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The chief terrestrial myth is Agni being naturally of primary importance as the personification of the sacrificial fire, which is the center of the ritual poetry of the Veda. Next to Indra, he is most prominent. He is celebrated 200 hymns of the Rgveda. Some numbers are given below: I.70.4. III.22.2. VII.6.1. VII.5.4. II.2.3. III.29.2. I.59.5. VI.8.2.3.7. I.68.2. III.15.4. VI.6.2. VI.7.7. V.3.5. III.26.3. III.3.10. X.88.4.

32 I.146.1. VIII.39.8. I.68.2. VII.16.4. VI.8.7. X.1.3. VI.9.7. VIII.60.19. I.59.2. X.88.6. III.14.4. X.91.2. I.143.2. III.27.2. VII.5.6. V.8.2. I.71.10. X.7.3. VII.6.3. VI.15.1. I.I.1. IX.66-20. III.21.3. X.91.3. III.15.1. II.1.3-7. V.13.6. X.5.7. X.79.5. Agni is more closely related with human life than any other god. His association with the dwellings of men is peculiarly intimate. He is the only god to whom the frequent epithet 'grhapati' (lord of the house, is applied. He dwells in every abode. 66 The attribute 'domestic' is generally connected with him. This household deity probably represents an old order of ideas; for in the later elaborate ritual of the three sacrificial fires, the one from which the other two were taken, is called garhapatya. In this connection it is interesting to observe that even as early as Rgvedic times there are traces of the sacrificial fire having been transported. He is further constantly a guest in human abodes.6 66. yah pancacarsanirabhi nisasada damedame | - Rgveda VII.15.2. 67. sa darsata sriratithigrhegrhe vane vane sisriye taktaviriva | janam janam janyo nati manyate visa akseti visyo visamvisam || Ibid, X.91.2. tvamagne atithim purtyam visah sociskesam grhaspatim nisedire | brhatketum pururupam dhanasprtam susarmanam svavamam || Ibid., V.8.2. |

33 Agni further brought into close relations with the daily life of man in the sacrifice. He is however not merely a passive receiver of the offering, but is an inter mediate between heaven and earth. The transmits the oblation to the gods also do not get exhilarated without him.68 On the other hand he brings the gods to the sacrifice as well as takes it to them.69 He goes on the paths leading both to the gods and to earth, knowing these paths. He is therefore, constantly and characteristically called a messenger. In consequence if his main function in the Veda of officiating at the sacrifice, Agni comes to be celebrated as the divine counterpart of the earthly priesthood. Therefore he is called 'priest'.