Srividhya and Agasthiyar’s Spiritual prowess

Long ago, at one time, Mount Vindhyachala was continually growing in size due to taunting comments by the Sage Narada. So as to temper the vanity of the mountains, the revered Vedic Sage Agastya and his family travelled to South India, via the Mount Vindhyachal. On their way, when the Vindhyas saw Maharishi Agastya, he bowed with respect and reverence, upon which Sage Agastya, jokingly asked if he would stay bowed and subdued with respect until the sage returned. The Vindhyas were truly benevolent and promised to not grow until the seer's return from the South. Looking at the beautiful sceneries sage Agasthiyar stayed in the central middle part of INDIA. With this Saptarishi’s presence and good deeds, the southern part was flourishing well. As time passes by, and as years rolled on, the age of Kali, “Kaliyugam” started.

People were very egoistic, selfish and began to fight with each other for trivial things. Hunger, draught , diseases prevailed everywhere. Maharishi Agasthiyar felt disturbed and disappointed looking at people’s behavior and attitude towards their own

camaraderie. Sage Agasthiyar went across all locations crossing forests, rivers, streams, city, rural areas et all., finding the same crooked behavior and attitude among people. Being a sane and Maharishi, he did not complain on people’s attitude rather started praying for their well being and prosperity towards Lord Vishnu, the God of Giver.

Lord Vishnu was very happy with Agasthiyar’s spiritual deed and prowess and decided to give him, his requested boon. As we all know, Lord Vishnu is famous for his Maya (play). He took an incarnation with horse faced human body with 4 hands. This horse faced Lord Vishnu is famely known as Lord Hayagreevar. The whole world was illuminated with his genesis as Lord Hayagreevar.

Saptarishi sage, Maharishi Agasthiyar asked Lord Hayagreevar,

“What is the way for Mukthi for these people in Kaliyugam?”

Lord Hayagreevar smilingly said “Maharishi!! Lord Brahma, Lord Shiva and Maharishi Durvasar also asked the same question. You are so kind, generous and magnanimous towards the world being. So, may you be the GURU for all in the world and its only through you, the world is going to know the way for Mukthi”.

He continued, “Continuous prayers, rituals and forgoing karma can make one attain God status. This will be tough for all human beings to practice and follow. Hence, the easiest way is to have Bhakthi towards Goddess Srividhya!!!

Thinking about Srividhya, the great SriRajarajeswari and does not go beyond the generic rules of Varnaasramam, will lead one to Mukthi. Mere thought of Srividhya will release us from affinity towards worldly things and lead us to Mukthi!!”

“Lord Brahma, devathas and other Maharishi received all power, intelligence and brilliance by praying the supreme Goddess Srividhya, Sri matha Sri Rajarajeswari. This is the only way to attain prosperity and Mukthi at the same time” says the horse faced Lord Hayagreevar.

Lord Hayagreevar further continued, “Happy to give you this boon for your devotion and appeal. Let the human beings, Maharishis, Devathas, Sithars get this knowledge from you and attain Mukthi.”

The great rishi Agasthiyar, was very delighted and seeked Lord Hayagreevar’s blessings and requested the horse faced God to tell him about Srividhya’s first form.

Lord Hayagreevar smilingly said, “For Srividhya, there is no birth and no death. She has every form and no form. She is the Knowledge and the way to Knowledge. She is everywhere and she is nowhere. However, as requested by Lord Brahma, took her first form Prakruthi, the nature”.