Rishi Agastya

One of the rishis who had gathered in the sky to watch the war between Raama and Raavana appeared before Raama...

This was Agastya, a powerful rishi, who finds mention in various scriptures and many popular tales, a few of which are described here. He is associated with southern India and is acknowledged for his contribution to Tamil grammar and literature.

Agastya and Lopamudra

Agastya is said to have been requested by his manes to marry in order to beget a son and relieve his pitru-runa or his obligation to the manes. Agastya, depicted as short and stout, with a round belly, wanted nothing but the best as his wife. He is believed to have created a woman who had the special features of various plants and animals. Hence, she was named Lopa-mudra, which meant that she bore the qualities that were lost by the others. She was handed over to the king of Vidarbha to raise. When she came of age, Agastya asked for her hand in marriage. The king was not happy but Lopamudra is said to have given credence to the scholarliness and austerity of the sage over her beauty which she knew was transient.

After years of abstinence, Lopamudra finally managed to attain conjugal bliss with Agastya. But before a son was born to them she demanded that Agastya provide the child with wealth and comfort befitting a prince.

Agastya the ascetic had to set forth in search of worldly riches...

Agastya, Ilvala and Vatapi

Ilvala and Vatapi were brothers who preyed on unsuspecting holy men. Ilvala who was once slighted by a brahmin sought to avenge the humiliation by killing as many sages and holy men as he could. Vatapi would assume the form of a goat and be cooked by Ilvala who would then offer the meat as food to brahmins who happened to be passing by during the course of their travels. After the guest had eaten the food, Ilvala would call out Vatapi’s name and Vatapi assuming his terrible demonic form would emerge from the brahmin’s body killing him in the process.

When Agastya visited Ilvala, the same trick was performed. But the tables turned when Ilvala called out to Vatapi. Agastya declared that Vatapi had been digested and let out a burp. A perturbed Ilvala is said to have offered immense riches to Agastya. Some accounts however end with Ilvala trying to attack Agastya but being destroyed by the fiery gaze of the sage.

Agastya and Indradyumna

Agastya’s name has been immortalised due to his infamous curse that made one of Vishnu’s greatest devotees to be born as an elephant. Indradyumna was a pious king who having given up his kingdom was forever immersed in the worship of Vishnu. Once, when Agastya came across the meditating Indradyumna, he was offended that he was ignored. But Indradyumna who was completely absorbed in meditation had been unaware of Agastya’s presence. Agastya cursed him to be born as a dense animal and thus was born Gajendra, the elephant, which was rescued from the clutches of a crocodile by Vishnu himself and granted Moksha.

Agastya and Kaveri

The warrior clan of Karnataka, the Kodavas, also stake their claim of association with Agastya. They consider Lopamudra to be their holy river Cauvery. The legend goes that Lopamudra, a beautiful maiden, was given to a childless king called Kavera, by Bramha himself. She came to be known as Kaveri. The sage Agastya married her and sometimes carried her in a liquid form in his pot (kamandalu). As Kaveri had put forth the condition that she would leave Agastya if he left her alone, she flowed out of the pot which was tipped over by Ganesha in the form of a crow, when Agastya was engrossed in a spiritual discussion and momentarily forgot his wife.

When she rushed forth, her waters swept the pleats of the women, tucked at the waist, to the back. To this day, the women of Kodagu wear the saree with the pleats at the back, in honour of the divine mother.

To be continued...