SECTION –CCXX
(Markandeya-Samasya Parva Continued)
"Markandeya continued, 'The fire called
Bharata was bound by severe rules of asceticism. Pushtimati is another name of
his fire; for when he is satisfied he vouchsafes pushti (development) to all
creatures, and for this reason he is called Bharata (or the Cherisher). And
that other fire, by name Siva, is devoted to the worship of Sakti (the forces
of the presiding deity of the forces of Nature), and because he always relieves
the sufferings of all creatures afflicted with misery, he is called Siva (the
giver of good). And on the acquisition of great ascetic wealth by Tapa, an
intelligent son named Puranda was born to inherit the same. Another son named
Ushma was also born. This fire is observed in the vapour of all matter. A third
son Manu was born. He officiated as Prajapati. The Brahmanas who are learned in
the Vedas, then speak of the exploits of the fire Sambhu. And after that the
bright Avasathya fire of great refulgence is spoken of by the Brahmanas. Tapa
thus created the five Urjaskara fires, all bright as gold. These all share the
Soma drink in sacrifices. The great sun-god when fatigued (after his day's
labours) is known as the Prasanta fire. He created the terrible Asuras and
various other creatures of the earth. Angiras, too created the Prajapati Bhanu,
the son of Tapa. He is also called Vrihadbhanu (the great Bhanu) by Brahmanas
learned in the Vedas. Bhanu married Supraja, and Brihadbhanu the daughter of
Surya (the sun-god). They gave birth to six sons; do thou hear of their
progeny. The fire who gives strength to the weak is called Valada (or the giver
of strength). He is the first son of Bhanu, and that other fire who looks
terrible when all the elements are in a tranquil state is called the Manjuman
fire; he is the second son of Bhanu. And the fire in whose honour oblations of
clarified butter are enjoined to be made here at the Darsa and Paurnamasya
sacrifices and who is known as Vishnu in this world, is (the third son of
Bhanu) called Angiras, or Dhritiman. And the fire to whom with Indra, the
Agrayana oblation is enjoined to be made is called the Agrayana fire. He is the
(fourth) son of Bhanu. The fifth son of Bhanu is Agraha who is the source of
the oblations which are daily made for the performance of the Chaturmasya
(four-monthly) rites. And Stuva is the sixth son of Bhanu. Nisa was the name of
another wife of that Manu who is known by the name of Bhanu. She gave birth to
one daughter, the two Agnishomas, and also five other fire-gods. The
resplendent fire-god who is honoured with the first oblations in company with
the presiding deity of the clouds is called Vaiswanara. And that other fire who
is called the lord of all the worlds is Viswapati, the second son of Manu. And
the daughter of Manu is called Swistakrit, because by oblations unto her one
acquires great merit. Though she was the daughter of Hiranyakasipu, she yet
became his wife for her evil deeds. She is, however, one of the Prajapatis. And
that other fire which has its seats in the vital airs of all creatures and
animates their bodies, is called Sannihita. It is the cause of our perceptions
of sound and form. That divine spirit whose course is marked with black and
white stains, who is the supporter of fire, and who, though free from sin, is
the accomplisher of desired karma, whom the wise regard as a great Rishi, is
the fire Kapila, the propounder of the Yoga system called Sankhya. The fire
through whom the elementary spirits always receive the offerings called Agra
made by other creatures at the performance of all the peculiar rites in this
world is called Agrani. And these other bright fires famous in the world, were
created for the rectification of the Agnihotra rites when marred by any
defects. If the fires interlap each other by the action of the wind, then the
rectification must be made with the Ashtakapala rites in honour of the fire
Suchi. And if the southern fire comes in contact with the two other fires, then
rectification must be made by the performance of the Ashtakapala rites in
honour of the fire Viti. If the fires in their place called Nivesa come in contact
with the fire called Devagni, then the Ashtakapala rites must be performed in
honour of the fire Suchi for rectification. And if the perpetual fire is
touched by a woman in her monthly course, then for rectification the
Ashtakapala rites must be performed in honour of the fire called Dasyuman. If
at the time of the performance of this Agnihotra rites the death of any
creature is spoken of, or if animals die, then rectification must be made with
the performance of the Ashtakapala rites in honour of the Suraman fire. The
Brahmana, who while suffering from a disease is unable to offer oblations to
the sacred fire for three nights, must make amends for the same by performing
the Ashtakapala rites in honour of the northern fire. He who has performed the
Darsa and the Paurnamasya rites must make the rectification with the
performance of the Ashtakapala rites in honour of the Patikrit fire. If the
fire of a lying-in room comes in contact with the perpetual sacred fire, then
rectification must be made with the performance of Ashtakapala rites in honour
of the Agniman fire.'"
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