AgatsuTsri

1. SAGE AGASTYA. Sage Agasthia was a famous sage and he was a reputed author of several hymns in the Rig-Veda, and a very celebrated personage in Hindu story. He was one of the narrators of “the Brahma Purana and also a writer on medicine. 1.1 Birth of Agasthia He is said to be the offspring of Mitra and Varuna, whose seed fell from them at the sight of apsaras Urvasi.Agastya was born in a water-jar as a fish of great lustre. He was called Kalasi-suta, Kumbha-sambhava, and Ghatodbhava on account of this .He was very small when he was born, not more than a span in length, on account of which he was called Mina. The puranas also represent him as being the son of Pulastya, the sage from whom the Rakshasas sprang. According to Akilattirattu Ammanai, the religious book of Ayyavazhi, Agastya was created from the mind of lord Siva in order to offer boons to Kaliyan. As per the order of Siva, Agastya offered many boons including all worldly knowledge to him. 1.2 Command Vindhya Mountains prostrate. His name Agastya was derived by a forced etymology from a fable, which represents him as having commanded the Vindhya Mountains to prostrate themselves before him, through which they lost their primeval altitude. 1.3 Drinks ocean Sage Agasthia was also called Pitabdhi, or Samudra-chuluka. There is a story telling that sage Agasthiadrank up the ocean because it had offended him, and because he wished to help the gods in their wars with the Daityas when the latter had hidden themselves in the waters. 1.4 Become star Sage Agasthia was afterwards made regent of the star Canopies, which bears his name. 1.5 Agasthia create his wife As with all other Hindus, it was necessary for Agastya to marry and sire a son, in order to fulfil his duties to the Manus. Once he resolved upon doing this, Agastya pursued an unusual course of action. The Maha-bharata relates a legend respecting the creation of his wife. It says that Agastya saw his ancestors suspended by their heels in a pit, and was told by them that they could be rescued only by his begetting a son. Thereupon he formed a girl out of the most graceful parts of different animals. At this time, the noble and virtuous king of Vidarbha was childless and was undergoing penances and prayers for the gift of a child. Agastya arranged for the child he had created to be born as the daughter of that noble king of Vidarbha. There the child grew up as a daughter of the king, and was demanded in marriage by Agastya. Sage Agasthia is referred in the Maha bharata in Sauptikaparva also as the teacher of Guru Drona. 1.6 Meaning of Lopa mudra Much against his wills the king was constrained to consent, and she became the wife of the sage. She was named Lopa-mudra, because the animals had been subjected to loss (lopa) by her engrossing their distinctive beauties, as the eyes of the deer etc. She was also called Kausitaki and Vara-prada. 1.7 Change king Nahusha to snake There is a story exhibiting his superhuman power, by which he turned King Nahusha into a serpent and afterwards restored him to his proper form. 1.8 Appearance in Ramayana It is in the Ramayana that Agastya makes the most distinguished figure. He dwelt in a hermitage on Mount Kunjara, situated to the south of the Vindhya Mountains, and was chief of the hermits of the south. Sree Rama during his exile visited the hermitage of Agastya with Sita and Lakshmana. The sage received him with the greatest kindness, and became his friend, adviser, and protector. He gave him the bow of Vishnu. Sage Agastya appeared to Rama when he was despondent at the impending war with Ravana and instructed him in the use of Aditya Hridayam, a hymn praising the Sun God. Agastya also composed Saraswati Stotram. When Rama was returning back to his kingdom after the war, the sage accompanied him to Ayodhya. 1.9 Vathapi story He kept the Rakshasas who infested the south under control, so that the country was only gazed upon and not possessed by them. His power over them is illustrated by a legend which represents him as eating up a Rakshasa named Vatapi who assumed the form of a ram, and as destroying by a flash of his eye the Rakshasa’s brother, Ilvala, who attempted to avenge him. 1.10 Lopamudra become river Kaveri There is a story how Lopamudra became river Kaveri. Once while travelling sage Agasthia who do not want to keep Lopamdura alone converted her to water and carried in a pitcher. Sage Agastia one evening kept the pitcher on a rock and went for ablutions. Lord Ganesha took the form of a crow and tilted the pitcher and it got opened. Lopamudra who had already wished to become a river started to flow and her wish was fulfilled so. Lopamudra became river Kaveri. We may be recollecting our Upakarma manthra- Narmada sindhu Kaveri, Gdavari Namosthuthae now. 1.11 Sage Agasthia and Tamil literature The name of Agastya holds a great place also in Tamil literature, and he is “venerated in the south as the first teacher of science and literature to the primitive Dravidian tribes according to Dr. Caldwell. The traditions of the south of India ascribe to Agastya a principal share in the formation of the Tamil language and literature. 