Agni (Rig Veda 1.1) - Madhuchanda Vaisvamitra:

ॐ अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं यज्ञस्य देवमृत्विजम् ।
होतारं रत्नधातमम् ॥१.१.१॥
Om Agnim-Iille Purohitam Yajnyasya Devam-Rtvijam |
Hotaaram Ratna-Dhaatamam ||1.1.1||

• पुरोहित (Purohita): Who is the Priest leading the yagna.
• ऋत्विज (Rtvija): Who is the Priest performing the yagna at proper times.
• होतार (Hotara): Who is the Priest invoking the devas.
• रत्नधातमम् (Ratna-Dhaatamam): Who is the bestower of wealth.

Comments:

- This is the first mantra of the Rig Veda Samhita. In this mantra, Agni is invoked as the priest of the Yagna who will invoke the other Devas in the Yagna.

- We should meditate on the background setting of a Vedic sacrifice in our minds while chanting this mantra. Agni (as sacrificial fire) has been lighted. Soma juice has been prepared for the Devas. Now Agni is being invoked. Agni will invoke the other Devas in the Yagna. These Devas will awaken us and enhance the external environment with spiritual vibrations. By getting awakened by the Devas, we become the upholders of Rita or Cosmic Order along with the Devas. This is Yagna where we participate with the divine powers to uphold the Cosmic Order.

- Agni is the power which connects all the other divine powers. Hence Agni is invoked first in a Vedic Yagna to assemble all the divine powers. Subsequently other Devas are also individually invoked with Vedic mantras.

अग्निर्होता कविक्रतुः सत्यश्चित्रश्रवस्तमः ।
देवो देवेभिरा गमत् ॥१.१.५॥
Agnir-Hotaa Kavikratuh Satyash-Citrashravastamah |
Devo Devebhir-Aa Gamat ||1.1.5||

• कविक्रतु (Kavikratu): Who is far-sighted with wisdom.
• सत्य (Satya): Who is the embodiment of Truth.
• चित्रश्रवस्तम (Citra-Shravastama): Who is uniquely famed.

Comments:

- In this mantra, the different qualities of Agni are being mentioned. Agni is the embodiment of Truth and is far-sighted with wisdom.

- By contemplating on these divine qualities again and again, they get awakened within us gradually. This is the awakening we receive from the Devas by chanting the mantras with the understanding of their meanings. In this mantra, by contemplating on Agni (as sacrificial fire) and the quality of Truth associated with Agni, truth gets awakened within us. Similarly in the long run, wisdom gets awakened in us.

- In the Vedas, the divine forces or Devas are not imaginary beings or creation of man. They are already existing in Nature, and Nature is both outside and inside. The Devas uphold Rita or Cosmic Order. Hence they are life-sustaining forces. Being life-sustaining forces they are naturally embedded in Truth. We will see similar qualities in other Devas subsequently. Hence, by contemplating on the divine qualities of the Devas, we are contemplating on the aspect of Truth itself. This makes us pure and takes us nearer to Truth in life.

- According to the proposition of the Vedic Vision of Nature, the first step is Education. Before we proceed to change the external Environment or Economy, we first need to establish ourselves in qualities like truth and purity. Education brings inner illumination in man. Awakening of the divine qualities of the Devas within us is part of that Education.

- Meditating on the Vedic Yagna makes Education easy. Here, we are not sitting inside a classroom. Agni as sacrificial fire is burning before us and spreading its heat. That heat is removing our lethargy. The tongues of the sacrificial fire is directed upwards, inviting our minds to similarly go upwards towards the divine plane. Reverberation of the chants of the Vedic Yagna is describing the divine settings. So understanding the meaning of the Vedic mantras is important to take part in this Yagna. By understanding the meaning of the mantras in that surroundings, we direct our mind upwards towards the divine plane and absorb the divine grace.

यदङ्ग दाशुषे त्वमग्ने भद्रं करिष्यसि ।
तवेत्तत्सत्यमङ्गिरः ॥१.१.६॥
Yad-Angga Daashusse Tvam-Agne Bhadram Karissyasi |
Tave[a-I]t-Tat-Satyam-Anggirah ||1.1.6||

• अङ्गिर (Anggira): Who is Angira.

राजन्तमध्वराणां गोपामृतस्य दीदिविम् ।
वर्धमानं स्वे दमे ॥१.१.८॥
Raajantam-Adhvaraannaam Gopaam-Rtasya Diidivim |
Vardhamaanam Sve Dame ||1.1.8||

• गोपां ऋतस्य (Gopaam Rtasya): Who is the Protector of Rita.

Comments:

- In this mantra, Agni is being mentioned as the protector of Rita.

- This is the role of every Deva. They are the upholders of Rita or Cosmic Order. The Devas mentioned in the Vedas are not exactly same as the Devas mentioned in the Puranas. In the Vedas, the Devas, although personified to some extent are really the powers of Nature (which are both external and internal). They are the forces behind the Cosmic Order. Every Deva has a distinct role and the Devas all work in a coordinated manner. There is no conflict between the Devas, because all are parts of the one Cosmic Order. Right now in this moment, the Devas are sustaining our lives. However, it requires the vision of the Rishis to grasp their subtle powers.

- According to the Vedic Vision of Nature, protecting Rita is the central purpose around which Education, Environment and Economy should be built. Here protecting Rita means upholding Rita. If our Education upholds Rita, we go beyond individuality and our lives become open to Cosmic Order. If our environment upholds Rita, it will manifest Cosmic Order in the natural surroundings. That natural surroundings itself will give us joy and help us to open ourselves to the Cosmic Order. If our Economy upholds Rita, our combined activities create a greener world which manifests the Cosmic Order of life.

- According to the Vedic Vision of Nature, external Nature should be viewed not as the sum-total of mountains, trees and rivers, but as the manifestation of these divine forces. Nature should be viewed with reverence because we are interacting with the powers which are sustaining our lives. By looking at the trees we should know that there are divine powers manifesting as those trees. By looking at the mountains we should know that there are divine powers manifesting in Nature. Our lives are woven within those divine powers. Our relationship with Nature are woven within those divine powers.