Agni
Agni had multiple births. He was born from water in the shape of a calf, from the sky in the form of an eagle and from dry firesticks as a glutton with a flame tongue who devoured his parents as soon as he was born.
According to the direction in which he was facing when he was born, Agni has three different characters. To the East he is the fire for the offerings to the gods, to the south for offerings to departed spirits and to the West for domestic cooking and other offerings.
Agni is also the lightning which causes rain, the fire of the sun, messenger of the gods, supporter of the sky and the mediator between Heaven and Earth as he presides over sacrifices and the burning of the dead.
Adapted from 'A guide to the Gods' by Richard Carlyon
