Nature Series: Part Three - Fire

We all know that Nature consists of five elements. Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Sky. These are considered as the five basic elements of nature and are regarded with respect and workshipped from the times immemorial. In the third installment of this Nature series, I want to talk about Fire. Unlike other elements of nature which share many aspects among themselves, fire is completely unique and different. Let's see what is unique in here.

The uniqueness of it lies in its discovery. While other elements of nature are quite evident, it took some time for man to actually discover fire. As we all know, it is one of the greatest discoveries of mankind. Before writing something about Fire, I thought really hard what to write on it. There is nothing new to write on it. Everyone knows about it. While we progressed a lot on the research of the other elements of nature, there is hardly any progress made in the research of Fire. Well, we figured out innumerous ways of creating fire. That is it. Other than that I don't see any major discoveries or inventions. You are most welcome to enlighten me if you know one.

Fire has an important place in religious rituals and ancient mythology. The vedic scriptures mention that Agni or Fire is the messenger between the people and their gods. It is considered as the eternal witness to sacred religious ceremonies. In Christianity, fire is described as holy ghost and is used in many descriptions of hell. In the Zoroastrian religion, fire is constantly used to represent Ahura Mazda, or God of the Zoroastrians. Fire is also considered as the ultimate purifier of the soul and the sins. It's always considered as a symbol for Power and knowledge.

Fire is the only element of nature which can spread by consuming other natural resources. It is the only element of nature which cannot exist independently. It is the only element of nature which can be created at anytime and anywhere provided proper resources are available. It may not be essential for the existence and continution of life and living beings on Earth but it certainly makes life better for humans.It is one element of nature which separates humans apart from animals. Humans are the only species in the world who has the ability to control or create Fire. In ancient days, Fire was used as a protection from wild animals. As the civilization progressed, man discovered many advantages of fire and made it a part of his living. Fire gives light in the darkness. It makes your food taste better. It keeps you warm during winters. Fire may not be a natural resource but it helps in consumption of natural resources and thus generating the usable energy required. At the same time, Fire can take away everything from you if you don't take enough care and caution while handling it.

As the famous quote says "With great power comes great responsibility" , Fire should be handled with great responsibility and caution. Fire safety is one of the most important requirements and one of the most important priorities of day to day life. Everyone should be aware of the basic fire safety measures and precautions. Remember, Fire not only can be your best friend but also can be your worst enemy if not used with caution.

Fire is the only element of nature untouched by man. Till date man has failed to adulterate fire. Over the years and centuries, it's the only element of nature which did not change. It always remained pure, sacred and powerful and it continues to remain so.

-Venks