| Another main deity of ancient India with many hymns dedicated to him in the Rg Veda in Agni. Agni, like Indra has many qualities which convey mushroom imagery and symbolism. Though he is not related to the thunderbolt directly like Indra, he is compared to a bull and has many similar qualities as Indra such as being associated closely with cattle. Agni appears to be a spore since he is urged by the wind through dry wood. He establishes himself among the trees and is compared to a treasure as well as “friend to a celestial race”: (4) Urged by the wind he spreads through dry wood as he lists, armed with his tongues for sickles, with a mighty roar. Black is thy path, Agni, changeless, with glittering waves! When, like a bull thou rushest eager to the trees. (6) The Bhṛgus established thee among mankind for men, like as a treasure, beauteous, easy to invoke; Thee, Agni, as a herald and choice-worthy guest, as an auspicious Friend to the Celestial Race. (RV1) Hymn LVIII. Agni. This next hymn is important in describing Agni as it reveals many key words. The red and white contrast, a characteristic of A. muscaria is mentioned, then an infant of the floods (waters) and plants, but specifically wood. Luminaries can refer not only to bright light but wisdom as well, or possibly, “strange lights.” The idea of milking a cow in a stall is associated with Amrta (Amrita) while the idea of immortality is mentioned. Mushrooms surface after dew has formed in the early morning and their juice is a holy oil. Secret wisdom is imparted to the user from consuming the holy food. Wealth in cattle is spoken about in reference to having born a son and the spreading of offspring, which all imply mushroom spores and fertility and reproduction, along with consumption: (4) Him, Blessed One, the Seven strong Floods augmented, him white at birth and red when waxen mighty. As mother mares run to their new-born youngling, so at his birth the Gods wondered at Agni. (13) Him, varied in his form, the lovely Infant of floods and plants the blessed wood hath gendered. Gods even, moved in spirit, came around him, and served him at his birth, the Strong, the Wondrous. (14) Like brilliant lightnings, mighty luminaries accompany the light-diffusing Agni, Waxen, as ’twere in secret, in his dwelling, while in the boundless stall they milk out Amṛta. (18) Within the house hath sate the King immortal of mortals, filling full their sacred synods. Bedewed with holy oil he shineth widely, Agni, the knower of all secret wisdom. (22) This sacrifice of ours do thou, O Mighty, O truly Wise, bear to the Gods rejoicing. Grant us abundant food, thou priestly Herald, vouchsafe to give us ample wealth, O Agni. (23) As holy food, Agni, to thine invoker give wealth in cattle, lasting, rich in marvels. To us he born a son, and spreading offspring. Agni, be this thy gracious will to us-ward. (RV3) Hymn I. Agni. |
In the next hymn, Agni supports the earth, fixes the sky and guards spots which cattle love. The mushroom stem is said to be the pillar which supports the sky, or cap of the mushroom, in the symbolism of ancient mythology. Marduk, in Babylonian mythology was said to fix the sky after slaying Tiamat, the she-dragon. This is also the role of Atlas in Greek mythology: (3) He, like the Unborn, holds the broad earth up; and with effective utterance fixed the sky. O Agni, guard the spots which cattle love: thou, life of all, hast gone from lair to lair. (RV1) Hymn LXVII. Agni In the next hymn, reading deeper into the meaning, we might want to consider how something shining shines bright in the night. White mushrooms glow under the moonlight and when you are foraging for them at night, they can shine and reflect the moonlight. Also, the symmetrical imagery of the mushroom is mentioned as well: (7) Lovely of form art thou, alike on every side; though far, thou shinest brightly as if close at hand. O God, thou seest through even the dark of night. Let us not in thy friendship, Agni, suffer harm. (RV1) Hymn XCIV. Agni In the following hymn we have the rising among plants, a trait of the mushroom. Agni is described as a Holy One that winds up like a serpent through the grass. Described as being “pure of birth.” The mushroom is known to take toxic material and free the soil from it, and then the mushroom itself is actually free from this same toxin. Somehow, the mushrooms are known to eat toxins in the environment, which could be the source for the inference of purity of birth. It could also relate to its virgin birth, being born from no mother or father alone: (4) When from the Highest Father he is brought to us, amid the plants he rises hungry, wondrously. As both together join to expedite his birth, most youthful he is born resplendent in his light. (7) What time the Holy One, wind-urged, hath risen up, serpent-like winding through the dry grass unrestrained, Dust lies upon the way of him who burneth all, black-winged and pure of birth who follows sundry paths. (RV1) Hymn CXLI. Agni |