Notable Mortals Who Lived Through Most of the Four Eras--Agastay

 

Notable Mortals Who Lived Through Most of the Four Eras--Agastay Rishi

(This is an excerpt from my book “Four Eras of The Battling Gods & Mortals.” The book can be obtained from Amazon. The is also available at Kitab Ghar, Gaiety, Shimla. The Amazon link is given below):

https://www.amazon.in/dp/9390758173?ref=myi_title_dp

Opening Note : This write-up in installments, is intended to drive home the sole point, hitherto ignored by the historians with utter impunity, that Ramayan and Mahabharat periods were only couple of years apart only, almost extending into each other. The study is based on the evidences from 18 Mahapuranas and 18 Uppuranas, along with other Ancient Indian scriptures. Here is the list of at least 106 notable personalities who were alive and present in these two epic periods and even beyond and prior to these periods.  I am confident that one day this truth will have to be accepted by savants of history and general public interested in the study of Ancient India.

 

Here is Agastay who find frequent references in the texts of Vedas, Puranas and great epics, Ramayan and Mahabharat, composed by two illustrious sages Mahrishi Valmiki and Vedvyas. A careful, meticulous and sincere study of these ancient literary composition reveals that most of such notables not merely find references in, but they lived through periods of Vedas, Ramayan, Mahabharat, and even post Mahabharat period when Kalki avtar took place. 

 

Mortals Who Lived and Interacted with the Persons Living Through Most of the Four Eras--Agastay

2. Agastay—Agastay, also called Dattoli, was the son of Pulastay (one of the 16 manasputra of Brahma, and Saptrishi in Swayambhuv Manvantar).[1] Agastay’s mother was Priti, the daughter of Daksh Prajapati. Agastay was also paternal uncle of Ravan, as his father Vishrava was also son of Pulastay.

Nahush, A famous King of the Lunar dynasty, grandson of Pururava, was transformed to a huge serpent by Agastay. Story goes like this: to get remission from the sin of killing Vritrasur, son of Vishwakarma, a Brahman, Indra hid himself in one of the underground water channel of the Manasarovar Lake. The Devatas who were worried due to the absence of Indra, elected Nahush as their Indra temporarily. Nahush wanted to get Indrani as his consort. Agastay cursed Nahush "Since you have whipped me saying 'Sarpa Sarpa', may you be transformed into a mahasarp, a python.” Many years passed by when at the sight of the Pandavas Nahush, as Python, regained his original form and went back to the world of Indra.[2]

Shri Ram and Lakshman went to the forest with Vishwamitra for protecting the Yagya and rishis from the onslaughts of Rakshasas. When they entered the Tadaka forest Vishwamitra told them the story of Tadaka.

Tadaka was the daughter of Suketu, a semi god of the Yaksh tribe. Suketu gave her in marriage to Sund. Tadaka gave birth to a son called Marich. When Sund was killed, Tadaka got wild and angry and ran into the hermitage of Agastay causing much havoc there. At this Agastay got angry and cursed her to become a Rakshasi and instantly the bodies of Tadaka and Marich were deformed.[3] Both were killed by Shri Ram.

He was present at the time of marriage of Shri Ram and Sita, sang Vedic mantras along with many eminent rishis of the time.[4]

Shri Ram stayed awhile at Agastay’s ashram at Dandak forest while in exile. Agastay gave Shri Ram an arrow, which, when shot at an Asura would pierce his heart, pass on to the other side, fly to the sea and bathe in the seawater and return to the quiver.[5]

Agastay from South was present at the time of Shri Ram’s crowning ceremony (rajyabhishekh).[6]

When Shri Ram was fighting with Ravan in Lanka, dejection befell him, his heart being weighed down with faintness, for a little while. Ravan made the best use of this opportunity and began to advance. The gods had gathered in the sky above to witness the fight. Agastay, at that particular moment, taught Shri Ram the Aditya-hridaya mantra, a hymn in praise of the Sun god and when Shri Ram chanted that mantra, he resumed fight with Vigour and Ravan was defeated and slain.[7]

When Shri Ram returned to Ayodhya from exile, hermits from various parts visited him, among whom Dattatrey, Namuchi, Pramuchi, Valmiki, Soma, Kandu, Agastay and their disciples were from the South.[8]

Guru Dronacharya was the disciple of Agnivesh who in turn was the disciple of Agastay. Dron says to Arjun as follows, "Agnivesh, my teacher was the disciple of Agastay, in the art of using bows and arrows and I am his disciple."[9]

He was one of the many eminent and illustrious sages present at the Vaasudev Yagya performed by Shri Krishan and Balram.[10] Shri Krishan, Balram and Pandavas rightfully respected all eminent rishis.

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[1] Vishnu Puran, Ansh 1, Adhyay 10.

[2] Puranic Encyclopedia, Vettam Mani, see Agastya.

[3] Valmlki Ramayan, Baal Kand, Sarg 25, Shlok 10-13.

[4] Kundaliya Ramayan, Tulsidas, Kundali 140.

[5] Valmiki Ramayan, Baal Kand, Sarg 1, Shlok 42-43; Aranay Kand, Sarg 12, Shlok 31-36.

[6] Valmiki Ramayan, Uttar Kand, Sarg 1, Shlok 3-4.

[7] Valmiki Ramayan, Yudh Kand, Sarg 105, Shlok 1-27.

[8] Uttar Ramayan, ref. Puranic Encyclopedia, Vettam Mani, see Kandu.

[9] Mahabharat, Adi parv, Adhyay 138, Shlok 9.

[10] Bhagvat Puran, Skandh 10, Adhyay 84, Shlok 3-6.