One of the most important deities in Vedic times was Agni or the fire god. There are nearly 200 hymns to Agni in the Rig Veda. He is the messenger of the gods. It is through him that all the gifts offered to the celestial realms reach the divine beings. But the human relationship with Agni was complicated.

The wildfire which burned in the forest was different from the fire that was kept in the house, produced by kindling sticks. Separate fires were kept for cooking, household purposes. Separate fire was kept for making offerings to the gods, placed on the eastern side. Another fire was placed on the southern side, to keep ancestors and ghosts at bay.  Keeping three fires was the role of the Vedic householder. One of the greatest fears of the Vedic householder was a loss of fire. Either because he did not provide the right fuel, or the fuel was damp, or maybe the offering was not combustible. Maybe it was because the offering consisted of milk and curds rather than ghee.