Rigveda Chapter 1: Anuvaka 1: Verses 1-2

 

 

                   Chapter 1

This hymns are recited by Rishi Madhuchanda . Who is this Rishi? This Rishi is the son of one of the most popular rishi in the Vedic times Rishi Vishwamitra whose meditation was disturbed by lady Menka. 

 

 

Anuvaka 1

 

1)Agnim    Ile  purohita  yajnasya  deva m ritvijam

Hotaram Ratna dhatamam

 

Sage Madhuchanda is praising fire here. He is performing a ritual, where he is calling upon the fire. Rishi says Agni is pure and glowing; fire is a messenger from God.  Here fire is compared to the holder of wealth and fire is praised as a strong force. Of course, the sage is doing a yoga and he needs fire to start the rituals. Fire is a purifier and it is so strong. It is a great force in the universe like air and water. Rishi is worshipping the fire. Of course, they are people who lived closer with nature, so they could enjoy the life in the earth more than we enjoy. How can people live in flats who cook in gas stoves and induction cooker can enjoy the beauty of the burning fire?

 

Here rishi is requesting the presence of Agni aka fire in the entire yaga process.     

2)agni  purvebhirrsibhiridyo  nutanairuta

   sa devaneha vaksati

 

In this verse, Rishi Madhuchanda says, rishis in the ancient ages!!!!!!!!!!!!! Amazing for me I feel Rigveda and other Vedas are written anyway near to 1 lakh years back. (I don’t trust this western run Wikipedia carbon dating results) A rishi who lived in that era says about sages are there who lived much before him! It is quite amazing. They also praised and adored Fire. Agni aka fire is praised by young and old generation.  They believed that fire will go up to the heaven meet the God and brings back his message to the earth.

 

What a noble and inspired thought. As a monotheist, I just see the respect for the forces of the universe. Here human is competing for each other to pollute the earth and resources; there was a community who worshiped them because they respected the forces. They knew once they get stopped we also will die.