Agni

Agni, meaning fire in Sanskrit, is a major figure in Hinduism and Vedic literature. He is the personification of fire and a divine messenger who carries offerings to the gods. As one of the principal Vedic deities, Agni appears in hymns and rituals and remains a central element in Hindu worship.

In the Vedas, Agni is invoked in fire rituals and is believed to reside in the sacrificial fire, the domestic hearth, and the celestial fire of the gods. He is described as ancient and ever-present, capable of consuming offerings and conveying them upward to the deities. He is often viewed as a mediator between humans and gods and as a purifier who sustains ritual life.

In everyday practice, Agni is present in temples and homes through the sacred fire. Rituals such as yajna, havan, and domestic fire ceremonies center on Agni, with prayers and offerings directed to him to purify, illuminate, and sustain the cosmic order.

In modern times, the name Agni has been adopted for India's ballistic missile program developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The Agni family comprises several variants with ranges spanning from hundreds to more than five thousand kilometers, including Agni-I through Agni-V.

As a given name and in cultural contexts, Agni remains common in Indian literature and tradition, reflecting the god's enduring influence in religious and secular life.