Once Surapadhman , a Demon, proscribed the Devas from heaven. Lord Indra came down to Earth and involved himself in doing sacrifices in a place called Seergazhi. All the water sources dried up. Agasthya confined river Cauvery in his Kamandal (small pot with a handle and a snout). When Lord Ganesha came to hear about this act of Agasthya, he came in the form of crow and pushed the Kamandal down. From the Kamandal, the river Cauvery gushed out and started flowing, freed as she was. Agasthya became angry and started chasing the crow. The crow metamorphosised into a small boy and was held captive by the sage. When the sage was about to vent his anger, the boy took the form of Lord Muruga. The Lord then blessed Agasthya that his kamandal will always be filled with water. From that time onwards, the river Cauvery has been flowing perennially. (Skandha Puranam)

In the Valmiki Ramayana the name of sage Agasthya has been mentioned in three places. The first instance is, when Rama and Lakshmana enter the forest with sage Viswamitra to protect his Yagna. The sage informs them that it is the abode of the Demoness Thataka and explains how she became one. Thataka was the daughter of Sukathu, a Yaksha. She had the strength of a thousand elephants by the blessings of Lord Brahma. She married Sundhan and gave birth to Mareesan and Subahu. Sundhan who was presumptuous by nature tried to destroy the ashram of sage Agasthya. This aggravated Agasthya's anger and he burnt Sundhan to ashes. When Thataka heard about her husband's fate, she became wild and decimated the sage's ashram. This exacerbated his anger and he cursed her to turn into a demoness, and her sons into demons. Later, under sage Viswamitra's orders, Lord Rama shot her with his arrow and killed her.

In the second instance, Rama with Sita and Lakshmana during his exile, went to see Agasthya in his hermitage. Agasthya gave Rama Lord Vishnu's bow and arrow. Later when Rama fought with Karan, his own bow was broken in to two by Karan's arrow. Immediately, Rama used the arrow that Agasthya gave and killed Karan.

In the third instance, Rama was very tired during the war against Ravana. Taking advantage of Rama's weariness, Ravana was gaining in his position which made Rama solicitous. At the same time, Agasthya who had come to witness the war with the Devas called Rama to his side and counselled him about 'Aditya Hridhayam' (invocation to Sun God) and explained it's greatness. Rama then recited it thrice, fought Ravana with renewed vigour and killed him.

Once Ravana waged a war against South India, and Agasthya, in order to save the situation, made an agreement with Ravana. By this agreement, a Veena competition would be held and if Ravana loses, he should leave the place accepting defeat. And if the result was on the contrary, the sage would leave Tamil Nadu. Ravana agreed to this proposal and in the process, lost to Agasthya. Thus, Agasthya saved the Southern part from Ravana.

Agasthya and his wife Lopamudra were great devotees of Lalitha Devi. Hayagriva recited Lalitha Sahasranamam to Agasthya and the latter spread it far and wide, through teaching. Agasthya learnt Tamil and Tamil Grammar from Lord Shiva and Lord Muruga and spread them in Tamil Nadu (Skandha Puranam). Because of his short stature he was called 'Kurumuni '. His name is mentioned in Kamba Ramayanam by Kambar as 'Mamuni'.

There are few temples in Tamil Nadu and one in Chennai for this great sage.

(to be continued)