Sukta 103
Rishi: Ṛgvedic provenance (Agni-stotra material incorporated in AV 20)
Devata: Agni
Chandas: Mixed/Triṣṭubh-Jagatī style in RV sources; AV 20 preserves RV metrical texture (exact meter depends on RV locus)
This brief Agni-stotra (drawn from Ṛgvedic liturgical material) praises and summons Agni as the sharp-flamed helper who brings both protection (chardiḥ, “sheltering cover”) and prosperity. The verses install Agni as Hotṛ, align the sacrificial implements and ghee with his presence, and thereby secure safe, well-kindled ritual power that repels harm while attracting wealth.
Kind of charm
Mantras
Mantra 1
अ॒ग्निमी॑लि॒ष्वाव॑से॒ गाथा॑भिः शी॒रशो॑चिषम्। अ॒ग्निं रा॒ये पु॑रुमील्ह श्रु॒तं नरो॒ऽग्निं सु॑दी॒तये॑ छ॒र्दिः
अग्नि की गानों से तारीफ करो, वो हमारे काम आएगा। उसकी आग चमक रही है। उसे पुकारो धन के लिए, वो बढ़ा देता है। लोग उसे सुनते हैं। अग्नि की आग साफ चमकती है, वो हमारी रक्षा करता है।
Mantra 2
अग्न॒ आ या॑ह्य॒ग्निभि॒र्होता॑रं त्वा वृणीमहे । आ त्वाम॑नक्तु॒ प्रय॑ता ह॒विष्म॑ती॒ यजि॑ष्ठं ब॒र्हिरा॒सदे॑
हे अग्नि, आग ले के आ जाओ। हम तुम्हे अपना पंडित चुनते हैं। जो लोग हवन की तैयारी कर के आते हैं, वो तुम्हे बैठाते हैं। तुम यज्ञ के लिए सही हो, घास पर आके बैठ जाओ।
Mantra 3
अच्छा॒ हि त्वा॑ सहसः सूनो अङ्गिरः॒ स्रुच॒श्चर॑न्त्यध्व॒रे। ऊ॒र्जो नपा॑तं घृ॒तके॑शमीमहे॒ऽग्निं य॒ज्ञेषु॑ पू॒र्व्यम्
यह मंत्र अग्नि के लिए है। अंगिरस रिशि कहते हैं कि यज्ञ में लडल चलते हैं। वो अग्नि को ढूंढते हैं जो ताकत का बेटा है। अग्नि जो घी से चमकता है और बहुत पुराना है।
Inside Sukta 103
How it unfolds
- How it opens
Begins with direct praise—“agnim īḷiṣvā”—calling Agni keen-flamed and sought for aid.
- What it asks
Agni is requested for wealth and as chardiḥ, a sheltering protection, and is invited to come and take his seat as Hotṛ on the barhis.
- Where its power lies
The hymn asserts efficacy through ritual alignment: properly prepared havis, ghee-anointing, and the moving ladles within the adhvara naturally draw Agni and make the sacrifice work.
- How it closes
Concludes by identifying Agni as ū́rjo napāt, ghṛtakeśa, and the ancient one in sacrifices (pūrvyam), sealing continuity and reliability of ritual power.
Famous verses
छ॒र्दिः (chardiḥ) “sheltering protection”होता॑रं त्वा वृणीमहे (hotāraṃ tvā vṛṇīmahe) “thee as Hotṛ we choose”घृ॒तके॑शम् (ghṛtakeśam) “ghee-haired”Kind of hymn
Rakṣoghna/Apotropaic-Liturgical (Agni as protection) + Paustika (wealth)
What it is for
A well-established sacrificial fire that grants sheltering protection and supports wealth/nourishment, ensuring smooth movement of offerings and removal of ritual and hostile impediments.
Who it is for
Householders and officiants maintaining domestic or public fire-rites; practitioners using Agni-invocation for protection, steadiness of ritual, and prosperity.
Also used as
- Rakṣoghna/Apotropaic
- Śrauta/Liturgical
- Shantika (stabilizing the rite through correct installation of Agni)
The deity
Agni is the ritual fire and divine mediator—keen-flamed, ancient, and ever-renewed—who carries offerings, seats himself on the barhis, and converts sacrifice into protection and abundance.
Powers of the deity
- Hotṛ-function: officiates and conveys offerings to the gods
- Rakṣas/evil-repelling: provides chardiḥ (sheltering protection) and wards obstacles
- Paustika bestowal: grants wealth, nourishment, and increase
- Consecration of rite: makes the sacrifice “well-kindled” and effective
- Continuity with the ancestral/primordial sacrifice (pūrvyam)
Why the deity is called
To invite and seat Agni as the chosen Hotṛ, keep the fire bright and properly anointed with ghee, and obtain both protective cover and material prosperity through a correctly energized rite.
The seer
- Ṛgvedic seer(s) (Agni-stotra provenance; incorporated into AV 20)Angiras. Liturgical Agni-invocation used apotropaically: establishing the fire, empowering oblations, and turning sacrificial order into protection and gain (rakṣoghna + paustika efficacy).
Other hymns of this seer
- AV 20 Agni-stotra cluster (multiple RV-derived hymns within Kanda 20)
- Related RV-style Agni invitatories and praises preserved across AV 20 (general provenance rather than a single fixed AV author)
Preparing for the rite
- Prepare a clean, kindled fire (āhavanīya/gārhapatya context as applicable).
- Lay out barhis (sacred grass) as Agni’s seat.
- Arrange sruc/ladles and havis; keep ghṛta ready for anointing.
- Establish a calm, orderly ritual space (silence/recitation readiness).
The rite
- Recite 20.103.1 as praise and intent: seek aid, wealth, and chardiḥ (protective shelter).
- Recite 20.103.2 as the formal invitation and choosing of Agni as Hotṛ; anoint (anaktu) with ghee and invite him to sit on the barhis.
- Recite 20.103.3 while moving/using the ladles in the offering sequence, contemplating Agni as ghṛtakeśa and pūrvya in yajñas.
- Conclude with a brief oblation (as customary) to seal the invocation.
What it needs
- Agni (kindled fire)
- Ghṛta (ghee)
- Havis/oblations (as per rite)
- Barhis (sacred grass)
- Sruc/ladles
When
At the lighting/strengthening of the ritual fire, especially at the opening of an offering sequence; also suitable at twilight or before a protective household rite when establishing Agni.
The main substance
Ghṛta (ghee) used to anoint and feed the fire
How it is prepared
Keep ghee warmed/liquid; after kindling and stabilizing the fire, offer or smear a small portion as “anointing,” then proceed with ladle-based oblations while reciting the verses.
Frequently Asked Questions
To establish Agni firmly in the rite—bright, anointed, and seated—so he gives protective cover (chardiḥ) and supports prosperity/wealth.
They are the key ritual technologies: ghee strengthens and “anoints” Agni, barhis is his seat, and the ladles (sruc) enact the flow of offerings that draws his effective presence.
Yes. Even in a simple household fire-setting, it functions as a compact Agni-invocation for safety, steadiness of the rite, and increase—so long as a clean fire and a small offering (like ghee) are maintained.
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