Vedic Mythology c5.s3.t3.5

c5.s3.t3.5

There are several passages in which Bṛhaspati appears identified with Agni. Thus 'the lord of prayer, Agni, handsome like Mitra' is invoked (1, 38¹³). In another passage (2, 1³ ff.) Agni, though identified with other gods as well, is clearly more intimately connected with Brahmaṇaspati, as only these two names are in the vocative. In one verse (3, 26²) both Mātariśvan and 'Bṛhaspati the wise priest, the guest, the swiftly-moving' seem to be epithets of Agni, while in another (1, 190²) Mātariśvan seems to be an epithet of Bṛhaspati. Again, by Bṛhaspati, who is blue-backed, takes up his abode in the house, shines brightly, is golden-coloured and ruddy (5, 43¹²), Agni must be meant. In two other verses (1, 18¹⁹; 10, 182²) Bṛhaspati seems to be the same as Narāśaṁsa, a form of Agni (p. 100). Like Agni, Bṛhaspati is a priest, is called 'Son of strength' (1, 40²) and Aṅgiras (2, 23¹⁸) as well (the epithet *āṅgirasa* belonging to him exclusively), and burns the goblins (2, 23¹⁴) or slays them (10, 103⁴). Bṛhaspati is also spoken of as ascending to heaven, to the upper abodes (10, 67¹⁰). Like Agni, Bṛhaspati has three abodes (4, 50¹); he is the adorable one of houses (7, 97⁵), and 'lord of the dwelling', *sadasas pati*⁷ (1, 18⁶; Indra-Agni are once called *sadaspatī*, 1, 21⁵). On the other hand, Agni is called *brahmaṇas kavi*, 'sage of prayer' (6, 16³⁰) and is besought (2, 2⁷) to make heaven and earth favourable by prayer (*brahmaṇā*). But Bṛhaspati is much more commonly distinguished from Agni (2, 25³; 7, 10⁴; 10, 68⁹), chiefly by being invoked or named along with him in enumerations (3, 20⁵ &c.).⁸