Before killing Jarāsandha (Jarasandha) in Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), Bhīma (Bhima) boasted, “Krṣṇa (Krishna) is well-versed in diplomacy, I am endowed with physical might and Arjuna is an expert warrior. We three are like the three forms of Agni” — māgadhaṃ sādhayiṣyāma iṣṭiṁ traya ivāgnayaḥ

The tasks enjoined in the Vedas required three forms of Agni — Gārhapatya (Garhapatya), Āhavanīya (Ahavaniya) and Dakṣiṇāgni (Dakshinagni). The third Agni, i.e., Dakṣiṇāgni does not find a mention in Ṛgveda (Rigveda), though the names of Gārhapatya and Āhavanīya fires are mentioned therein — dvitā hotāraṁ manuṣaśca bāghataḥ.

The three Agni need to be lit on three sides of the elevated platform that is built inside the fire-shed (agniśālā; agnishala). Gārhapatya Agni is placed on the western side of the platform, Āhavanīya Agni lies on the east and Dakṣiṇāgni is lit on the south. Gārhapatya Agni has a circular shape. Āhavanīya Agni has the shape of a quadrilateral and Dakṣiṇāgni has a semicircular shape. [See Agni – 1]