Agni's births are three or threefold (I, 95³; 4, I⁷). The gods made him threefold (10, 88I0). He is threefold light (3, 26⁷), has three heads (I, I46I), three tongues, three bodies, three stations (3, 20²). The epithet *triṣadhastha*, 'having three stations', is predominantly connected with Agni²⁴, and the only passage in which the word *tripastya*, 'having three dwellings', occurs (8, 39⁸), it is an attribute of Agni. The triad is not always understood in exactly the same way or mentioned in the same order. Thus one poet says: 'From heaven first Agni was born, the second time from us (= men), thirdly in the waters (I0, 45I, cp. vv. 2·3). The order of Agni's abodes is also heaven, earth, waters in other passages (8, 44I6; I0, 2⁷. 46⁹), while one verse (I, 95³) has the variation: ocean, heaven, waters. Sometimes the terrestrial Agni comes first: 'He was first born in houses, at the base of great heaven, in the womb of this atmosphere' (4, III); 'the immortals kindled three flames of Agni: of these they placed one with man, for use, and two went to the sister-world' (3, 2⁹). A Sūtra passage (Āp. ŚS. 5, I6⁴) distinguishes a terrestrial Agni in animals, an aerial one in the waters, and a celestial one in the sun. Occasionally the terrestrial Agni comes third. He is one of three brothers of whom 'the middlemost brother is lightning (*aśnaḥ*) and the third is butter-backed' (I, I64I, cp. I4I²). 'Agni glows from the sky, to god Agni belongs the broad air, men kindle Agni, bearer of oblations, lover of ghee' (AV. I2, I²⁰, cp. I3, 32I; I8, 4II).