Maharishi Agastya, also known as Agathiyar, was one of the great sages of ancient India. He was the son of MitraVaruna Rishi and the apsara Urvashi. He is also referred to as Kumbhasambhava or Kumbha Muni - meaning born from a pot. About a hundred years ago, the whole idea of someone being born from a pot or a vessel must have sounded extremely ridicules,unbelievable or even super natural romanticism. However, with so many in vitro fertilization methods and test tube babies, amongst us now, it doesn't sound all that unbelievable, does it ? There was a time, in 1600s, when Galileo an Italian physicist, mathematician claimed that the earth is not flat, but round and it revolves around the sun. He was dramatically persecuted by the Church and ridiculed upon. However, in Ancient India,Yajnavalkya (c. 9th–8th century BCE) recognized that the Earth is spherical in his astronomical text Shatapatha Brahmana. This is also recognized in another Vedic Sanskrit text Aitareya Brahmana composed around the same time, and in a later Sanskrit commentary Vishnu Purana.
So you see, science is a very relative thing !
Coming back to Rishi Agastya, the marriage of Lord Shiva to Uma, the daughter of the king of mountains Himavan was going to be conducted at Mount Kailas. All the people in the world and all the creatures began to flock to the north. The earth was in danger of toppling over, as the weights of North and South were not in balance. Upon beholding this the Lord said, "This cannot be allowed to happen. We need a suitable weight to counterbalance this northern tilt. Only Agastya can do this job." He then summoned Agastya and bade him to go south and use his yogic powers to balance the earth. Agastya was pleased with this honor, but was also saddened, because then he won't be able to witness this divine marriage. Perceiving the thoughts in the Rishi's mind, Shiva granted him a boon that himself and Uma will appear before Agastya, whenever the latter happened to think of them. Pleased, Agastya began his southward journey." He is one of the most revered sages of south India.
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 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 literature, including medicine and form the propounders of the system in this world.He is also considered as the Father of Tamil literature and compiled the first Tamil grammar called Agathiyam. He is regarded to have 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. In Tamil language, the term 'Agam' means inside and 'iyar' means belong. One who belongs inside (soul) is Agathiyar.
There are several stories around Agastya Rishi's life, but I find this one very interesting.
IIvala and Vatapi were two demon brothers. Vatapi could changed himself into any form he desired, like a shape shifter. IIvala knew the Sanjivini Mantra.Hence, the demons used to trick people into eating Vatapi who would assume the form of a goat and then, IIlava would say the mantra, enabling Vatapi to tear the stomach and come out. Agastya wanted to put an end to their ways. Hence we met them and as expected Ilava offered Vatapi as food to the Sage. The Sage after eating simply said “Vatapi Jeerno Bhava " ( may Vatapi be digested ). By his yogic powers, he completely dissolved Vatapi. Enraged by his brother's death, Ilvala attacked the Rishi, who promptly reduced him to ashes !
A lot of people strongly object to mixing of mythology with science and spirituality. But I think there are no boundary walls separating the three. Where one begins and the other ends is for us to find out!
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