Vadavagni

Vadavagni

वाडवाग्नि, vāḍavāgni (synonyms – वाडव vāḍava, वाडबाग्नि vāḍabāgni, वडवानल vaḍavānala)

A powerful underwater fire located deep in the causal ocean. The word vāḍava also means "horse", so it is sometimes said to be a fire in the shape of a horse's head, or fire "coming from a mare". This fire is believed to be so powerful that it participates in the Mahapralaya, the Great Dissolution of the Universe, by consuming it and providing energy for the next cycle of creation.

In Tantra, one of the formidable forms of Shiva, Sharabha, contains the underwater fire of Vadavagni at the bottom of his belly. It is believed that Sharabha imparts the fire of devotion and the fire of knowledge to the sincere sadhaka who meditates on Him in his heart.

Badragiri, one of the Tamil Siddhas, speaks about this fire, drawing an analogy with the light of consciousness:

Like the fire that is hidden in the ocean, it illuminates the world,
When will Shiva, who is hidden within us, enlighten us?

The legend of the appearance of the underwater fire

There are different legends about the origin of Vadavagni. "Skanda Purana" (Chapter 32) describes the following story, which is closely related to the phenomenon of the Sarasvati River on Earth.

One day the Lokapalas (guardians of directions) led by Indra gave all their weapons to sage Dadhichi for safekeeping. Since his maid Subhadra could not lift and carry it, he decided to drink all the power, all the strength of this weapon along with water, and thus lightened his weight. Later, when the Devas returned for the weapon, Dadhichi said that he could return it to them only by dying himself, and they must make weapons from his bones, because the bones had absorbed all the power of the weapon. The Suras did not want to accept such a sacrifice from the sage, but Dadhichi declared that earthly existence no longer attracted him and he would voluntarily leave his body. That what he did and Devas received their weapons.

Sometime later, the son of a sage named Pipallada learned from his mother that the ones to blame for his father's death were Devas. His anger was so strong that he vowed to create a powerful weapon, Kritya, which would destroy all the Devas. He performed a long penance for this and finally a Vadava (mare) came out of his thigh, accompanied by fire, and then from the womb was born a mighty fetus, who had the nature of destructive fire – Vadavagni (Vadavanala). His name means "fire from the mare." Vadavagni was similar to Kalagni in his power, so all three worlds were seized with fear as they foresaw the end of the kalpa.

Vadavagni, carrying out the will of Pipallad, went to devour the Devas. But the Devas suggested that he eat them one at a time, otherwise he might not be very comfortable. Their arguments were so logical that Vadavagni agreed. Vishnu, using his powers of charm and intellect, asked to begin with the causal waters, since they were created first and thus they are the eldest and chief among all the Suras and Asuras. Then Vadava said, “Okay, I will swallow this water and thus my task of eating the Devas will be completed. But I want a virgin to carry me to the ocean." Vishnu asked for Ganga, Yamuna, and other rivers, but everyone refused, fearing the burning nature of fire. Sarasvati agreed to take the fire deep into the ocean, and this meant that her body would be burned. Also, this meant that she would have to descend into the world of people, where Kali Yuga had already begun. Sarasvati was horrified that she would have to come into contact with sinful, evil people. Then Brahma suggested that she deliver the fire to the ocean through the lower world, Patala, and remain hidden underground. He also said that when she gets tired of the heat of the fire, she can appear on the surface of the earth (visible to everyone) and this will ease her suffering. Her friends, Ganga and Yamuna, assured her that they could meet her on earth. 

Sarasvati emerged into the mortal world in the Himavan mountains, in the form of a river originating from the Plaksha tree. While Sarasvati quickly carried Vadava into the ocean, she was filled with compassion for the sinful people of this era and created her five tributaries, bathing in which would eliminate the five most terrible sins. Such was her gift to people. When she finally brought fire to the ocean and welcomed its first meal, Vadavagni, before beginning to absorb the water, wished to fulfill one Sarasvati's wish, so beautiful were her speeches. Sarasvati, guided by Lord Vishnu in her heart, asked him to become a "suchimukha", one who has a needle-shaped mouth, and then drink the water. Vadavagni had no choice but to fulfill her wish. Thus the terrible underwater fire is drying up the ocean extremely slowly. Thanks to Vishnu's cunning and Sarasvati's devotion, all the Devas were saved and the end of the kalpa did not come prematurely.

According to another version, Vadavagni was born as a result of a terrible battle between the descendants of Bhrigu and the sons of Kartavirya Arjuna, and then the Gods also resorted to Sarasvati’s help.

The "Harivamsha Purana" tells the story of Urva's son Aurva, a pious ascetic. The gods were so pleased with his virtues, spiritual purity, and strength that they asked him for children to continue such a glorious line. Aurva agreed to fulfill the will of the gods but warned that his descendant would have all the power of his tapas and could burn the entire world. Aurva created a child from his thigh and he had such powerful heat that Brahma had to place him in the ocean and give him water as his food.

It is believed that vapors, fogs, and clouds on Earth are formed due to the activity of Vadavagni from under the water.