Once Agasthya started performing a sacrifice (yagna), that should be carried on for twelve years. Rishis all over the country took part in this ritual. When Lord Indra came to know about this he felt jealous and stopped sending rain to earth. The crops withered and there was drought through out the country. In spite of the condition prevailing Agasthya was able to serve food to all the rishis who participated in the yagna.

The rishis were surprised as to how this was possible and some were worried that the Yagna might be discontinued due to severe drought conditions. But Agasthya asked them not to worry and told them that if need be, he would ascend the throne of Indra and save them. When Indra came to know about Agasthya's solution, he realised that it would endanger his position. So good sense prevailed upon him and he sent rain to earth. (Mahabharatham, Ashwamedhika Parvam, Chapter 92 ).

Sage Agasthya was the prime factor behind the story of Gajendra Mokhsham. (Bhagavatham). Once king Indrathyumnar of Pandya Nadu was engaged in deep meditation. When sage Agasthya visited him, the king didn't realise the sage's presence. Agasthya was embittered and thought that the King was being impertinent and cursed him to turn into an elephant. The king who turned into an elephant started living in the forest in the name of Gajendra.

At the same time a Ghandarva called Hoohoo, due to a sage's curse had turned into a crocodile was living in a river near the forest. One day when Gajendra came to the river to quench his thirst, the crocodile caught his feet and tried to pull him into the river. Gajendra tried to wrench himself free and after sometime both became tired. They prayed to Lord Vishnu, who with his Chakrayudha killed them and thus they attained salvation. (Bhagavatham -8th Skandham - 2nd Chapter).

When the celestial wedding of Parvathi and Parameshwar took place in the Himalayas, all the rishis and devas were there to witness the event. There was a semblance of gaiety everywhere. Because of the crowd that was pouring in from all over, the Himalayas unable to bear the weight started to go down. The southern part tilted upwards and the northern side was sliding downwards. Seeing the great disparity in the levels, Lord Shiva asked sage Agasthya to go southwards.

Agasthya reached Kuttralam on the way and when he wanted to visit the Vishnu temple there, he was refused entry as he had applied sacred ash on his forehead. He changed himself into a person with 'Thiruman' and gained entry. To the surprise of everyone assembled there the Vishnu idol had changed into Shiva. From that day onwards the Lingam has been known as ThiruKutraleeshwarar. From Kuttralam Agasthya reached Cape Comarin. Due to the strength of his penance, the southern part went down till the levels became the same again. (Skandha Puranam).

(to be continued)