Sunday, January 22, 2012
Gandharva’s unsatiable hunger
Once upon a time, Agastya was going in a dense forest, when he came upon some Gandharvas singing and dancing there. While the sage was observing and enjoying this, one of the Gandharvas approached a dead body lying near by a lake and started eating it with ravenous hunger. After eating the same, the Gandharva got up and prostrated to the sage. The sage asked the gandharva reason for the strange behavior. The gandharva explained that he was the king of Vidarbha in his previous birth and was named as Swetha. After ruling the kingdom for thousands of years and after doing great penance towards the end in his Vanaprastha years, he went to heaven. But he was always hungry and could not get satiated. He went to Lord Brahma to find out the reason for this constant, ravenous hunger and was told by Lord Brahma that when he was a king, he did not give any charity to any one and hence was afflicted with this unending hunger. Lord Brahma asked him to go back to the place where he did his tapas and eat the dead body lying there, at which time he will be blessed with the appearance of sage Agastya. Lord Brahma gave a divine bracelet to the gandharva and asked him to present the same to sage Agastya and assured him that he will be freed from the curse of the unending hunger. So saying, the gandharva asked sage Agastya to kindly accept the bracelet and release him from the past sins. By Agastya’s blessings, the gandharva was freed from the unending hunger and went back to heaven.
Manimantha Humbled
Once upon a time, the gods planned to perform Satrayagam (a type of yaga) on the banks of a river called Kusavathi. They invited all the Dikpalakas (rulers of the eight directions).
Kubera, who rules the north direction left along with his relatives and a close friend named Manimantha, in his Pushpak Vimana. The Vimana was going over the river Kusavathi when Manimantha spat out his spittle. The spittle fell on sage Agastya, who was at that time performing Surya Namaskars on the bank of the river.
Kubera saw that and stopped the Vimana and came to the sage and fell at his feet and requested him to forgive his friend. Sage Agastya however was not mollified and cursed Manimantha, an Yaksha (demi-god) to meet his end at the hands of a human being. Manimantha also fell at the feet of the sage and requested him to forgive his mistake. The sage was pacified but said to the Yaksha, “Manimantha! One has to reap the fruits of one’s actions, whether they are performed knowingly or unknowingly. Thus you have to meet your punishment. Bhima will come to the Yaksha Sarovar for collecting the Saugandhika Flower and at that time a fierce war will take place and you will meet your end at his hand. However, you will regain your life later when Kubera pacifies Bhima.”
Kubera, who rules the north direction left along with his relatives and a close friend named Manimantha, in his Pushpak Vimana. The Vimana was going over the river Kusavathi when Manimantha spat out his spittle. The spittle fell on sage Agastya, who was at that time performing Surya Namaskars on the bank of the river.
Kubera saw that and stopped the Vimana and came to the sage and fell at his feet and requested him to forgive his friend. Sage Agastya however was not mollified and cursed Manimantha, an Yaksha (demi-god) to meet his end at the hands of a human being. Manimantha also fell at the feet of the sage and requested him to forgive his mistake. The sage was pacified but said to the Yaksha, “Manimantha! One has to reap the fruits of one’s actions, whether they are performed knowingly or unknowingly. Thus you have to meet your punishment. Bhima will come to the Yaksha Sarovar for collecting the Saugandhika Flower and at that time a fierce war will take place and you will meet your end at his hand. However, you will regain your life later when Kubera pacifies Bhima.”
Indra Humbled / Link / His Guru
At one time, Agastya took up a Yagna for 12 years. Many sages, maharshis and ritviks came there and helped in the right conduct of the yagna. However, during that period, there were no rains and as we all know rain bearing clouds are governed by Indra. And gentle rains are happy omens, not dry spells nor deluge (as happened in Brindavan when the cowherds worshipped Govardhana giri ignoring Indra and Krishna had to lift the Govardhana Giri with His little finger and teach Indra a lesson).
