in honour of the Suraman fire. The Brahmana,
who while suffering from a disease is unable to offer
oblations to the sacred fire for three nights, must
make amends for the same by performing the Ashtakapala
rites in honour of the northern fire. He who
has performed the Darsa and the Paurnamasya rites
must make the rectification with the performance of
the Ashtakapala rites in honour of the Patikrit fire.
If the fire of a lying-in room comes in contact with
the perpetual sacred fire, then rectification must
be made with the performance of Ashtakapala rites
in honour of the Agniman fire.’”
Markandeya continued, “Mudita, the favourite
wife of the fire Swaha, used to live in water.
And Swaha who was the regent of the earth and sky beget
in that wife of his a highly sacred fire called Advanta.
There is a tradition amongst learned Brahmanas that
this fire is the ruler and inner soul of all creatures.
He is worshipful, resplendent and the lord of all
the great Bhutas here. And that fire, under the
name of Grihapati, is ever worshipped at all sacrifices
and conveys all the oblations that are made in this
world. That great son of Swaha—the
great Adbhuta fire is the soul of the waters and the
prince and regent of the sky and the lord of everything
great. His (son), the Bharata fire, consumes the
dead bodies of all creatures. His first Kratu
is known as Niyata at the performance of the Agnishtoma
sacrifice. That powerful prime fire (Swaha) is
always missed by the gods, because when he sees Niyata
approaching him he hides himself in the sea from fear
of contamination. Searching for him in every
direction, the gods could not (once) find him out and
on beholding Atharvan the fire said to him, ’O
valiant being, do thou carry the oblations for the
gods! I am disabled from want of strength.
Attaining the state of the red-eyed fire, do thou condescend
to do me this favour!’ Having thus advised Atharvan,
the fire went away to some other place. But his
place of concealment was divulged by the finny tribe.
Upon them the fire pronounced this curse in anger,
’You shall be the food of all creatures in various
ways.’ And then that carrier of oblations
spoke unto Atharvan (as before). Though entreated
by the gods, he did not agree to continue carrying
their oblations. He then became insensible and
instantly gave up the ghost. And leaving his material
body, he entered into the bowels of the earth.
Coming into contact with the earth, he created the
different metals. Force and scent arose from
his pus; the Deodar pine from his bones; glass from
his phlegm; the Marakata jewel from his bile; and
the black iron from his liver. And all the world
has been embellished with these three substances (wood,
stone and iron). The clouds were made from his
nails, and corals from his veins. And, O king,
various other metals were produced from his body.
Thus leaving his material body, he remained absorbed
Print
Word
PDF
