Himalayan Art Resources

Indian Deity: Agni

Hindu Religion Page

Subjects, Topics & Types:
- Description (below)
- Hindu Context:
--- Vedas
--- Indian Deities
- Buddhist Context:
--- Medicine Buddha (Ten Gods)
--- Eight Gods of the Cemetery
--- Ten Gods of the Directions
- Tibetan Context:
--- Thirteen Enemy Gods
- Masterworks
- Confusions
- Others...

Video: Agni, God of Fire

Study Topics:
- Origins
- Context
--- Hindu, Buddhist, Tibetan
- Appearance

Agni, as the god of fire, originates from the Vedas as one of the most important figures along with Indra (Shakra). He is the god of fire, the hearth and homa offerings. In Buddhism, Agni is almost always a secondary figure often included in the mandalas of the Kriya, Charya and Yoga Tantra classifications. In Anuttarayoga he plays a role in all formal fire offerings and rituals although less often represented in art. The Tibetan and Himalayan peoples have a belief in a god or goddess of the hearth (stove) although generally classified under Enemy Gods (dralha) rather than as a very high or important god such as Agni.

Jeff Watt [updated 1-2024]