Agni, The Fire God
Agni is the god who acts as a link between people and the gods. It is within his sacred flames that messages are taken from the earthly to the heavenly realm. Agni consumes sacrifices and offerings and takes them as his fires cleanse the world of sin.
Fire is very important still in Hindu life and ritual. Every marriage takes place around the sacred fire and at death bodies are cremated, their souls purified in the funeral pyre. In everyday life the cooking fire is the centre of every Hindu home.
Agni is portrayed with three heads behind which flames flicker. All Hindu gods have a vehicle, an animal or fictional beast for them to ride upon. Agni is usually shown riding on a ram called Vahana.
The word Agni (through Latin) has given us English words like ignite and igneous.
Food
As many Hindus believe in not harming other living things, life being sacred, most are vegetarians. Most of these vegetarians do not eat eggs and some will not eat strong tasting foods such as garlic and onions.
Even non-vegetarians do not eat meat regularly, as the climate of India makes meat difficult to keep and it is also very expensive. In Indian villages there is very rarely a refrigerator in any house. Hardly anyone would eat beef because of their high regard for the cow as a sacred animal.
The Indian diet makes use of high protein foods such as lentils. Milk and milk products are also widely eaten, this is one reason why the cow is so revered. A typical north Indian meal would consist of a spicy vegetable dish using, say, cauliflower or potatoes; a lentil dish called 'dal'; and a home-made bread (chapati, paratha or naan). A dessert might also be served. This would be made from milk and / or cream sweetened, probably with sugar, and flavoured by almonds, rosewater or the like. In south India rice would replace bread as a part of the meal and the methods of cooking would vary. In India there are hundreds of regional styles of cookery.
Caste now really only plays a part in eating habits in villages and distinctions have died out in the big cities. The idea of ritual purity meant that no one should accept food prepared or touched by one of a lower caste.
