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Agni,
the fire god secretly desired the seven wives of the seven celestial sages,
the sapta rishis residing in the Great Bear constellation. But fear of
the sages kept him in check. The goddess Svaha could sense the cause of
Agni's unhappiness and satisfied his desire by approaching him seven times,
each time disguised as one of the seven desired women. Agni, blinded by passion, failed to recognise the impostor. But when the truth became known, he saluted Svaha, "Thanks to you, I have quenched my thirst without breaking the sacred laws of marriage and without incurring the wrath of the sapta rishis." Agni accepted Svaha as his consort and declared that he would not accept any oblation unless her name was chanted during the offering. During a yagna ceremony, the priests says, "Svaha," every time he pours milk or butter into the fire. The child born of Agni's union with Svaha was named Agneya; he was a divine warrior with the strength of seven men. |
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Svaha,
Consort
of the fire-god, Agni 