Chapter 16 - The Glory of Agasti Tīrtha: The Story of Kakṣīvān

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Note: This Agasti-Tīrtha is to the north-east of Rameswaram.

Sūta said:

1. After taking the holy bath in the Kuṇḍa of Hanumān, which is resorted to by Rudra himself, (the pilgrim) with great concentration and purity shall, O eminent Brāhmaṇas, go to Agasti Tīrtha.

2-5. This Tīrtha was created by the Pot-born Sage himself.

Formerly there was a quarrel between Meru and Vindhya mountains.^[1] At that time, Vindhya grew up and obstructed (by covering) the entire expanse of the universe. All the living beings became suffocated and unable to breathe. Devas went to Kailāsa and intimated it to Śaṃbhu. At that time, the Lord was eager to marry Pārvatī. He sent Vasiṣṭha and other sages to request for the hand of Pārvatī (on his behalf); Then he commanded Agastya saying, “O Pot-born One, restrain the Vindhya mountain.”

6-8. Then the Pot-born Sage said to the Pināka-bearing Lord: “O Lord, how is it possible for me not to see you in your marriage apparel and pose?”

On being requested thus, Śaṃbhu spoke to the Pot-born One again: “O Pot-born One, accompanied by Pārvatī, I shall reveal unto you, my marriage apparel and pose in the highly meritorious holy spot Vedāraṇya. There is no doubt about it. Therefore, O great sage, go quickly to restrain (the growth of) the Vindhya mountain.”

9-13. On being told thus, Agastya restrained the Vindhya mountain. Merely by setting his foot on it he reduced it to the level of the plain ground. He traversed the Southern territories and went to Gandhamādana. Having known the glory of Gandhamādana, the great sage created a Tīrtha of great merit named after him. Even now the Pot-born Sage is present there in the company of Lopāmudrā. If one takes the holy bath there and drinks the water, one shall never have rebirth. O Brāhmaṇas, a Tīrtha, bestower of worldly pleasures and salvation and on a par with it, has never existed in all the three divisions of time (past, present and future) in this world. It bestows everything desired by men, due to the power of holy bath in the Tīrtha.

14. Due to the power of holy bath therein, the son of Sudīrghatamas named Kakṣīvān^[2] obtained Manoramā, the daughter of Svanaya, as his wife.

15. This story of Kakṣīvān is meritorious and destructive of sins. I shall recount that story to you all. O eminent sages, listen.

16. These is an extremely virtuous sage named Dīrghatamas. He had a famous son named Kakṣīvān.

17. After being invested with the sacred thread, Kakṣīvān led the life of a celibate religious student. He conquered all his senses and passions. For the study of the Vedas, he stayed in the abode of a preceptor.

18. Staying in the home of Udaṅka, the son of Dīrghatamas learned all the four Vedas along with their ancillary subjects and the six Śāstras (systems of philosophy).

19-20. He learned Itihāsas, Purāṇas and Upaniṣads. Kakṣīvān thus stayed with his preceptor for sixty years. Desirous of returning to his own abode, O Brāhmaṇas, he gave the fee to the preceptor. The learned Kakṣīvān, the most excellent one among those who knew Brahman, spoke to his preceptor:

Kakṣīvān said:

21. I shall go home, O great sage. Permit me. O Udaṅka, look at me with your merciful glance and save me now.

On being addressed thus, Udaṅka spoke to Kakṣīvān:

Udaṅka said:

22-27. O Kakṣīvān, I permit you. Go home. I shall tell you the means for your marriage. O dear one, listen. Go to Rāmasetu (and) the Gandhamādana mountain. There is a Tīrtha there made by Agastya. It fulfils all desires. It yields worldly pleasures and salvation to men. It is destructive of all sins. Take your holy bath in it which is the means of achievement of all auspiciousness. Stay there for three years, strictly adhering to the holy observances and good behaviour. After three years have passed by, in the course of the fourth year, a certain elephant will come out of that excellent Tīrtha. He will have a huge body and four tusks. He will have the refulgence of an autumnal cloud. After taking your holy bath, mount that elephant resembling a mountain.

28-33. O dear one, riding on that elephant, go to the city of Svanaya. On seeing you seated on an elephant that has four tusks, sitting like another Indra, the saintly and intelligent King Svanaya will have his eyes brightened due to delight. He shall certainly get rid of his anxiety over his daughter.

Formerly his daughter Manoramā had made this solemn declaration: “My husband shall be that person who comes here riding on an elephant that has a huge body and four tusks and is white in colour all over its body.” On hearing that declaration of his daughter, the king had become excessively agitated in his mind. He pondered over it continuously. While Svanaya was thus anxious, Nārada came there. On seeing the sage arrived, that exceedingly virtuous and saintly king joyously welcomed him and worshipped him with Pādya, Arghya, etc.

