Devalok
Origin · 3 tellings · Pan-India

Matarishvan brings the fire to the Bhrigus

Who is in it

Texts: Rigveda

The story, beat by beat

  1. Agni is born in the highest heaven and lies hidden, far away.
  2. He is first shown to Matarishvan and to Vivasvat; heaven and earth tremble.
  3. Matarishvan, envoy of Vivasvat, rubs the hidden fire out and brings it from far away, from the gods.
  4. He brings it for Manu and gives it to Bhrigu like a treasure.
  5. The fire is set down in human houses and grows bright in every home.
  6. A verse pairs the deed with the falcon that tore Soma from the mountain.

fire gift search origin

How it is told, place by place

Base telling · Primary text (translation)

Rigveda: the Matarishvan verses

Pan-India All traditions

Scattered verses in Agni hymns. Agni, born in the highest heaven, was shown to Matarishvan (1.143.2) and to Vivasvat (1.31.3). Hidden and wandering at will, he was rubbed forth by Matarishvan (1.141.3) and brought from far away, from the gods (3.9.5-6), as envoy of Vivasvat (6.8.4), for Manu (1.128.2), and as a gift to Bhrigu like a treasure (1.60.1). Since then he shines in every house (1.71.4, 1.148.1). One verse pairs the bringing of Agni from heaven with the falcon bringing Soma from the mountain (1.93.6). Another explains the name as the fire formed in its mother, which becomes the flight of wind (3.29.11).

Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 1.60.1; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 1.143.2; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 1.31.3; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 1.141.3; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 3.9.5; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 6.8.4; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 1.128.2; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 1.71.4; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 1.148.1; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 1.93.6; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 3.29.11; Vedic Mythology, A. A. Macdonell (1897) § s25

Primary text (translation)

Rigveda: the Bhrigu verses

Pan-India All traditions

Other verses give the Bhrigus the deed. Like a lost animal tracked by its footprints, they pursued Agni and found him where the waters gather (10.46.2); they served him in the home of the waters and set him in the houses of the living (2.4.2); they established him among men like a treasure, a guest and friend (1.58.6); they brought him to the navel of the earth (1.143.4); Apnavana and the Bhrigus made him shine in the wood (4.7.1); they invited him, rubbing, with prayer (1.127.7). 10.46.9 names Heaven and Earth, the Waters, Tvashtri, the Bhrigus, and then Matarishvan and the gods together.

What is different here:

No messenger from heaven: the Bhrigus search on earth, find the fire in the waters and kindle it themselves. Only 10.46.9 joins them with Matarishvan.

Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 10.46.2; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 2.4.2; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 1.58.6; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 1.143.4; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 4.7.1; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 1.127.7; Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer § 10.46.9

Primary text (translation)

Atharvaveda and after: Matarishvan the wind

Pan-India All traditions

The Atharvaveda uses Matarishvan as a name of the wind that raises dust and shakes trees (12.1.51) and gives the name of Breath to him (11.4.15); one verse still asks where he was when Agni passed between earth and heaven and answers that he had entered the waters (10.8.39-40). The Isha Upanishad (4) names him once, glossed by Muller as the wind. Yaska and Sayana take the name as Vayu.

What is different here:

Not a telling of the fire-bringing: the deed is dropped and the name passes to the wind.

Hymns of the Atharva-Veda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1895) § 12.1.51; Hymns of the Atharva-Veda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1895) § 11.4.15; Hymns of the Atharva-Veda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1895) § 10.8.39-40; The Upanishads, tr. F. Max Muller (Sacred Books of the East 1 and 15) § isha.4; Vedic Mythology, A. A. Macdonell (1897) § s25; Wikipedia: Matarisvan

Sources: Hymns of the Rigveda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1896), hymns read for the Vedic layer; Vedic Mythology, A. A. Macdonell (1897); Hymns of the Atharva-Veda, tr. R. T. H. Griffith (1895); The Upanishads, tr. F. Max Muller (Sacred Books of the East 1 and 15); Wikipedia: Matarisvan

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