In Hinduism, Agastya (अगस्त्य in devanagari, pronounced as /ə gəs tyə/; also transliterated as Agathiar, Agasthiar, Agastyar and in other ways) is a legendary Vedic sage or rishi. He is in some ways regarded as the patron saint of much of the south India. Some say that it was the sage Agastya who first brought and popularized the Vedic religion to south India. Agastya and his clan are also credited to have "authored" many mantras of the Rig Veda, the earliest and most revered Hindu scripture, in t ...

Including:

• Agastya - Humbling the Vindhya mountains
• Agastya - Agastya and the Tamil language
• Agastya - Agastya and Lopāmudrā
• Agastya - Legends about Agastya
• Agastya - Other facets of Agastya
• Agastya - Unity of Vishnu and Shiva
• Agastya - Agastya In Ayyavazhi
• Agastya - Certain important Stotrams

Read more here: » Agastya: Encyclopedia - Agastya

See also:

Agastya, Agastya - Humbling the Vindhya mountains, Agastya - Agastya and the Tamil language, Agastya - Agastya and Lopāmudrā, Agastya - Legends about Agastya, Agastya - Other facets of Agastya, Agastya - Unity of Vishnu and Shiva, Agastya - Agastya In Ayyavazhi, Agastya - Certain important Stotrams, Agastya - Reference

Read more here: » Agastya: Encyclopedia II - Agastya - Legends about Agastya

One story about Agastya goes that once the demons had taken refuge in the ocean and it was difficult for the gods to vanquish them, so they went to Sage Agastya for help. Then, after hearing the gods, the sage drank the entire ocean water and withheld it within him until the demons were destroyed. Agastya is said to have "dedicated" all the forest animals to the deity Rudra (later called as Shiva), hence ma ...

See also:

Agastya, Agastya - Humbling the Vindhya mountains, Agastya - Agastya and the Tamil language, Agastya - Agastya and Lopāmudrā, Agastya - Legends about Agastya, Agastya - Other facets of Agastya, Agastya - Unity of Vishnu and Shiva, Agastya - Agastya In Ayyavazhi, Agastya - Certain important Stotrams

Read more here: » Agastya: Encyclopedia II - Agastya - Legends about Agastya

Tirumula Nayanar

Tirumula Nayanar was a great Yogi in Kailas. He had all the 8 major Siddhis through the grace of Nandi, the Vahana of Lord Siva. He was a friend of Agastya Muni

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Yogis: Tirumula Nayanar

There is an interesting legend connected with Mahashivratri, the day Shiva got married a second time to Shakti, his divine consort.

Once Shiva and Sati or Shakti were returning from the ashram of sage Agastya, after listening to Ram Katha or the story of Ram.

On the way when Shiva saw Rama roaming the forest - in search of Sita who was kidnapped by Ravana - he bowed his head in reverence. A surprised Sati inquired of Shiva why he was paying obeisance to a mere mortal.

(See also: Mahashivratri, Indian Festivals, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Legend says that the Vindhya mountains that separate north and south India from each other once showed a tendency to grow so high as to obstruct the usual trajectory of the sun. This was accompanied by increasing vanity on the part of that mountain range, which demanded that Surya, the sun-God, should circum-ambulate the Vindhyas in the same way as he does Mount Meru [identified by some as being the north pole]. The need arose to subdue, ...

See also:

Agastya, Agastya - Humbling the Vindhya mountains, Agastya - Agastya and the Tamil language, Agastya - Agastya and Lopāmudrā, Agastya - Legends about Agastya, Agastya - Other facets of Agastya, Agastya - Unity of Vishnu and Shiva, Agastya - Agastya In Ayyavazhi, Agastya - Certain important Stotrams, Agastya - Reference

Read more here: » Agastya: Encyclopedia II - Agastya - Humbling the Vindhya mountains

Legend says that the Vindhya mountains that separate north and south India from each other once showed a tendency to grow so high as to obstruct the usual trajectory of the sun. This was accompanied by increasing vanity on the part of that mountain range, which demanded that Surya, the sun-God, should circum-ambulate the Vindhyas in the same way as he does Mount Meru [identified by some as being the north pole]. The need arose to subdue, ...

