Sage Agastya is one of the most popular sages in Hinduism.
He finds mention in the four Vedas. The first reference of Sage Agastya is
found in the Rig Veda. In it he is the son of Mana. In some texts he is
referred as the son of Vedic gods Mitra and Varuna.
Sage Agastya is also known as Mana or Manya in the Vedas.
Majority of scholars state that mother of Sage Agastya is
the apsara Urvashi.
In some texts Sage Vasishtha is mentioned as his brother.
Wife of the rishi is Lopamudra. It is stated that the Rishi
himself created Lopamudra.
From the Rig Veda it is very clear that Sage Agastya is
associated with medicines and curing. It is mentioned in the Rig Veda that he
cured the leg of Vishpala with the help of Ashwini Kumars.
Rig Vedic hymn (1.179) and (9.25) are associated with the
Sage.
Two of his shishyas or students are mentioned in the Rig
Veda – Antye and Brihatya.
It must be noted that Sage Agastya is mentioned in the
Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and in all most all Puranas.
Later stories of Sage Agastya suggest that he settled in South India .