Vedic Mythology c5.s3.t2.30

c5.s3.t2.30

What is probably the oldest function of fire in regard to its cult, that of burning and dispelling evil spirits and hostile magic, still survives in the Veda. Agni drives away the goblins with his light (3, 15¹ &c.)³⁴ and receives the epithet *rakṣohan*, 'goblin-slayer' (10, 87¹). When kindled he consumes with iron teeth and scorches with heat the sorcerers as well as the goblins (10, 87²· ⁵· ¹⁴), protecting the sacrifice with keen glance (ib. ⁹). He knows the races of the sorcerers and destroys them (AV. 1, 8⁴). Though this function of dispelling terrestrial demons is shared with Agni by Indra (as well as by Bṛhaspati, the Aśvins, and especially Soma), it must primarily have belonged to Agni alone, just as, conversely, that of slaying Asuras or aerial demons is transferred to Agni (7, 13¹) though properly peculiar to Indra. This is borne out by the fact that Agni is undoubtedly more prominent as a goblin-slayer than Indra, both in the hymns and in the ritual³⁵.