A father and mother prayed to Lord Agni for the blessing of a child. The father lit a fire, offered ghee and Ashtagandha (sacred scent), and performed Agnihoma with deep devotion. Their sincere prayers were answered, and with the blessings of Agni Bhagavan, the mother gave birth to a child — a golden boy, radiant and glowing like a flame in fire.

Time passed peacefully. When the boy turned 14 years old, he realized he was a divine gift from Lord Agni. With this realization, the boy became deeply devoted to Agni and wished to perform Agnihoma himself.

He built a homakunda (sacred fire pit) and began meditating on Agni Bhagavan. When Agni appeared before him, the boy expressed his desire to merge with the fire. Responding to his devotion, Lord Agni lit a massive fire in Udayakula, blazing high as a mountain. He bound the child’s limbs with silver and gold chains, tying him to Astakulam, a sacred direction.

Then Lord Agni spoke:
“You are not a child who should be merged in the fire. Go join in…”

Hearing this, the boy’s hands and feet weakened, and before he could blink, he was absorbed into the mighty fire rising from Udayakula.

When Lord Agni looked into the fire, he witnessed a breathtaking and divine transformation. The child had now become a being of great wisdom, age, and penance — no longer a boy, but a ferocious divine figure, holding a Kelipatra (sacred staff), a golden cane, and a golden poonool (sacred thread), crowned with a golden crown on his forehead.

His form was adorned with a braid on the head, a circle of fire around his neck, flowers in his mane, and hair decorated with blossoms. The sight was so magnificent that even three crore gods showered divine flowers in reverence.

Lord Agni blessed him and sent him to Earth.

One important note:
If you tie your hair, and then leave it untied after a long time, that marks the beginning of a sacred journey. The hair is significant. Before the hair, there is the maleri (possibly a forehead mark), and the eyeball holds meaning.

This deity is considered Sivamsha Sambhutan — born of Shiva’s essence — yet also radiates Vaishnava brilliance, uniting the divine qualities of both deities.