See also:

Agastya, Agastya - Humbling the Vindhya mountains, Agastya - Agastya and the Tamil language, Agastya - Agastya and Lopāmudrā, Agastya - Legends about Agastya, Agastya - Other facets of Agastya, Agastya - Unity of Vishnu and Shiva, Agastya - Agastya In Ayyavazhi, Agastya - Certain important Stotrams

Read more here: » Agastya: Encyclopedia II - Agastya - Humbling the Vindhya mountains

For the mountain in Tanzania, see Mount Meru, Tanzania. Mount Meru or Mount Sumeru is a sacred mountain in Hindu and Buddhist mythology considered to be the center of the universe. It is believed to be the abode of Brahma and other deities of both religions. The mountain is said to be 80,000 leagues (450,000 km) high and located in Jambudvipa, one of the continents on earth in Hindu mythology. Angkor Wat, the principal temple of Angkor in Cambodia, was built as a symbolic representation of Mount Meru. Including:

• Mount Meru Mythology - Legends
• Mount Meru Mythology - Meru Vayu and Lanka
• Mount Meru Mythology - Meru Agastya and the Vindhya mountains
• Mount Meru Mythology - Beliefs

Read more here: » Mount Meru Mythology: Encyclopedia - Mount Meru Mythology

Taraka (sometimes spelled Tataka) is the name of two characters from Hindu mythology. Taraka (1) is a male daitya, whose powers were so great that the gods grew alarmed, and Skanda, the god of war, was born in order to defeat him. Tarakā (2; note the feminine ending) is a female daitya who was punished by the sage Agastya by being turned into a rakshasa, or demon. Although Rama was reluctant to kill a woman, he did slay Taraka in battle. Taraka's son, Maricha, is involved in the later events of the Ramayana.

Read more here: » Taraka: Encyclopedia - Taraka

The Aditya Hridayam, is a hymn associated with the Sun or Surya and was recited by the great sage Agastya to Rama on the battlefield before fighting with Ravana. This historic hymn starts at the beginning of the Battle with Ravana, when Lord Rama is fatigued and getting ready to fight. The mystical hymn is dircted to the Sun God, the illustrious lord of all victories. This is included in the Ramayan written by Valmiki. Aditya Hridayam - Related Links. http://www.mypurohith.com/Ritual ...

Including:

• Aditya Hridayam - Related Links

Read more here: » Aditya Hridayam: Encyclopedia - Aditya Hridayam

Vidarbha is the north-eastern region of Maharashtra state, now forming two divisions (Nagpur and Amravati). It is comparatively backward, and demands for separate statehood within India have been raised by various political factions. The main crop is cotton. Nagpur was the capital of the Bhonsle dynasty of Marathas, who in the mid eighteenth century created a state that covered much of east-central India. After their defeat in the Third Anglo-Maratha War in 1818, the Bhonsle dominions were reduced to Nagpur division, which was ...

Including:

• Vidarbha - Mythological Importance

Read more here: » Vidarbha: Encyclopedia - Vidarbha

Agastya Malai (Agastyakoodam), a peak of 1868 m in the Western Ghats. This mountain falles in the Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts of Kerala and the Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts of Tamil Nadu, south India. It is a pilgrim centre, where devotees come to worship sage Agasthyar. Agasthyar was a Dravidian sage, and is considered to be one of the seven Rishis (Saptarishi) of Hindu mythology. The Tamil language is considered to be a boon from Agasthyar. There is a full size statue of Agasthyar at the top of the ...

Including:

• Agastyamalai - Rare Herbs and Medicinal Plants
• Agastyamalai - How to reach there
• Agastyamalai - External link

Read more here: » Agastyamalai: Encyclopedia - Agastyamalai

In Hinduism, Surya is the chief solar deity, son of Dyaus Pita or Indra. He has hair and arms of gold. His chariot is pulled by seven horses, which represent the seven colors of rainbow. Tvashtri is his son, as are the twins Yama and Yami and the Asvins (by Saranya). Another name also used in vedic astrology is Ravi. A well-known Hindu mode of worship of Surya is done at the rising (and also setting) of the Sun, known as Surya Namaskara (Sun Salutation). Twelve yogic postures are assumed in order with twelve sacred Hindu ...

