Lives of Ancient Indian Saints

Agastya - His stay in Andhra

Agastya began his piligrimage in the south. To compensate his loss of Banaras he reached Draksharama, called the southern Banaras in Andhra Pradesh. He worshipped Lord Bhimeswara there. He lived there happy and contended. One who helps the good and the pious will always remain happy. There is no virtue higher than helping others. The constant desire of helping the good is the highest glory of man and the noblest quality in him. No wonder that Agastya who dedicated his life to the service of others is always blissful and happy.

Worship of Lakshmi

Continuing his pilgrimage, Agastya and his wife reached Kolhapur to whorhip Goddess Lakshmi there. He showered praises on the Goddess thus : "Mother you are the light of the Moon, the lustre in the Sun, the burning power in the Fire. My salutations to you. Mother, by your grace the three Gods Brahma, Vishnu and Maheswara create, sustain and ultimately destroy the world. Goddess, one who possesses your grace is the scholar, the hero, the intelligent, the giver, the lucky, the blessed, the personification of cupid, so on the glory in all is nothing but your grace. The place where your grace falls is the abode of plenty. The place where your grace is absent is the place where every thing good is absent. A small ray of your grace will make one possess everything in the world. One who is devoid of that ray is devoid of all good in life. The grand elephants holding in their raised hands the golden jars full of holy waters. When the nine treasures Sankha, Padma, Maha Padma, Makara etc., worship you, the ladies of the Gods, Gandharvas, Guhyakas, fanning you slowly on both the sides, while the great Gods like Indra, Varuna, Kubera etc., with folded hands shower praises upon you, living in the middle of the most lustrous and the most beautiful Lotus, you rule the entire world; you protect the great creation. To you, Mother our salutations."

His Teachings

Very much pleased Goddess Lakshmi appeared before him in human form, blessed him and foretold that he would become the Vyasa in future. She directed him to visit Swamimala near Kishkindha by the side of the river Thungabhadra. She said that Lord Kumara resided there. Taking leave of her after due respectful worship Agastya reached Srisaila and worshipped Lord Mallikarjuna. Then Lopamudra asked him to clarify her doubt.: " People say that whoever looked at the top of Srisaila would attain salvation at once. If that were true, why should one visit Kasi or Banaras where salvation could be attained only after death ? Moreover, some say that salvation could be attained by Vijnana, some others by penance. Of all these paths to salvation which is the easiest, safest and the surest ? Pray tell me " The great sage replied " Lady, all these paths of salvation lead one to the parth of Kasi or Banaras which alone is the best, safest and the surest giver of salvation. That is the glory and greatness of Banaras. I tell you one secret. It is only by God's grace that one desires to visit the holy places. Otherwise there will be no inclination to visit the holy places. A strong desire to visit the holy places itself drives away some sins. With the disappearance of some sins one gets an irresistible desire to visit Banaras. The very visit to the holy city confers on one a lot of knowledge, without which no salvation could be attained. Knowledge which is the result of Vedanta is the real knowledge. The rest is ignorance, all ignorance.

There is another secret of secrets. The physical visiting of holy places is of no avail. The mental visiting alone bears fruit. The most sacred places in the mind are truth, kindness, self - control, the absence of jealousy, to be happy always, celibacy, courage, the feeling that all are one and equal. As long as one does not understand visit and bathe in the holy waters of the holy places of the mind, physical visiting of the holy places is sheer waste of time, energy and money. If it were true that mere bathing in holy waters gives salvation, the fish, the crocodiles and the watery insects must first attain salvation. What do you say, dear lady, will the pot of liquor become pure even if one washes its outside hundred times ? Clear off the liquor. The smell will vanish. So also, make your mind pure with the following qualities, non acceptance of anything from anybody, having no egoism, killing one's own anger, avoiding procrastination, possessing truthfulness, self-satisfaction, eagerness to become pure, adherence to a good principle at all costs - these are the sacred places of the mind. When one gets into them, he becomes perfect. Otherwise, the amount spent, the time devoted and the energy utilised are of no avail." She was pleased.

Worshipping the God of Srisaila, Agasty went to Swamimala and met the Deity Kumaraswami. Spending a few days with him, from whom he learnt a lot, he took his leave and proceeded further.

Innumerable are the stories connected with saint Agastya. He had to his credit, innumerable miracles. His curses and his protections of Kings and demons are many. He cursed King Indradyumna as an elephant. It was that elephant of the famous " Gajendra Moksha " of the Mahabhagavata. He blessed King Bhadrasva. The great Varahapurana describes the glory attained by the king on account of Agastya's blessings. (tobe continued)