Keep the fires burning

Fire, wheel and money are considered three most important milestones in the development of human civilization.
Hindu mythology claims Atharvan aka Angiras was the first discoverer of the fire while Greek believed that Prometheus stole fire from the heaven and brought it to earth.

Undoubtedly all religions venerated fire as sacred and all solemn and religious ceremonies are performed around it.
Chamber’s Encyclopedia says “the religious history of fire is even more obscure than the history of its production, although everywhere we find that a rich mythology has gathered round the subject.

Like all the chief manifestations of natural forces , fire was early personified and worshipped , and we see a similar process of personification and divinization in the names of first fire givers – the Greek Prometheus , the ‘pra-mantha’ of early Aryans , and in his Chinese parallel Suy-jin.”

Human culture may be said to have begun with fire of which the uses increased in the same ratio as culture itself.
It is said that to carry the fire constantly, primitive men hit on the expedient of a fire, which should burn in night and day in a public building.

The Egyptians had one in every temple, the Greeks, Latins and Persians in all towns and villages.
The Natchez, the Mexicans. the Mayas, the Peruvians had their national fires burning upon large pyramids. Of these fires the ‘eternal lamps’ in the synagogues, churches and temples continue to lit.

All civil and political interests grouped themselves around the Prytaneion which was at once was a temple, , a tribunal, a town-hall and a gossiping resort ; and all public business and private affairs were transacted by the light and warmth of the common fire.

It must be borne in mind that fire was looked upon as a divinity.

It was expressly told that Vesta had no image or statue even in her own temple, the Vestal fire being considered as the very goddess herself.

The hearth fire was kept holy and its flame was to remain bright and pure.

Zend – Avesta carried this feeling to extreme and it is still widely believed that nothing unclean is to be thrown in fire and no indecent action are to be committed before it while spitting in fire is considered as sinful.

Nature has ignited this very fire in every soul which gives one zest for living and performing.

Therefore keep the fire within you as pure and burning and continue to strive like the nation has ignited ‘Amar Jawan Jyoti’ to forever salute the valiant soldiers.