Read more here: » Surya: Encyclopedia - Surya

In Hindu mythology, Vedavati is speculated to have been the spirit of Sita Devi, the wife of Rama in the epic Ramayana. Vedavati - Early Life. Vedavati is the daughter of Brahmarishi Kusadhvaja, who is the son of Brihaspati, Lord-Guru of the Devas, the Gods. Having spent his life chanting and studying the sacred Vedas, he names his daughter Vedavati, or Embodiment of the Vedas, born as the fruit of his bhakti and tapasya. Vedavati - Dedication to Vishnu. ...

Including:

• Vedavati - Early Life
• Vedavati - Dedication to Vishnu
• Vedavati - Violation and death
• Vedavati - Prophesy

Read more here: » Vedavati: Encyclopedia - Vedavati

A gotra (lit. "cow-pen" or "cow-shed" in archaic rigvedic Sanskrit) is a named family lineage or clan in India. Gotra - Origins of Gotra. The term 'gotra' is applied generally to all the lineages found in various Indian castes. In South India, gotras are also known as 'bari' (Tulu) or 'illum' (Malayalam). The names of Brahmin and highly Sanskritized non-Brahmin gotras typically are taken from great sages, however, other castes have different names for their gotras. Gotra could be one of the ancient ' ...

Including:

• Gotra - Origins of Gotra
• Gotra - Brahmin Gotras
• Gotra - Inheritance of Gotra
• Gotra - Marriages and Gotras

Read more here: » Gotra: Encyclopedia - Gotra

In Hinduism, Brahmarishi (from the Sanskrit words Brahma and Rishi) is the highest of the Rishis, the Hindu sages - one who has understood the meaning of Brahman. Brahmarshi - Order. The title of Brahmarishi was a status defined and recognized in the sacred Vedas of Vedic religion and Hinduism. A Brahmarishi is the penultimate expert of religion and spiritual knowledge. Below him are the Maharishis (Great Rishis). The Sapta Rishis created out of Brahma's thoughts ar ...

Including:

• Brahmarshi - Order
• Brahmarshi - Source and Power
• Brahmarshi - Modern Relevance

Read more here: » Brahmarshi: Encyclopedia - Brahmarshi

In Hinduism, a Rishi (ṛṣi) is a sage and/or seer who "heard" (cf. shruti) the hymns of the Vedas from the Supreme Being Brahman while he was in deep meditation. A rishi can be regarded as a combination of a patriarch, a priest, a preceptor, an author of Vedic hymns, a sage, a saint, an ascetic, ...

Read more here: » Rishi: Encyclopedia - Rishi

Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. Shaivism (also spelled Saivism, IAST Śaivism; see Sanskrit for pronunciation) is a branch of Hinduism that worships Siva as the Supreme God. Followe ...

Including:

• Shaivism - Philosophy and Worship
• Shaivism - History
• Shaivism - Features of Shaivism
• Shaivism - Within Hinduism
• Shaivism - Shaiva Upanishads

Read more here: » Shaivism: Encyclopedia - Shaivism

Awasthi is a surname / family name of a particular sub-caste of Brahmins of India. The Awasthi Brahmins belong to the kanya-kubja brahmin categories of brahmins of north india, the others being Gaur, Saryupari and sannaadhya. For last several centuries, Awasthi Brahmins have been located in and around Kanpur and Unnao (and the adjoining hinterland) located in the fertile Gangetic plains of Awadh, presently forming part of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. The geographical area, where majority of Awasthi families are presently ...

Read more here: » Awasthi: Encyclopedia - Awasthi

Lalita sahasranama is a hymn that describes the 1000 names of Devi or Lalita and praises God as the Divine Mother or God's Shakti or Power. A sahasranama is a litany of one thousand names of God or Goddess. sahasra is one thousand and nama is name. There is at least one such sahasranama for each deity in Hinduism. Lalita Sahasranama is a hymn described in the Brahmanda Purana and is one of the most sacred stotras in Hinduism. It was recited as a result of conversation between Hayagri ...

Including:

• Lalita sahasranama - Related Links

Read more here: » Lalita sahasranama: Encyclopedia - Lalita sahasranama