Vedic Mythology c6.s4.1

c6.s4.1

The Aṅgirases are sons of heaven² (3, 53⁷; 10, 67² cp. 4, 2¹⁵). They are seers who are sons of the gods (10, 62⁴). A single Aṅgiras being regarded as their ancestor, they are also termed 'sons of Aṅgiras' (10, 62⁵). Poets speak of them as 'fathers' (ib. ²), 'our fathers' (1, 71²), or 'our ancient fathers' (1, 62²). They are once mentioned as fathers with the Atharvans and Bhṛgus (10, 14⁶), being especially associated with Yama (ib.³⁻⁵). They are also in a more general way connected with other groups of divine beings, the Ādityas, Vasus, Maruts (7, 44⁴; 8, 35¹⁴), or the Ādityas, Rudras, Vasus, as well as the Atharvans (AV. 11, 8¹³). Soma is offered to them (9, 62⁹), and they are invoked like gods (3, 53⁷; 10, 62). They are brahman priests (7, 42¹). They found Agni hidden in the wood (5, 11⁶) and thought of the first ordinance of sacrifice (10, 67²). It is by sacrifice that they obtained immortality as well as the friendship of Indra (10, 62¹).