1.12 Sidda Vaidyam and Nadi Jyothisham Agastya is famous for being the first siddhar in the siddhars tradition. He created many medicines, and jathakam (Agasthia nadi) referred by Nadi jyothishies. Two of his students and disciples were Therayar and Therayar and Tholkappiar. Those who see 3 years prolonging Kolangal serial in Sun TV may recollect now Mr.Thol, the hero of the serial. 1.13 Agasthia Gothra Named after him there is a Gothra followed by many Hindus. 2. SAGE MUDGALA 2.1 Sage Mudgala story- reference in Mahabharata Nalayani was the young wife of very old sage, Mudgala, but she was a great Pativrata. Even when Mudgala Rishi became afflicted by leprosy and started stinking, she continued to serve him. Once, when he was consuming food, one of his fingers fell of from his hands and fell into the food. Nalayani removed it and partook the remaining food. The sage was extremely pleased. In order to please he took five bodily forms corresponding to Panchabhootas and satisfied her in all respects. After thousands of years, he wanted to retire from family life and wanted to live the life of a sage. But, Nalayani tried to prevent him and keep him in the material pleasures. Sage Mudgala cursed her that she will be borne as the daughter of Drupada and will marry five men. (source : Adi Parva of Mahabharata verses 197 to 204). 2.2 Droupadi – Five husbands It is told on account of the above curse, though Arjuna won Droupadi in swayamvara , due toKunti’s wordings she had to become the common wife of all Pandavas. As a matter of fact, she had her special affection to Arjuna since he won her in swayamvara. Some time it may look strange, butit was Narada who devisedthe way that she should live withthe five husbands. 2.3 Droupadi- Chastity it is told Droupadi was very pride of her chastity. Sree Krishna was not happy with her extra pride. He created an illusion in her mind to takeout her pride. The story goes as follows. During exile Pandavaswere near the hermitage of a sage after Droupadi swayamvara. I am not able to recollect the name of the sage now. There was a mango tree in the garden of the hermitage. The only food of the sage was the ripen Mango from the tree after evening bath and Sandhya . The tree irrespective of seasons used to provide one fully ripened mango per day. With out knowing all these, Droupadi desired to have the single mango fruit one day evening. Sage had gone for his bath and Sandhya. As expected she requested Arjuna to get her the mango. Arjuna with his arrow got it down and handed over to Droupadi in seconds. Before she started a cut and bite of the mangofortunately Sree Krishna appeared in the site. He told the mango fruit -the only food of the sage and pretended alarmed. All Pandavas got upset and feared a curse of sage. 2.4 Sree Krishna finds remedy Sree Krishnasuggested all the Pandavas and Droupadito assemble below the tree. He asked Sahadeva to hold the mango. He suggested every body truly express what they thought in mind mango will go up and cling as usual. Mango went to 1/4th way when Sahadeva expressed what he felt in mind . Mango went another quarterway when Nakulaexpressed what he felt. This way mango was about to touch the clan , it was the last turn of Droupadi. But what she expressed was not true. Mango fell down. All Pandavas got upset. Krishna warned Droupadito tell the truth. Having no alternative , she called Krishna inside and told the truth. Mango went up and added to the clan. The story goes that she expressed about the set up of kingdom and her position as royal queen in the open. But actually she thought about Karna too being among Pandavas. Sree Krishna told Pandavas, to subsideher pride of chastity , he created such a situation andillusion in the mind of Droupadi and nothing more than that. 2.5 Forbearance of Mudgala Once sage Durvasa came to the hermitage of sage Mudgala in a digambara form and Mudgala gave him, whatever food he obtained as alms. Durvasa consumed some food from it. The remaining food, he massaged on his own body. Yet, Mudgala did not become angry. The following days also Durvasa came to Mudgalas Ashram before the latter could quench his hunger and repeated the same behaviour. Mudgala gave all the food to Durvasa and remained hungry for several days. Finally, Durvasa said that he was extremely pleased with Mudgala’s patience and forbearance and blessed Mudgala with an offer to take him to the Heaven in his physical body. Immediately the Devas came with their plane. Mudgala enquired Durvasa about the pleasures available in the Heaven and then in the end he refused to be drawn to such pleasures. (source : Vana Parva of Mahabharata Ch. 261). 2.6 Mudgala and Ganapathi Ganesha Purana speaks of Rishi Mudgala, who was an ardent devotee of Lord Ganapathi, who was so pleased with him that he gave his devotee powers to give boons to other devotees. 2.7 Daksha become disciple of sage Mudgala Daksha became an ardent devotee of Ganapathi. On Ganapathi’s advice, he met Rishi Mudgala, who taught him the one lettered mantra OM. This, Daksha chanted relentlessly. 2.8 Mudgala Purana Perhaps no other Rishi in the human world has a purana named after him. This Purana does not give any information about Rishi Mudgala, but is out and out exposition of the grandeur of Lord Ganapathi. This shows the humility of the author, Rishi Mudgala. This Purana has 9 khandas and gives details about all facets of Ganesha worship.