Agastya Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Agastya
Agastya depicted in a statue as a Hindu sage
Information
Title	Vedic Rishi (sage), Siddha, Avatar of Brahma
Spouse(s)	Lopamudra
Children	Drdhasyu

Agastya was a very respected wise man, or rishi, in ancient India. He is an important figure in Hinduism. He was known for living a simple life and was a very smart scholar who knew many languages across the Indian subcontinent. Agastya and his wife, Lopamudra, are famous for writing parts of the ancient Sanskrit book called the Rigveda, along with other important Vedic texts.

According to Hindu stories, Agastya was a famous sage. People believe he helped bring the ancient Vedic culture to southern India. He also played a big part in developing the Tamil language. Many people traditionally believe that he still lives on a mountain called Agastya Malai in Tamil Nadu, India.

Who Was Agastya?
Amazing Stories About Agastya
Agastya's Influence in Asia
Images for kids
See also

Who Was Agastya?

Agastya chose to live a simple, spiritual life, called an ascetic life. He spent his time learning and became a very famous sage. Many experts believe that Agastya wrote many of the hymns, or sacred songs, found in the Rigveda. He is also mentioned many times in ancient Vedic mythology.

Amazing Stories About Agastya

There are many exciting stories about Agastya in Hindu mythology.

Agastya and Rama

In the famous Hindu epic story, the Ramayana, Rama meets Agastya. Rama is believed to be an avatar (a form) of the god Vishnu. Agastya gives Rama important advice and offers him his full support during his journey.

Agastya and the Mountains

Another amazing story tells how Agastya made the mighty Vindhya mountains bow down. The mountains were growing so tall that they blocked the sun and made it hard for people to travel. Agastya asked the mountains to lower themselves so he could pass. Out of respect for the sage, the mountains bowed down and stayed that way, allowing light and travel to return.

Agastya Drinks the Ocean

One of the most incredible stories about Agastya is when he drank all the water from the ocean. This happened when some powerful demons were hiding in the ocean, causing trouble for the gods. The gods asked Agastya for help. To find the demons, Agastya drank the entire ocean! This allowed the gods to defeat the demons. After the battle, Agastya released the water back into the ocean.

Agastya's Influence in Asia

Agastya is also a very important figure in many old writings, temple carvings, and art from Southeast Asia. He was especially popular in Java, Indonesia, before the spread of Islam there. You can also find mentions of him in Cambodia, Vietnam, and other places. The earliest records of Agastya in these regions date back to around the middle of the 5th century CE. Even some Buddhist texts mention Agastya.

Images for kids

Sage Agastya in a seated position. This sculpture is from the Angkor period in Cambodia, around 975 CE.
Maharishi Agastya and Lopāmudrā.
A 12th-century statue of Agastya from Bihar, India.
Maharishi Agastya drinking the entire sea in a famous story.
The god Indra arguing with Agastya about the theft of a lotus flower.
A depiction of Agathiyar from Tamil Nadu.
People showing respect at the Agastya shrine on top of the peak of Agastya mala, with garlands of fruits and flowers.
Lobamudra sameda Agasthiyar Temple in A. Vallalapatti, Madurai.
This Indonesian statue shows Agastya with Shiva's trident, showing him as a divine sage of Shaivism. Agastya's image is common in Southeast Asian temples.
Agastya on the south side of the 9th-century Javanese Sambisari temple, which was found after being buried by volcanic mud.
A singing sage or Sage Agastya playing a veena. This statue is located in the Sesharaya mandapa (Sesharayar Hall) of the Ranganathaswamy Temple in Srirangam, India, from around the 16th-18th century C.E.

Agastya facts for kids

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