According to the book, Agni is the Hindu god of divine fire. The description of Agni on http://www.pantheon.org/mythica.html states:
"Agni is one of the most important of the Vedic gods. He is the god of fire, the messenger of the gods, the acceptor of sacrifice. Agni is in everyone's hearth; he is the vital spark of life, and so a part of him is in all living things; he is the fire which consumes food in peoples' stomachs, as well as the fire which consumes the offerings to the gods. He is the fire of the sun, in the lightening bolt, and in the smoke column which holds up the heavens. The stars are sparks from his flame. "
Agni is also the ancient Sanskrit word for fire, and has similar roots to the Latin word ignis and the English word ignite.
Apparently, he also had a reputation for drinking large amounts of Soma, which was a drink imbibed by gods and men to produce a state of intoxicating ecstasy. With the cold weather we have been having recently and the party season under way, I think he is a very appropriate god of the week to keep us warm and cheerful.
I may not get offered any Soma at Yuletide festivities, but I'll certainly be happy to raise a glass of mulled wine to Agni!
Links:
The Concise Mythological Dictionary
http://www.pantheon.org/mythica.html
http://www.godchecker.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agni
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2008/06/visualisation-on-element-of-fire.html
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