Wedding Stories Sage Agastya

Agastya the sage, in the course of his travels, saw some of his ancestral spirits dangling head down and asked them how they had come to be in that state. They replied to him, "We are your ancestors and have undertaken this penance so you will marry and have children." When Agastya heard for his blessings. Agastya announced that the king would be the father of a beautiful daughter, who he, Agastya would marry in due course. Soon the queen gave birth to a beautiful baby girl called Lopamudra. The child grew to be a maiden of unsurpassed beauty... and Agastya came to demand her hand in marriage. The king was reluctant to give his delicate daughter to a sage leading a primitive life, but Lopamudra set his fears aside and expressed her desire to marry Agastya.

The marriage was celebrated in due course, and Lopamudra followed Agastya to the forest. Here she expressed her wishes to Agastya, "I desire that you earn in the ordinary way sufficient riches for us to live in comfort. "Agastya consented and set out to beg from various kings.

"Give me," he said,"What I seek without causing loss or injury to others. When the king presented an account of the income and expenditure of the State, Agastya found there was no balance left. This seemed to be the situation everywhere. In the end Agastya approached the wicked Asura, Ilvala.

Ilvala and his brother Vatapi had an evil plan to kill their guests. Vatapi would transform into a meal which would be served. When the feast was over, Ilvala would invoke Vatapi to come out of the guest's stomach. Vatapi would tear his way out killing the guest in due course. Many had succumbed to this trick.

But Agastya was too wily. When Ilvala called Vatapi out, Agastya gently rubbed his stomach and said, "Vatapi jeerano bhava"(O Vatapi, be digested in my stomach for the peace and good of the world.)

Ilvala realised that he had been outwitted and bowed before Agastya. He also surrendered the riches Agastya sought. Thus the sage was able to satisfy Lopamudra's desire and live happily with her henceforth.