What does fire symbolize in Hinduism?

Answer 1

Fire in Christianity is a symbol of purification and light, and is often equated with the Holy Ghost. "John answered, saying unto all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latches of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." Luke 3:16 "By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night." Exodus 13:21 "2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." Acts 2:2-4 "If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." John 15:6 Other examples abound.

Answer 2

In Hinduism fire is the colour of Orange hence the colour worn by Sadhus and Swami's ; it represents the death of the ego or burning up of attachments.

From the time mankind started to evolve, fire has been a source of comfort, light, and protection. Even today with all our technology you can find us huddle around camp fires at cottages and camp-sites around the world. Fire started out as protection, from the dark, the cold, the wild beasts and the unexplainable things in the world. Then we harnessed it for power. The power of fire can be good, as when it is used to our advantage, or bad as when it is wildfires ravaging the forests and hillsides near our homes. We often refer to the fire of passion, not just as a sexual thing, for lust is seen as a fire, but the drive behind creativity, the desire to learn and the convictions of your beliefs.

Answer 3

In The Bible, fire and related words of burning or flaming are used figuratively in many different ways. Fire is associated with love/passion (Song of Solomon 8:6); anger/judgment (Zeph 2:2); strong emotion (Luke 24:32)

Fire is used symbolically to represent 'testing, refining, purging' (Mal 3:1-3). Fire is used to refine metals; this is likened to persecution which can be a refinement to a Christian's faith.

Fire is also used symbolically to represent 'complete annihilation'. (2Thess 1:9 and context; "everlasting DESTRUCTION") As when something is burned with fire, there is nothing of the original left remaining. It cannot be reconstructed. It is gone, forever.

Perhaps there are even other symbolic meanings about fire.

Answer 4

the holy spirit...tougues of fire in the upper room or burning of alter or moses

Answer:

There is the one unfortunate passage in Acts 2:3 [KJV] that seems to paint a picture of "tongues of fire"... to which people have come to liken the Holy Spirit.

This is the only place in the KJV Bible where "tongues" and "fire" are used together. The NIV translates Acts 2:3 this way:

"They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them."

The upshot of the whole event was that all of the apostles could suddenly speak in "tongues" or "languages" that they could not speak moments before. This is revealed to be the result of the Holy Spirit with which they were suddenly filled:

"All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (verse 4)

One other place in the Bible that alludes to the "Holy Spirit" and "fire" in the same breath, is when John the Baptist rebuked the Pharisees who came to one of his baptism proceedings... probably to find fault with him in some way or other.

"...when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: 'YOU BROOD OF VIPERS! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.

"And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and THROWN INTO THE FIRE.

"I baptize you with WATER for repentance. But after me will come One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the HOLY SPIRIT and with FIRE. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor, gathering His wheat into the barn and BURNING UP THE CHAFF with UNQUENCHABLE FIRE." (Matt.3:7-12 NIV)

Again... due to false modern teachings and gross misunderstanding of this passage... many people have come to compare the Holy Spirit with "fire" -- when, if they would read and study what John is telling the Pharisaic "brood of vipers" before him, that they had a CHOICE to make: REPENTANCE and the Holy Spirit -- OR -- stay the way they were, and face the Judgment and Unquenchable Fire.

It's a matter of ONE or the OTHER -- not BOTH.

The Bible compares the Holy Spirit to WATER... not "fire."

"...If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of Living Water will flow from within him. By this He meant the Spirit, which those who believed in Him were later to receive..." (John 7:37-39 NIV).

When it comes to "religious beliefs"... a lot of people leave "logic" at the door and enter therein. They leave the "nature" of what God has created out of their religious thinking. It's almost as if, 'If God can be understood, He's not worth worshiping' (???)

They seem to forget that "fire and water" are incompatible. Water either puts fire out, or a raging fire evaporates a small flame. Either way... the two don't get along with each other. THEY ARE OPPOSITES... not the same thing!

John told the Pharisees [and any who read his words] that Jesus Christ has TWO DIFFERENT BAPTISMS to distribute: One is the Holy Spirit for those who repent and believe on His name.

The other baptism [of FIRE] is the LAKE OF FIRE [KJV: 'hell {Gehenna} fire]... for those who refuse and reject Him.

