Agastya, known as Sage Agastyar in Tamil tradition, holds a paramount position in Tamil Hindu devotional literature and religious history. His contributions span various fields, making him a revered figure not just in Tamil culture but across the broader spectrum of Hinduism. Agastya's Role in Tamil Language and Literature Agastya is often hailed as the father of the Tamil language. According to tradition, he is believed to have been divinely inspired to develop the Tamil script and grammar. The Agattiyam , a now-lost treatise attributed to him, is said to be the earliest work on Tamil grammar. This seminal work supposedly laid the foundation for Tamil literary tradition and is revered as a key text by Tamil scholars, though the original manuscript has not survived. In addition to his role in the development of the Tamil language, Agastya is also recognized as the first president of the First Tamil Sangam , an ancient academy of Tamil poets and scholars. This Sangam is believed to ...