History of Maha Rishi Sri Agathiyar

Sri Agathiyar Lopamudra Temple, Tirunelveli

http://agasthiyarravikumar.org/sri_agathiyar.html

Sri Agasthiyar (also transliterated as Agathiar, Agasthiar, Agastyar,

Agasti, Agastiar) is a legendary Vedic Rishi (sage). It is believed that sage

Agasthiyar was instrumental in spreading the Vedic religion in southern

India. Agastya is also recognized as one of Seven Great Sages

(Saptarishis). Sage Agasthiyar has also contributed immensely to the

four Vedas. These mantras were revealed to Sage Agasthiyar by the

Brahman (Supreme Being) itself.

Agasthiyar is also the leader of all Siddhas. He is also called Kurumuni,

meaning short (kuru) saint (muni). His contributions are manily in the

fields of Medicine (Siddha) and Astrology - especially Nadi Jodhidam

(Jos(i)yam or Jothisyam). He is said to have lived for over 5000 years,

and that one of his medicinal preparations, Boopathi Kuligai, is so

powerful that it can even bring the dead back to life. Two of his students

and disciples were Therayar and Tholkappiar. He is also considered to be

the guru of many other Siddhars.

The Lalitha sahasranama, which describes the 1000 names of the mother
Goddess (Known commonly as Gowri, Parvati or Durga), was first

revealed to the world when Hayagriva, an Avatar of Vishnu, taught the

same to Agasthiyar. Agasthiyar is said to have composed the Aditya

Hridayam, a hymn on Sun God (Surya), and taught the same to Rama

just before the war between Rama and Ravana.

He is also believed to be the author of Agastya Samhita. The word is also

written as Agasti and Agathiyar. A-ga means a mountain, and Asti means

thrower. Agastya is also the Indian astronomical name of the star of

Canopus, is said to be the 'cleanser of waters', since its rising coincides

with the calming of the waters of the Indian Ocean.

He was son of Pulasthya, son of Brahma. Siddhar were spiritual adepts

who possessed the ashta siddhis, or the eight supernatural powers. Sage

Agathiyar is considered the guru of all Siddhars, and the Siddha

medicine system is believed to have been handed over to him by Lord

Muruga, son of the Hindu God Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.

Siddhars are the followers of Lord Shiva.

Agathiyar is the first Siddhar. His disciples and other siddhars

contributed thousands of texts on Siddhar litratures, including medicine

and form the propounders of the system in this world. He is considered

as the Father of Tamil literature and compiled the first Tamil grammar

called Agathiyam. It is believed that he has lived in the 6th or 7th century

B.C and specialized in language, alchemy, medicine and spirituality

(yogam and gnanam). There are 96 books in the name of Agathiyar.

However, some Tamil researchers say that Agastya mentioned in Vedas

and Agathiyar mentioned in Tamil texts could be two different

characters. In Tamil language the term 'Agam' means inside and 'iyar'

means belong. One who belong inside (soul) is the Tamil meaning for

Agathiyar.

***

History of Sri Lopamudra

http://agasthiyarravikumar.org/srilopamudra.html

Mother Sri Lopamudra was a philosopher as per the ancient Indian

literature. She was the wife of the sage Agastya. Together with her

husband she is credited with spreading the fame of the Lalita

sahasranama (the thousand names of the Divine Mother).She is also

called Kaushitaki and Varaprada. A hymn in the Rigveda is attributed to

her.
In Mahabharata (Vana a: Tirtha-yatra Parva), there is a mention that

Agastya Rishi did penance at Gangadwara (Haridwar), with the help of

his wife, Lopamudra (the princess of Vidharba). According to legend,

Lopamudra was created by sage Agastya with the most graceful parts of

animals such as eyes of the deer etc. The name Lopamudra signifies the

loss (lopa) that the animals suffered by giving their distinctive beauties

(mudras).

After creating her, Agastya secretly introduced Lopamudra into the

palace of the King of Vidarbha. Agastya had made Lopamudra with the

intention of marrying her. The king brought up Lopamudra as his

daughter. When she grew up, Agastya demanded her hand in marriage.

Lopamudra agreed to marry him and left the King's palace for his

hermitage.

After some time, she grew tired of Agastya's austerity. She wrote a two-

stanza hymn, asking for his attention and love. The hymn made Agastya

realize his duties towards his wife. The couple had a son named

Dridhasyu, who became a poet.It is said that the present day river Kaveri

is Lopamudra's reincarnated form.[citation needed].

Giridhara Ramayana has a different story on Lopamudra. Agastya

approached king of Kanyakubja who had many daughters for a girl in

marriage. The king promised the sage a girl when they come to age and

asked him to come back a few years later. By the time the sage returned,

however the king had married off all his daughters. He was so worried
about getting cursed, he dressed his son Lopamudra as a girl and

presented him to Agastya. Miraculously, Lopamudra was transfomed

and became a woman after the wedding.