VI.7

✦ ─── ⟐ ─── ✦

Thou art not merely the flame in the hearth, O Agni Vaiśvānara — universal fire, fire belonging to all peoples. Look upward! The sun itself burneth with thy essence. Every point of light in the heavens speaketh thy name. The stars are thy children, scattered across the void, burning eternally in the cosmic dark.

When lightning teareth the clouds asunder, it is thy fury made visible. When thunder roareth and shaketh the earth, it is thy voice calling from the sky. Every storm that bringeth rain, every flash that spliteth the tree — this is thee, O Agni, showing thy terrible majesty to those mortals below who tremble at thy power.

But thou art not confined to the heavens. Descend! Burrow deep into the earth. The heat that dwelleth in the belly of the world — that is thee as well. The warm springs that rise from the deep places, the fire that runneth within the stone, the warmth that giveth life to growing things — all of these are expressions of thy universal nature.

Thou burnest in the belly of every creature. The heat that warmeth the blood, the fire of digestion, the spark of life itself — this is thy presence within us, O Agni. When a man acteth with courage, when a woman speaketh truth, when any creature riseth to fullness of being — this is thee, burning bright within.

Vaiśvānara! Universal fire! Fire of all peoples, fire of earth and sky and water and the spaces between! Thou art not bound by nation or tribe or family. Every human heart that burneth with noble intent knoweth thee. Every creature that liveth and groweth and shineth with the light of consciousness harboureth thy spark. In thee, O Agni, all the worlds are made one.