Indragni, the paired gods Indra and Agni, is the deity of Vishakha Nakshatra. Vishakha spans 20° Libra to 3°20' Scorpio and is ruled by Jupiter. Indra is the king of the gods and Agni is the god of fire. The Rig Veda praises them together in several hymns as one pair, sharing one chariot and one offering.
The name Vishakha means "forked" or "two-branched." Its verse in the Nakshatra Suktam names Indra and Agni together and calls Vishakha the queen of the nakshatras.
| Indragni | Key facts |
|---|---|
| Other names | Indra-Agni, Indragni |
| Nakshatra | Vishakha (20° Libra to 3°20' Scorpio) |
| Nakshatra ruler | Jupiter |
| Form | 2 gods praised as one pair |
| Rig Veda hymns to the pair | 1.108, 1.109, 3.12, 6.59, 6.60, 7.93 and others |
| Ritual offering | A rice cake on 12 potsherds (Shatapatha Brahmana) |
| Symbol of the nakshatra | Forked branch, triumphal archway |
In this article
Who Is Indragni?
Indragni is the Vedic name for Indra and Agni when they are called on as a pair. The Sanskrit form is a dual, so one name stands for 2 gods. In these hymns they act together, receive one offering and are praised for the same deeds.
Each god also has hymns of his own. Indra is the king of the gods and the slayer of Vritra. Agni is the fire on the altar, the god who carries offerings to the other gods.
Indra and Agni in the Rig Veda
Several hymns of the Rig Veda are addressed to Indra and Agni together. Rig Veda 1.108 opens by inviting them to come on one chariot and drink the Soma:
य इन्द्राग्नी चित्रतमो रथो वामभि विश्वानि भुवनानि चष्टे ।
तेना यातं सरथं तस्थिवांसाथा सोमस्य पिबतं सुतस्य ॥O Indra and Agni, come together on your most wonderful chariot, which looks on all beings, and drink the pressed Soma. (Rig Veda 1.108.1)
Verse 3 of the same hymn praises them as the joint destroyers of obstacles, who won a glorious name together. The later verses call them to the Soma wherever they are, at home or among the Yadus, Turvashas, Druhyus, Anus and Purus.
Rig Veda 6.59.2 describes their greatness and says they have one father. It calls them brothers and twins. Verse 3 of that hymn compares them to 2 horses yoked side by side.
The hymns also praise their joint deeds. Rig Veda 3.12.6 says that Indra and Agni together threw down the 90 forts held by the Dasas. Rig Veda 7.93.1 calls them the 2 slayers of Vritra. Hymn 6.60.2 calls on them to fight for the cows, the waters, the sun and the dawns.
More Generous Than Family
Rig Veda 1.109 is a personal hymn to the pair. In verse 1 the poet says he looked everywhere for help and found no one among his kin to equal Indra and Agni.
In verse 2, the poet says the 2 gods give more freely than a worthless son-in-law or a brother-in-law. Verse 5 recalls that they were the mightiest at the sharing out of wealth and at the slaying of Vritra.
Why Do Indra and Agni Share a Cake?
The Shatapatha Brahmana gives Indra and Agni a joint offering, a rice cake on 12 potsherds, and it explains the custom in 2 places.
In its account of the new-moon sacrifice (1.6.4), Indra slays Vritra and then hides in fear. Agni finds him and stays with him that night. Like a host cooking for 2 guests, the gods prepare one dish for the pair. According to the text, this is why Indra and Agni receive a cake on 12 potsherds.
The second account belongs to the first-fruits offering, the Agrayana, made with new barley in spring and new rice in autumn (2.4.3). The gods ran a race to decide who would receive this offering. Indra and Agni won, and the text says this is why the first-fruits rite includes a cake for them. The same passage calls Indra and Agni the Kshatra, the ruling power.
Why Does Vishakha Have 2 Deities?
Vishakha is one of the few nakshatras with a paired deity, and its name also points to the number 2. The word means "forked" or "two-branched," and our Vishakha page gives its symbols as a forked branch and a triumphal archway.
The Nakshatra Suktam joins the gods and the nakshatra in one verse. It asks Indra and Agni, and the 2 Vishakha stars, to drive enemies far away. It names Indra and Agni the best of gods and the guardians of the world.
Indragni and Vishakha Nakshatra
Vishakha lies across 2 signs, with 3 padas in Libra and the last in Scorpio. Our Vishakha page gives its shakti as Vyapana shakti, the power to achieve many fruits. Jupiter, the nakshatra ruler, adds wisdom and a sense of dharma.