34. After bowing down to Nārada, the king spoke these words: ‘This daughter of mine, O celestial sage, has taken this vow previously:

35. ‘My husband shall be that person who comes here riding on an elephant that has a huge body and four tusks. It must be white in colour all over its body.’

36. A huge-bodied elephant, white in colour all over its body, having four tusks may exist in the abode of Indra, but it does not exist on the earth.

37. In her childishness, this girl has already made this declaration which is very difficult to fulfil. It is this vow that continuously worries me very much.

38. Indeed an unmarried daughter shall always cause grief to her father.”

On hearing these words of his, Nārada spoke to Svanaya:

Nārada said:

39-40. Do not feel sad, O saintly king. Ere long she will have a husband of this sort on the earth itself. He will be an excellent Brāhmaṇa well-known as Kakṣīvān. He shall be your son-in-law.

After saying this, Sage Nārada went along the aerial path.

41. Ever since he heard the words spoken by Nārada, Svanaya began to expect such an arrival day and night.

42. Hence, O gentle, highly fortunate Kakṣīvān, O young ascetic, go quickly to Agastyatīrtha now itself in order to take your holy bath.

43-44. You will achieve all auspicious results.

There is no doubt about it.

On being told thus by Udaṅka, Kakṣīvān, the prominent Brāhmaṇa who had been permitted by his preceptor, went to Gandhamādana. After reaching Agastyatīrtha he who had subdued his passions took his bath there.

45. The eminent sage observed sacred fast in the holy spot for a day. The next day, he took his holy bath once again and performed the Pāraṇā rite (breaking the fast).

46-49. Kakṣīvān who was engaged in holy rites slept there itself during the night. As Sage Kakṣīvān continued his observance thus, a period of three years short by one day passed off. At the end of the three years, on that very day the sage offered the Sandhyā prayers at dusk and then slept soundly on its banks. When there remained only three hours (a yāma) in the night, a loud sound rose up. It was comparable to the tumultuous rumbling sound of the waves of the ocean at the time of the final deluge. On account of that loud sound, Kakṣīvān woke up.

50. Then the powerful king named Svanaya who was the king of Madhurā and was interested in hunting, came there along with his followers.

51-52. He killed elephants, lions, boars, buffaloes and deer. That king killed other animals too with arrows.

The king who was very much fond of hunting, was accompanied by his ministers and soldiers. He was equipped with chariots, horses and elephants. He reached the vicinity of Agastyatīrtha.

53. The king was fatigued after a great deal of hunting. Surrounded by the tired soldiers, the king sat on the ground bordering that Tīrtha.

54-56. When the day dawned brightly, the excellent sage Kakṣīvān took his holy bath in Agastyatīrtha and performed the Sandhyā prayers of the morning. Strictly adhering to the observances and repeating the Mantras, he sat on its bank.

In the meantime an elephant came up from the excellent Tīrtha. He had a huge body and four tusks. He appeared to be an embodied form of mount Kailāsa. Coming up from the Tīrtha he approached Kakṣīvān.

57. On seeing that elephant marked by all the characteristics mentioned by Udaṅka arrived, Kakṣīvān took the holy bath in order to mount him.

58. He bowed down to that Tīrtha and praised it repeatedly. Then Kakṣīvān mounted the great elephant with four tusks.

59. After mounting the elephant with four tusks, that resembled a silver mountain, Kakṣīvān desired to go to the city of Svanaya.

60. On seeing him riding on the excellent white elephant with four tusks, the king came to the conclusion that it must be Kakṣīvān.

61. With his heart extremely delighted, the king came near him. After approaching Kakṣīvān, the king spoke these words:

Svanaya said:

62. O Brāhmaṇa, whose son are you? What is your name? Tell me. Where do you wish to go, riding on this elephant?

On being asked by Svanaya thus, Kakṣīvān spoke these words:

Kakṣīvān said:

63-66. I am the son of Dīrghatamas, well-known as Kakṣīvān. I am going to the city of the saintly King Svanaya. I wish to marry his daughter Manoramā. I am seated on an elephant with four tusks in order to fulfil her declared vow. Then, O king, I will take hold of the hand of (i.e. marry) the daughter of Svanaya.

On hearing his statement which was like a shower of nectar to his ears, Svanaya became delighted. His eyes beamed with pleasure. Then Svanaya spoke these words:

Svanaya said:

67-69. O Kakṣīvān, I am satisfied. My task is fulfilled. I am that very Svanaya whose daughter Manoramā you wish to marry. Welcome to you, O excellent sage, O Kakṣīvān, O young ascetic, accept my daughter Manoramā. Perform the holy rites along with her. Carry on your householder’s life.

On being told thus by the king, Kakṣīvān who was alert in observance of holy rites, spoke to the delighted King Svanaya, the resident of the city of Madhurā:

Kakṣīvān said:

70-75. O lord, my father named Dīrghatamas is engaged in penance in Vedāraṇya. He is gentle. He is devoted to holy observances and good conduct. Send a Brāhmaṇa to him (to invite him), O king.

