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Monday, September 21, 2020

Mātariśvan: The Fire God of the Rigveda

The early sections of the Rigveda, which modern scholars place between 900 BC and 1500 BC, describe the feats of a mythical being called Mātariśvan who brings fire, in the form of lightening, from afar, probably heaven, to the earth. But after arrival on earth, the fire disappears and Mātariśvan rediscovers it and brings it for safekeeping to the clan of Bhrigus who propagate the use of fire to all humanity. The later sections of the Rigveda identify Mātariśvan as Agni, the fire god. In several verses there is discussion of the miracle of fire being produced by rubbing wooden sticks. The Sanskrit name for the wooden sticks used to create fire is Pramantha.

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