People with the Moon in Vishakha are often ambitious, focused and determined to reach a chosen goal. Many work in leadership, teaching, law or research. Success often comes after long effort. You can find your own birth nakshatra with the nakshatra calculator.
The 4th pada holds the Moon's deepest debilitation, at 3° Scorpio. A Moon there needs a check for Neecha Bhanga before its strength is judged.
Indragni Mantra
The Vedic verse for Vishakha in the Nakshatra Suktam of the Taittiriya Brahmana (3.1) is addressed to Indra and Agni:
दूरमस्मच्छत्रवो यन्तु भीताः ।
तदिन्द्राग्नी कृणुतां तद्विशाखे ।
तन्नो देवा अनुमदन्तु यज्ञम् ।
पश्चात् पुरस्तादभयं नो अस्तु ।
नक्षत्राणामधिपत्नी विशाखे ।
श्रेष्ठाविन्द्राग्नी भुवनस्य गोपौ ।
विषूचः शत्रूनपबाधमानौ ।
अप क्षुधं नुदतामरातिम् ॥Duramasmachchhatravo yantu bhitah |
tadindragni krinutam tadvishakhe |
tanno deva anumadantu yagyam |
pashchat purastadabhayam no astu |
nakshatranamadhipatni Vishakhe |
shreshthavindragni bhuvanasya gopau |
vishuchah shatrunapabadhamanau |
apa kshudham nudatamaratim ||
Meaning: May our enemies run far from us in fear. May Indra and Agni make it so, and the 2 Vishakha stars. May the gods be glad at our sacrifice. May we be safe behind and in front.
Vishakha is the queen of the nakshatras, and Indra and Agni are the best, the guardians of the world. Scattering the enemies in all directions, may they drive away hunger and the enemy.
The verses for all 27 nakshatras are on our page of nakshatra mantras. Learn the accents from a teacher or a recording before you recite a Vedic verse.
Name Mantra
We could not find a fixed name mantra for Indragni in a classical text. A plain salutation to the pair is:
ॐ इन्द्राग्निभ्यां नमः
Om Indragnibhyam Namah
It means "Om, salutation to Indra and Agni." Indragnibhyam is the Sanskrit dual form for "to Indra and Agni."
How to Worship Indragni
Recite the Nakshatra Suktam verse or the name salutation on the days the Moon passes through Vishakha. This happens about once every 27 days, and a panchang shows the dates.
Agni is the fire that carries offerings, so lighting a lamp suits this worship. Agni also leads the Vasus in the Bhagavad Gita (10.23). Offering the first grain of a new harvest at home follows the Agrayana rite.
All of this works on the mind. Choosing one goal and giving it steady effort is a simple daily practice for this nakshatra. For a reading of your own Moon nakshatra and running dasha, you can book a Vedic astrology consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the deity of Vishakha Nakshatra?
Indragni, the pair Indra and Agni, is the deity of Vishakha. The Nakshatra Suktam verse for Vishakha names both gods and calls Vishakha the queen of the nakshatras.
Why does Vishakha have 2 deities?
The Vedic texts pair Indra and Agni in hymns and rituals, and the Nakshatra Suktam gives them Vishakha together. The name Vishakha itself means "two-branched."
Are Indra and Agni brothers?
Rig Veda 6.59.2 says they have one father and calls them brothers and twins.
What did Indra and Agni do together?
Rig Veda 3.12.6 says they threw down the 90 forts of the Dasas, and 7.93.1 calls them the slayers of Vritra. Rig Veda 1.108 invites them to share one chariot and the Soma.
What is the mantra of Indragni?
The Vedic mantra is the Vishakha verse of the Nakshatra Suktam, which begins "Duramasmachchhatravo yantu bhitah." The plain name salutation is Om Indragnibhyam Namah.
Which planet rules Vishakha Nakshatra?
Jupiter rules Vishakha. The nakshatra spans Libra and Scorpio, so Venus and Mars, the lords of those signs, also shape it.
Summary
Indragni is the pair Indra and Agni, the deity of Vishakha Nakshatra. Rig Veda hymns call them twin brothers on one chariot, and credit them with the 90 forts and the slaying of Vritra. The Shatapatha Brahmana gives them a joint cake at the new moon and at the first-fruits rite.
The Nakshatra Suktam names Vishakha the queen of the nakshatras. To work with this nakshatra, recite its verse on the Vishakha day, light a lamp and give steady effort to one chosen goal.
