AGASTHYA

Agasthya is one of the saptarishis who are extolled in the Vedas. Agastya the Muni, son of Urvashi was born of both Gods, Mitra and Varuna.

The sage Agasthya is a very popular character of ancient Indian literature, legend and life. His story is described in various Puranas. He was the pioneering missionary who spread the vedic culture south of the Vindhyas. Once upon a time as the story goes, the Vindhyas were the highest mountains, in India. Geologically, Vindhyas are older than the Himalayas which are considered by modern sscientists as the youngest mountain ranges of the world. The sage Agasthya came to Mount Vindhya and the presiding deity of the mountain received Agasthya with due hospitality and bowed to him in reverence. Agasthya commanded, "I am going to the South. Please do not raise your hand till I return to you to go to the North." But Agasthya stayed in the South forever and never returned to the North. So Vindhya never raised his head once again. In the South there are hundreds of temples dedicated to Agasthya from the Agasthya Vindhyas to Cape Comorin.

Agasthya's encounter with the cannibal rakshasas Vatapi and Ilvala is a popular story. Vatapi and Ilvala were two brothers who received the Brahmin saints and sages with outward respect and civilized hospitality. Ilvala used to kill Vatapi and arrange a feast to the guest with his flesh. After the meal, Ilvala used to call aloud Vatapi to come out and he used to come out of the stomach of the holy guest alive; the brothers afterwards feasted on the flesh of the guest who gave up the ghost earlier. Agasthya was received by Ilvala with all the respect due to him. After the feast was over, Ilvala as usual called aloud, "My dear brother Vatapi, please come." Agasthya putting his hand on his belly said, "Vatapi get digested", three times. Ilvala to his horror that Vatapi was digested by the sage as there was no response to his repeated calls. He fell at the feet of the sage and presented him with ten thousand cows and a goden chariot together with twenty thousand gold coins.


Lopamudra was the daughter of the king of Vidharbha. The king hesistated to give Lopamadura in marriage to Agasthya who demanded her hand. The princess herself volunteered to marry the sage and followed him gladly into the forest as his shadow and served for a long time as his devoted wife. The sage was pleased and once asked her in a gracious moment to specify what she wanted. She said that she was tired of wearing the deer skin and coarse fibre clothing and wanted the luxurious life of princess till the birth of a son. Agasthya fulfilled the desire of his princely wife after acquiring immense wealth from Ilvala. Lopamudra was blessed with a son.