Agastya, Darasuram temple, photo Olivier Barot
Because of the dry spell, the seeds and the plants started drying up and food started getting into short supply. All the visitors were wondering how they will be fed by the Yajamani (in this case Sage Agastya himself). He asked them not to worry and told them that he would wait till next day evening and if it does not rain by then, he would go to heaven, take over the Indra post and give the earth good rain. The other sages asked him not to take that much trouble and were making alternative arrangements including prayers to Varuna (god of water). Indra came to know of sage Agastya’s ultimatum and came running along with deva guru Brihaspati and fell at Agastya’s feet and asked the sage to pardon him. He immediately arranged for rain and instantly sprouting seeds so that food is in abundance. Agastya also forgave Indra and sent him, Brihaspati and Varuna back with due curtsey.
http://www.vedah.com/essays-on-veda-upanishad-etc/elementary-topics/59-godsmore-details/456-indra-and-agastya-rv-1170
Once Indra was performing Teertha Yatras and in the course of his pilgrimage visited Brahma Saras (Lake) and that lake was full of beautiful lotus flowers. Indra and his group felt like plucking the flowers and they did that. At that time, the lake and the flowers were being safe-guarded by Agastya and he came to know of their transgression. He came immediately to the spot but before he cursed Indra, Indra prostrated to the sage and offered all the flowers that they plucked and he also clarified that he did that to attract the attention of the sage and get the benefit of some good upadesa. The sage was satisfied with Indra’s explanation and let him off after giving him some good advice.
Because of the dry spell, the seeds and the plants started drying up and food started getting into short supply. All the visitors were wondering how they will be fed by the Yajamani (in this case Sage Agastya himself). He asked them not to worry and told them that he would wait till next day evening and if it does not rain by then, he would go to heaven, take over the Indra post and give the earth good rain. The other sages asked him not to take that much trouble and were making alternative arrangements including prayers to Varuna (god of water). Indra came to know of sage Agastya’s ultimatum and came running along with deva guru Brihaspati and fell at Agastya’s feet and asked the sage to pardon him. He immediately arranged for rain and instantly sprouting seeds so that food is in abundance. Agastya also forgave Indra and sent him, Brihaspati and Varuna back with due curtsey.
http://www.vedah.com/essays-on-veda-upanishad-etc/elementary-topics/59-godsmore-details/456-indra-and-agastya-rv-1170
Once Indra was performing Teertha Yatras and in the course of his pilgrimage visited Brahma Saras (Lake) and that lake was full of beautiful lotus flowers. Indra and his group felt like plucking the flowers and they did that. At that time, the lake and the flowers were being safe-guarded by Agastya and he came to know of their transgression. He came immediately to the spot but before he cursed Indra, Indra prostrated to the sage and offered all the flowers that they plucked and he also clarified that he did that to attract the attention of the sage and get the benefit of some good upadesa. The sage was satisfied with Indra’s explanation and let him off after giving him some good advice.
Shiva Vishnu are One
On his way from north India to the south,Agastya, with his wife, reached Kutralam,
in Tamil Nadu. There was a Vishnu temple there. As Agastya was a Shaivite, he was
not allowed to enter the temple. Agastya used his miraculous powers and changed
the idol of Vishnu in the temple into that of Shiva Lingam and thus demonstrated
to the people that Vishnu and Shiva are not different deities, as God is only one.
Defeating Ravana
His mastery over music is so said that Agasthya defeated even the great Ravana in a contest of playing on the veena.
