Of the thousand songs in the Rig Veda, we find 200 songs praising Agni. In fact, the first song of the Rigveda is a praise to Agni, who is called the priest and messenger of the gods. Agni must be placed in the eastern direction and it is through him that offerings reach the gods. Fire is clearly the most important element in a Vedic ritual.

Fire was so essential in Vedic times, that there were three special fires. There was the main fire which was placed in a circular altar linked to the household fire. Then there was a square-shaped altar placed in the east for the gods. Lastly, a hemispherical altar placed in the south for the ancestors.