Sage Agasthya

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Dear Devotees of shriimaata,

 

There were few reference to Sage Agasthya in trishatii as

kalashodbhava and kumbha-sambhava. I wanted to know the

background behind these names and the birth of agasthya mahaamuni

who is one of the foremost ambaaL bhaktaa-s. I enquired Dr. V.

Sadagopan, who is a treasure house of knowledge, about this and

here is the answer. I thank Dr. V. Sadagopan for his kind help.

 

Sincerely,

Ravi

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Wed, 5 Jan 2000 18:13:44 -0500 (EST)

Sadagopan <sgopan

Ravisankar S. Mayavaram <msr

Re: agasthya

 

Dear Ravi:

 

This has its origin in the incident

described in PurANaas about Mitra and

VaruNA placing their " seeds" in a water urn (Kumbhaa)

in front of lady dawn represented as the celestial

nymph Urvasi.From their seeds were born AgasthyA

( the mover of the mountains/agasthi ) and

VasishtA ( owner of wealth) .His birth is

mentioned in many purANams ( Matsya, Padma

and BrahmANDa PurANams) and in MahA BhAratham.

Rg Vedam (7.33.13) mentions his birth.

 

Rg vedam ( I.165. 13-15 , I.166-69, I.170.2et al ,

Taittiriya samhithai 7.5.5.2 , TaittirIya BrAhmanam

2.7.11.1,Kataka samhithA , MaitrAyaNa samhitA

and Panchavimsathi BrahmaNA have passages associated

with AgasthyA .

 

In the Vedic sookshmArtham , Varuna represents

all that is vast and pure (infinity and purity)

and MitrA is associated with all that is

shining (light ) and harmonious. As a dyad ( MithrAvaruNa

of Rg vedam V.62) , they create in man a force full of

divine knowledge and a wide being , which they guard and

increase , " a strewn seat of sacrifice". Their progeny

is Agasthya and VasishtA .

 

He is the teacher of Grammar , medicine and the Rishi

for many Vedic verses . We link him with Pothigai Malai

and ThirukkuRRAlam .

 

Hope this helps . One has to be careful in reconciling

PurANaic accounts , since they will contradict each other .

 

Best wishes,

V.Sadagopan

 

 

 

At 10:50 AM 1/5/00 -0600, you wrote:

>Dear Sir,

>

>I have a doubt. How was Sage agastya conceived. He is called

>kalashod-bhava or kumbha-sambhava. In V.sahasranaama, shankara

>while interpreting vaaruNa, gives the meaning agastya as he is

>the son of varuNa. How did his birth happen?

>

>Can you shed some light on this topic.

>

>Thank you.

>

>With respects,

>Ravi

>

>

>

>