Giving Divine Weapons to Rama / Link
In Dandakaranya, seeing the bones of the sages, Shri Ram vows to take revenge on the demons Shri ram meets Sage Sutikshna then Maharshi Agastya & receives divine weapons from him
http://www.giirvaani.net/giirvaani/vr/aranya/sarga12/aranya_12_frame.htm
Sita and Rama Separation
A legend by Rishi Agastya in the epic states that Vishnu in a previous age had been cursed by a rishi, whose wife had been killed by Vishnu for sheltering his enemies escaping from battle. The Rishi condemns Vishnu to be denied for a long age the companionship of his soul mate, just as Vishnu, by an inadvertent display of anger, had deprived the rishi of his loving wife. Thus Rama, Vishnu's incarnation, must live the rest of his life without Sita
Lakshmana
Lakshmana is uniquely responsible for slaying Indrajit, the invincible son of Ravana who had humiliated Indra and the Devas, and outwitted the brothers and the Vanaras on several occasions. Rishi Agastya later points out that this victory was the turning point of the conflict. Rama is often overcome with emotion and deep affection for Lakshmana, acknowledging how important and crucial Lakshmana's love and support was for him. He also trusts Lakshmana to carry out difficult orders – Lakshmana was asked to take Sita to the ashrama of Valmiki, where she was to spend her exile. Lakshmana's deep love for Rama, his unconditional service and sacrifice, as well as qualities of practical judgment and clear-headedness make him Rama's superior in certain situations and perspectives. Lakshmana symbolizes a man's duty to his family, brothers and friends, and forms an essential part of the conception of ideal manhood, that Rama primarily embodies.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Eswarar Dharmapuram / Palli / Chennai / Madurai
Dridhasyu
Agastya did all that his wife Lopamudra had desired And said, 'O illustrious one, thou hast now accomplished all my wishes. Beget thou a child on me that shall be possessed of great energy.' And Agastya replied unto her, saying, 'O blessed and beauteous one, I have been much gratified with thy conduct. Listen thou unto me as regards the proposal I make in respect of thy offspring.
'So be it,' that pious Muni thereupon knew his devout wife of equal behaviour. And after she had conceived, he retired into the forest. And after the Muni had gone away, the foetus began to grow for seven years. And after the seventh year had expired, there came out of the womb,
the highly learned Dridhasyu, blazing in his own splendour. And the great Brahmana and illustrious ascetic, endued with mighty energy, took his birth as the Rishi's son, coming out of the womb, as if repeating the Vedas with the Upanishads and the Angas. Endued with great energy while yet a child, he used to carry loads of sacrificial fuel into the asylum of his father, and was thence called Idhmavaha (carrier of sacrificial wood). And the Muni, beholding his son possessed of such virtues, became highly glad.
"And it was thus, O Bharata, that Agastya begat an excellent son in consequence of which his ancestors, O king, obtained the regions they desired. And it is from that time that this spot hath become known on the earth as the asylum of Agastya. Indeed, O king, this is the asylum graced with numerous beauties, of that Agastya who had slain Vatapi of Prahrada's race.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Dridhasyu
- Wouldst thou have a thousand sons,
- or a century of sons each equal to ten,
- or ten sons equal each to an hundred,
- or only one son who may vanquish a thousand?'
'So be it,' that pious Muni thereupon knew his devout wife of equal behaviour. And after she had conceived, he retired into the forest. And after the Muni had gone away, the foetus began to grow for seven years. And after the seventh year had expired, there came out of the womb,
the highly learned Dridhasyu, blazing in his own splendour. And the great Brahmana and illustrious ascetic, endued with mighty energy, took his birth as the Rishi's son, coming out of the womb, as if repeating the Vedas with the Upanishads and the Angas. Endued with great energy while yet a child, he used to carry loads of sacrificial fuel into the asylum of his father, and was thence called Idhmavaha (carrier of sacrificial wood). And the Muni, beholding his son possessed of such virtues, became highly glad.
"And it was thus, O Bharata, that Agastya begat an excellent son in consequence of which his ancestors, O king, obtained the regions they desired. And it is from that time that this spot hath become known on the earth as the asylum of Agastya. Indeed, O king, this is the asylum graced with numerous beauties, of that Agastya who had slain Vatapi of Prahrada's race.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Dridhasyu
NaarAyaNaadhri
When Agastya and other Rishis were searching for the Lord ,they came across a radiant mahaa purusha seated on a rock, whose brilliance and beauty were beyond description. When Agastya performed obeisance to this maha purusha and sought his identity, the distinguished entity just disappeared without a word. Sri Vamadeva tells Janaka that this purusha is none other than the Narayana Parvatam,
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