"...whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell [Gehenna] fire." (Matt.5:22)

"...it is better for thee to enter into Life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to cast into hell [Gehenna] fire." (Matt.18:9)

"...the Beast was taken, and with him the False Prophet... These both were cast alive into a Lake of Fire burning with brimstone." (Rev.19:20)

"...This is the Second Death. And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire." (Rev.20:14-15)

If there is any "symbolism" for fire in the Bible... it might be as a warning for the unrepentant person against Judgment Day and the "Lake of Fire," where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth" over the eventuality that he might be cast therein.

Another symbolic possibility for "fire" might be as a symbol for the trials and tribulations we face in life that build whatever "character traits" we develop as a result of them. Whether or not we face up to them and tackle them... or run away from them.

Fire "purifies" the rare metals of the earth. The more fire is applied to it... all the more impurities are removed from it.

"...Go thy way, Daniel: for the Words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. MANY SHALL BE PURIFIED, and made white, and tried: but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." (Dan.12:9-10)

"...who may abide the Day of His coming? And who shall stand when He approaches? For He is like a refiner's fire, and like a fuller's soap: and He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver..." (Malachi 3:2-3)

"Looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the Great God, and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:13-14)

"Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded... humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up." (James 4:8-10)

As God made "fire"... it has both a natural "purifying" effect on the precious metals on earth... and an utterly destructive effect on things of lesser value [the chaff].

As "fire" is used in the Bible... it doesn't symbolize the Holy Spirit. It carries a "dual" effect, however, in its usage -- one in which Godly character may be developed:

"...we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation [life's purifying fire] worketh patience; and patience, experience [character]; and experience [character], hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is give unto us." (Rom.5:3-5)

And "fire" also carries the equally natural symbolic effect of utter destruction. As Jeremiah prayed:

"I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps. Correct me, LORD, but only with Justice -- not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing. Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call on your name..." (Jer.10:

23-25 NIV).

"... let us have Grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and Godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire." (Heb.12:29)

Answer:God often used fire as an instrument of His power (Gen. 15:17, Ex. 3:2, 13:21-22, 19:18, 22:17). Fire often symbolizes God's holiness and His anger against sin (Isa. 10:17, Heb. 12:29). Fire also symbolized God's victories over all enemies (Obad. 18); the Word of God (Jer.5:14); the Holy Spirit (Isa. 4:4, Acts 2:3); angels (Heb. 1:7); lust (Prov. 6:27-28); wickedness (Isa. 9:18); the tongue (Jas. 3:6) and judgment (Jer. 4845).

Answer 5

jessus

Answer:

In the Bible... fire is not represented "spiritually"... but as a sobering warning for what it really is in the approaching vengeance of our returning Creator.

In that regard, the first answer is correct: "For our God[the Lord Jesus] is a CONSUMING FIRE." (Heb.12:29)

That's not a "spiritual" representation... but a warning to His Children [and anyone else wise enough to heed] not to forget to FEAR Him, against the coming Judgment.

John the Baptist warned the Pharisees that Jesus has TWO BAPTISMS to administer -- the Baptism of the Holy Spirit[which is spiritual] for the "FAITHFUL"; and a "Baptism of FIRE" for the wicked [in the context and heat of John's statement at that point in time, the 'wicked' were the 'fault-finding' Pharisees who had come to one of John's baptism sessions to find something to accuse him of]:

"'I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come One who is more Powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and WITH FIRE. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor, gathering His wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with UNQUENCHABLE FIRE.'" (Matt.3:11-12 NIV)

Fire, in its own right, is "spirit"... but it's a physically manifested spiritual phenomenon that BURNS UP MATTER [all matter is composed of "compacted energy." Energy burns. Therefore -- all matter burns, though at different temperatures]. And the biblical use of the word "fire" means the same thing in the Bible that it does outside of it in the real world.

God has "two baptisms" to administer to His creation: a Baptism of the Holy Spirit... and the Baptism of Fire -- depending upon how the final Judgment goes for each of us.

"...the Lake of Fire is the SECOND DEATH. If anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire." (Rev.20:14-15 NIV)

Fire IS spirit... and it represents itself in the Bible. It represents the baptism that people who refuse to fear "our Consuming Fire" won't like.

Answer 6

fire symbolizes hatred,destruction and anger

Answer 7

Fire cleanses impurities and evil

Answer 8

The Holy Spirit