In Hindu mythology, Agni is the deity associated with fire and serves as a messenger between humans and gods.
Agni is one of the most prominent deities of the Vedic tradition. In sacrificial rituals, offerings are placed into the fire, which symbolically carries them to the gods. This mediating role explains why Agni is central to yajna, the ritual offering tradition, and why fire remains important in many Hindu ceremonies.
The Rigveda opens with a hymn to Agni, showing the deity’s importance in early Sanskrit religious literature. Agni is described in multiple forms, including terrestrial fire, lightning, and the sun’s heat. His name is connected with fire and appears in related Indo-Iranian religious traditions.
Agni is not simply another name for Surya, the solar deity, although sunlight and fire are closely related in Vedic symbolism. Vayu represents wind, Varuna is connected with cosmic waters and order, and Soma is both a ritual drink and a deity in Vedic tradition.