11).

The fire on the hearth is god Agni in person, and is not a divine or mystic type; but he is prayed to as a heavenly friend.

Some of these traits are old, but they are exaggerated as compared with the more ancient theology.
When one goes on a journey or returns from one, 'even if a king were in his house' he should not greet him till he makes homage to his hearth-fires, either with spoken words or with silent obeisance.

For Agni and Praj[=a]pati are one, they are son and father (_ib_.II.

4.
1.