Vol. 8, Issue 7, Part D (2022)

Abstract
Fire is one of the earliest interactions that man had with nature to shape his civilizational growth. Worshipping fire as a source of energy is a standard feature in several civilizations. Indian tradition hails fire as a twin - the protector and destroyer. Agni, the fire God is worshipped in Vedic scriptures as a medium between the celestials and man. He is also looked upon as an individual God with specific rituals to propitiate. Rudra, the form of Siva is closely associated with fire through the roopa and Guna aspects. Traditions like, worship of Ashtamoorthy form of Siva, Siva as the quintessence of the five natural elements and Siva as the ever growing primordial column of eternal fire, brings Siva worship very close to worshipping agni. In Tiruvannamalai, an ancient temple based settlement in Tamil Nadu, the prime deity is worshipped as Tejo Lingam, the embodiment of Fire. This paper traces the transitional journey of worshipping Agni in the Vedas to that of worshipping Siva with similar aspects in an agamic temple.