Editing Agastya (section)

===Vedas===
Agastya is mentioned in all the four Vedas of [[Hinduism]], and is a character in the [[Brahmana]]s, [[Aranyaka]]s, [[Upanishad]]s, epics, and many [[Purana]]s.{{sfn|Dalal|2014|pp=187,376}} He is the author of hymns 1.165 to 1.191 of the ''Rigveda'' (~1200 BCE).<ref name="Doniger1981p167"/>{{sfn|Jamison|Brereton|2014|pp=1674–1675}} He ran a Vedic school (''gurukul''), as evidenced by hymn 1.179 of the ''Rigveda'' which credits its author to be his wife Lopamudra and his students.{{sfn|Dalal|2014|pp=187,376}} He was a respected sage in the Vedic era, as many other hymns of the ''Rigveda'' composed by other sages refer to Agastya. The hymns composed by Agastya are known for verbal play and similes, puzzles and puns, and striking imagery embedded within his spiritual message.{{sfn|Jamison|Brereton|2014|pp=359–360}}

{{Quote box
| quote = '''Agastya vedic verses'''
<poem>
With thee, O Indra, are most bounteous riches
that further every one who lives uprightly.
Now may these Maruts show us loving-kindness,
Gods who of old were ever prompt to help us.
    —''1.169.5'',
    ''Transl: Ralph T.H. Griffith''<ref>Ralph T.H. Griffith, [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Rig_Veda/Mandala_1/Hymn_169 Rigveda], Mandala 1, Hymn 169, Wikisource; Sanskrit [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/ऋग्वेद:_सूक्तं_१.१६९ original]: त्वे राय इन्द्र तोशतमाः प्रणेतारः कस्य चिदृतायोः । ते षु णो मरुतो मृळयन्तु ये स्मा पुरा गातूयन्तीव देवाः ॥५॥</ref>

May we know refreshment,
and a community having lively waters.
    —''1.165.15'', ''1.166.15'', ''1.167.11'', etc. 
    ''Transl: Stephanie Jamison, Joel Brereton'';{{sfn|Jamison|Brereton|2014|pp=359–360}} 
</poem>
| source = —''Rigveda''
 |bgcolor=#FFE0BB
 |align  = right
}}

His Vedic poetry is particularly notable for two themes.{{sfn|Jamison|Brereton|2014|pp=359–360}} In one set of hymns, Agastya describes a conflict between two armies led by gods Indra and Maruts, which scholars such as [[G. S. Ghurye]] have interpreted as an allegory of a conflict between Arya (Indra) and Dasa (Rudra).<ref name="tamil"/><ref>{{cite book|author=Govind Sadashiv Ghurye|title=Indian Acculturation: Agastya and Skanda|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HLMtAAAAMAAJ|year=1977|publisher=Popular Prakashan|pages=19–20}}</ref> Agastya successfully reconciles their conflict, makes an offering wherein he prays for understanding and loving-kindness between the two. Twenty one out of the twenty seven hymns he composed in Mandala 1 of the ''Rigveda'' have his signature ending, wherein he appeals, "may each community know refreshment (food) and lively waters".{{sfn|Jamison|Brereton|2014|pp=359–360}} These ideas have led him to be considered as a protector of both the Arya and the Dasa.<ref name=sharma135>{{cite book| author=Arvind Sharma| title=Classical Hindu Thought: An Introduction| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=gDmUToaeMJ0C&pg=PA135 |year=2000 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-564441-8| page=135}}</ref> However, some scholars interpret the same hymns to be an allegory for any two conflicting ideologies or lifestyles, because Agastya never uses the words Arya or Dasa, and only uses the phrase ''ubhau varnav'' (literally, "both colors").<ref name="tamil"/><ref>{{cite book|author=G.C. Pande|title=Foundations of Indian Culture, Volume 2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VMf-isGALqQC&pg=PA184|year=1990|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0712-9|pages=184–186}}</ref>{{sfn|Zvelebil|1992|p=239}} The theme and idea of "mutual understanding" as a means for lasting reconciliation, along with Agastya's name, reappears in section 1.2.2 of the ''Aitareya Aranyaka'' of Hinduism.<ref>Max Muller, [https://archive.org/stream/upanishads01ml#page/170/mode/2up Aitareya Aranyaka], ''The Upanishads: Part I'', Oxford University Press, page 170</ref>

The second theme, famous in the literature of Hinduism, is a discussion between his wife Lopamudra and him about the human tension between the monastic solitary pursuit of spirituality, versus the responsibility of a householder's life and raising a family. Agastya argues that there are many ways to happiness and liberation, while Lopamudra presents her arguments about the nature of life, time and the possibility of both. She successfully seduces Agastya, in the simile filled Rigvedic hymn 1.179.{{sfn|Jamison|Brereton|2014|pp=359–360}}{{sfn|Patton|2014|pp=27–30}}

Agastya is mentioned in both the oldest and the youngest layers of the ''Rigveda'' ({{circa|1500}}–1200 BCE), such as in hymn 33 of mandala 7, which is older than mandala 1.{{sfn|Patton|1996|p=413}} He is also mentioned in the other three Vedas and the [[Vedanga]] literature such as in verses 5.13–14 of the ''[[Nirukta]]''.{{sfn|Dalal|2014|pp=187,376}}{{sfn|Patton|1996|p=413}} Agastya and his ideas are cited in numerous other Vedic texts, such as section 7.5.5 of ''Taittiriya Samhita'', 10.11 of ''Kathaka Samhita'', 2.1 of ''Maitrayani Samhita'', 5.16 of ''Aitareya Brahmana'', 2.7.11 of ''Taittiriya Brahmana'', and 21.14 of ''Pancavimsati Brahmana''.{{sfn|Daniélou|1991|pp=322–323 with footnotes 5 and 6}}