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121 Agni/Ka-ten Agni, one of the main eight Dikpalas is often represented in the Hindu iconography. According to the Vedic idea, he is the personification of sacrifical fire. If judged from the number of hymns devoted to each vedic deity, Agni should naturally be considered as one of the important deities among the great trio - Indra, Agni and Some. Agni is the destroyer of all evils. He is regarded as the Charioteer of the sacrifices and brings the gods in his golden lightning car². He is the son of Dyus (Heaven) and also of Prthivi and heaven. As the vedic concept indicates, Agni is considered to be the personification of sacrificial fire. Many interesting descriptions and characteristic feature of Agni are given in the Visnudharmottara, the Mahabharata end the Agamas. There are a number of examples of sculptural representation of Agni that belong to comparatively early period. The image of Agni in the Paharpur basement is depicted as standing with flames that emanate from his sides. The deity has two arms, one of which holds a rosary and other one holds a water vessel. The image of Agni in the Siva temple at Kandiyur is also highly tezextingx interesting. It is having 1. "The Hindu concept about the Dikpalas or Lokapalas as the guardians of the quarters or the worlds is very old. In the well-developed Puranic mythology the names of the deities and those of the major and subsidiary quarters over which they had their respective jurisdictions, are the following Indra is the lord of the east, Yama of the South, Varuna of the west, and Kubera of the north; Agni, Nirrti, Vayu and Isana are the respective guardians of the south east and south west, north west and north east". See Development of Hindu Iconography, pp. 519 f. 2. V.A., p. 373.

122 two goat heads, seven arms and three legs. According to Puranic tradition Agni has goat as his vahana or vehicle. The Agamas characterise the god as having four arms, three eyes and red Jatas. His front\two hand should depict the varada and abhaya mudra while the two back hands should hold 2 sruk and sakti. The idea of Agni also found in place of reverence in Japan along with different other Brahmanical gods and goddesses. In Japanese texts, Agni is known as Ka-ten or Kwa-ten. Agni is one of the twelve guardian deities (Juni-ten) in Japan. He is also depicted as the guardian of south east corner in the Mandaras. In both the Kongo-kai and the Taizo-kai Mandaras Agni is placed in the outer hall. He is one of the four great gods who protect the inner hall of the 'Kango-kai Mandara. Encircled with fire, Ka-ten looks like an old hermit with two or four arms, generally holding a bamboo twig having a few leaves, a water vessel, the flaming triangle, emblematic of fire in Brahmanical symbolism, and a rosary. He stands in front of a large flame. The Butsuzo Zuten mentions that Ka-ten image should assume the figure of an old hermit with two or four arms, His whole body should encircle with flaming fire. A blue sheep may occasionally be seen as his mount. It is interesting to note that the identification symbols of Agni in Brahmanical 1. Development of Hindu Iconography, p. 525. 2. Ibid, p. 524.

- 123 ideas have many features similar to that of the descriptions in the Japanese texts. (cf. PL. XVI. Fig 2.). Thus the Japanese conception of Ka-ten has some significant similarity with the representation of Agni in some Indian sculptures. The common aspects are the blue sheep es the mount of both Ka-ten and Agni. Ka-ten's body is encircled by flaming fire and that Agni's body emanates long waving flames. Another Japanese text Shosetou-Fudo-ki describes the iconographic features of Ka-ten. Here he is depicted as an ascetic who is observing austerity. In his background there appears the flame of fire. His hairs and beard are white in colour, while his body is deep red. He is endowed with jewelled crown, necklace, bracelet and other ornaments. wears red undergarments and simple clothes that cover approximately half of his body. In the first right hand of the four-armed Ka-ten there is a triangular-shaped alter. With the three middle fingers of the second right hand Ka-ten holds He a hanging garland of beads. A pot is held in the first loft hand, while a stick is held in the second left hand. Vienudharmottara in its chapter 56 and verse 1-10 describes the god. 2 The various aspects of descriptions about the god is mentioned in two texts are highly similar. Firstly both tho 1. HDIJBP, p. 53. 2. Visnudharmottara, Pt. III.

- 124 texts hold the complextion of Agni as red. The Indiaw and the Japanese texts mention about flame of fire at the back. ground of the deity. He is dressed like an ascetic. In Japan, the god is also regarded as one of the twelve guardians of Juni-ten. In one such representations preserved in the Jingo-ji, Kyoto (painted image, 1190 A.D.), he is depicted as bearded and four-armed. Being clad in flowing garment he is seen standing on a pedestal. He is represented without any mount. One of his right hands holds a triangular object which is placed near his bossom. The other right hand is stretched and it is raised upward. One of his left hands holds stick or trident, the other left hand exhibits a mudra. Above the image, the seed syllable of the god 'a' in the Shitten script is written inside a circle. Interestingly enough, in the Shittan script is slightly changed form of Siddham or Sanskrit letter. Agnayi/Katenhi The Chinese Buddhist Tripitaka contains the representations of Agni and his consort Agnayl. The Tripitaka depicts the two deities as portrayed in the Daihi-Taizo-Kai mandara ( Mahakarunagarbha-mandala). Agnayi is known Ketenko and Katenhi in Japanese Buddhism. Katen (Agni) is described as an old ascetic. He is bearded and he has four arms, He is depicted as seated in a cross-legged position. Behind his head there appears a halo.

125 The triangular-shaped symbol of the deity is held by one of his right hands which is placed near his bosom. The other right hand holds a garland made of beads. A mace is seen in his upper left hand, while a small longish pitcher is placed in the other left hand. An animal skin forms his loin-cloth. He is encircled by flaming fire. Katenko or Katenhi (Agnayi) Sits on the right side of her consort Agni in the above mentioned mandara. She is also described as seated in an easy pose. Her hands are half stretched and the palms are open. She turns her face towards her right and looks at that direction. Agnayi wears ornaments, such as bangles, ear-rings, head dress etc. Her robes are very tightly fitted though some parts of the robes are flowing in the air. She is also encircled by flaming fire like that of her consort Agni.