Vedic Mythology c5.s3.t2.35

c5.s3.t2.35

Agni is further brought into close relations with the daily life of man in the sacrifice. He is, however, not merely a passive receiver of the offering, but is an intermediary between heaven and earth. He transmits the oblation to the gods, who do not get exhilarated without him (7, 11¹). On the other hand, he brings the gods (3, 14²) to the sacrifice as well as takes it to them (7, 11⁵). He seats them on the strewn grass (1, 31¹⁷; 8, 44³), to eat the offering (5, 1¹¹ &c.). He goes on the paths leading both to the gods (10, 98¹¹) and to earth (8, 7²), knowing these paths (6, 16³). He is therefore constantly and characteristically called a messenger (*dūta*), who knows the paths and conveys the sacrifice (1, 72⁷) or visits all abodes (4, 1⁸); who flies swiftly (10, 6⁴), moving between heaven and earth (4, 7⁸. 8⁴; 10, 4²), or the two races, gods and men (4, 2²·³); who has been appointed by the gods (5, 8⁶ &c.) and by men (10, 46¹⁰), to be an oblation-bearer (*havya-vah* or *-vāhana*, terms always connected with Agni) and to announce the hymn of the worshipper (1, 27⁴) or to bring the gods to the place of sacrifice (4, 8²). He is the messenger of the gods (6, 15⁹) and of Vivasvat (p. 42); but as knowing the innermost recesses of heaven, as conveying the sacrifice, and bringing the gods (4, 7⁸. 8²) he is mainly to be considered the messenger of men. A later text states that Agni is the messenger of the gods, and Kāvya Uśanas or Daivya that of the Asuras (TS. 2, 5, 8⁵. 11⁸). Another describes Agni not as the messenger of, but as the path leading to, the gods, by which the summit of heaven may be reached (TB. 2, 4, 1⁶).