The one who brightens up the heart and mind removing the darkness is called Agastya, and true to his name, Rishi Agastya was always like the light in times of the dark and the saviour in times of need. Rishi Agastya’s greatness lied in dedicating his life to stabilise Dharma and his best role was when he guided Lord Ram in paving the way to the destruction of the demon post in Janasthan, which was the first warning call to Raavan.
The purpose of Lord Ram’s exile reached its true zenith, when he met Rishi Agastya. After visiting different ashrams for ten years in the Dandak forest, Lord Ram along with Sita Devi and Lakshman returned back to Rishi Suteekshan’s ashram. During their journey, Lord Ram explained about the greatness of Rishi Agastya to Sita and Lakshman how Rishi Agastya killed the demons Vatapi and Ilalva. Rishi Agastya helped the Devas by drinking the entire ocean with his austerity, thus aiding Indra to kill the demons in hiding. Rishi Agastya subdued the arrogance of the Vindhya Mountain growing tall and obstructing the path of the Sun God. He was also the one who bought the pious River Kaveri as a boon from Brahma Ji to the South lands. Well aware of the future events of subduing evil demons, Rishi Agastya bestowed Lord Ram the divine bow which was made by Vishwakarma. He also gave two inexhaustible quivers with arrows to both Shri Ram and Lakshman along with a powerful arrow called the Vaishnavastra to Lord Ram and a divine sword to Lakshman.
Rishi Agastya was the perfect guide knowing the future when he suggested that Panchavati would be a suitable palce for Lord Ram to spend his rest of the exile time, as he knew that Lord Ram’s real mission of eliminating the evil forces would start from Shoorpanakha. Rishi Agastya came in aid of Lord Ram during the war with Raavan by teaching Lord Ram the Aditya Hrudayam hymn, an invocation of Surya Bhagwan which helped Lord Ram gain energy mentally and physically in the long strenuous war with Raavan and win over him.
Just as Lord Ram mentioned that his mission was successful because of the support of many, it is indeed true that the contribution of Rishi Agastya was the most vital one to Lord Ram. Rishi Agastya was a Guru, guide and a mentor who strongly supported the mission of Lord Ram in the protection of Dharma which was the life motto of the noble revered sage.
Guest Editor : Yashwant Bhargav