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Discovery Of Fire In Hinduism - Mention Of Fire In Ancient Hindu Texts

Fire is very important for the development of a civilization, and it was first produced in ancient India scientifically. It is recorded that Atharvan, a Vedic Rishi, discovered the method of producing fire (Rig Veda VI 16 -13). Rig Veda is believed to have composed between 4500 – 5000 BC. So the discovery of fire might have happened at least a couple of hundred years before the composition of Rig Veda.

Angirasa, another Vedic Rishi, produced fire by rubbing hard and dry sticks (Rig Veda I, 1-6, 31-17, 74-5). Various types of fire altars were made to preserve fire (Satapatha Brahmana IX 5-2-15).

From the construction of altars, the science of kilns, fireplaces or furnaces was developed.

A detailed description of this science is given in Sulbasutras. Vedic rishi Medhatithi addresses Agni (Fire) in Yajur Veda XVII - 2). Burnt bricks were named as pakvestaka (Brahma Samhita, 52 – 53) by Varahamihira and as amrita ishtaka in Satapatha Brahmana (VI-2-1-9). Katha Upanishad also refers to bricks (I.1).