On being told thus, King Svanaya became delighted in his mind. With a big army he sent his priest, a Brāhmaṇa named Sudarśana, to the place Vedāraṇya.

Commanded by King Svanaya, Sudarśana went to Vedāraṇya with a great army.

There, in his hut, the priest saw Dīrghatamas, the sage sitting in meditation. He was performing penance and meditating on the lord of Vedāraṇya. He was engaged in the Japa of the excellent Mantra.

76. Sudarśana made obeisance to that sage. Delighting the sage Dīrghatamas, he spoke thus:

Sudarśana said:

77-78. I hope you are quite well, O Brāhmaṇa, and your penance goes on increasing. I hope everyone in the hermitage is happy. I trust you are happy in performing holy rites. Tell me.

On being enquired thus by Sudarśana, sage Dīrghatamas said to Sudarśana after duly honouring him with Arghya, etc.:

Dīrghatamas said:

79-84. I am happy in every respect, O Brāhmaṇa, O Sudarśana of great intelligence. Thanks to the favour of the Lord of Vedāraṇya. I have nothing inauspicious anywhere. I hope you are also happy, O Brāhmaṇa. I hope you had a happy journey. O Sudarśana, what may be the purpose of your visit to my hermitage? Indeed you are the priest of Svanaya. You are the most excellent one among those conversant with the Vedas. Why did you leave that great king, the resident of Madhurāpura, and come here with a great army?

On being asked thus by Dīrghatamas, Sudarśana then spoke to the noble-souled sage of burning refulgence:

“O Brāhmaṇa, thanks to your kindness, I am always happy in every respect. O holy lord, King Svanaya prostrates in front of you and tells you these humble words through me. Listen.

Svanaya said:

85. O Brāhmaṇa, your son Kakṣīvān is now present on the Gandhamādana mountain. He is engaged in taking holy bath in the Tīrtha of Agastya.

86-87. I have come to know that these qualities of him are of the highest order: good features, power of penance, holy rites, good conduct conforming to the injunctions of the Vedas, mastery of the Vedas and scriptures, and nobility of birth. O sage, I wish to give my daughter Manoramā in marriage to your son.

88. O tiger among sages, enthusiastically engaged in hunting, I have come to the Gandhamādana mountain. I now stay near your son.

89. O excellent sage, your son Kakṣīvān says that without his father’s consent he would not marry my daughter.

90. I have now sent Sudarśana along with my army to your presence. Bless me to give my daughter to him (your son) because she is already emotionally attached to him.

Sudarśana said:

91. O holy sage, the king has thus sent me to your presence. So, kindly permit the king to do what he wishes to do.

Śrī Sūta said:

92. After saying this, the priest of Svanaya ceased (to speak). Thereupon, Dīrghatamas said to the priest of Svanaya:

Dīrghatamas said:

93-97. O Sudarśana, let it be as said by Svanaya. This auspicious wedding has my approval. O Brāhmaṇa, I am coming to the Gandhamādana mountain.

After saying this, O Brāhmaṇas, the great sage Dīrghatamas, bowed down to the Lord of Vedāraṇya with great devotion in his mind. Accompanied by Sudarśana, he set out for Setu. Within six days the sage reached the meritorious Gandhamādana. After going to the banks of Agastyatīrtha, Sage Dīrghatamas saw his son Kakṣīvān in front of him. On seeing his father, Kakṣīvān bowed down to him uttering his own name.

98-100. Then Yogī Dīrghatamas placed his son on his lap. He sniffed his head with affection. He embraced him with great horripilation of joy. Then Sage Dīrghatamas enquired after his well-being: “O Kakṣīvān, have you learned all the Vedas? O dear one, have you read all the scriptures? O dear boy, tell me everything.” On being asked thus by his own father he told him everything.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Agastya seems to be the first explorer of Peninsular India to the south of Vindhya. Purāṇas called it ‘subjugation of the Vindhya’. The story is found in Mbh, Vana 104.12-13. At the time of Rāma, he was already settled in Daṇḍakāraṇya (VR 1.1-42).

But he finally seems to have settled in the South near the source of the river Tāmraparṇī where a mount is named after him as ‘Agastya Kūṭa’ in Tinnevilly (De 2).

But Vedāraṇya where Śiva promised to manifest himself in his marriage (vv. 6-8), is near Tanjore, five miles from the point Calimere (De 28).

[2]:

This Kakṣīvān is different from the sage of the same name in Mbh, Śānti 208.27-28. That Kakṣīvān was the son of Aṅgiras and was a famous spiritually powerful sage. This was the legitimate son of Sudīrghatamas. There is a third Kakṣīvān born of Dīrghatamas from a slave girl of Bali (PI 296-297). The author has used a famous old name to describe the glory of this Tīrtha.