Agastiyar

Agastiyar, also spelled Agathiyar or Agastya, is a revered sage in Hinduism and in the Tamil Siddha tradition. In Hindu lore he is often counted among the Sapta Rishi, the seven great sages, and he is associated with the transmission of Vedic knowledge and various sciences to southern India. The name appears in numerous legends and hymns across traditional literature, reinforcing his status as a learned and charismatic teacher.

In Tamil Siddha medicine, Agathiyar is regarded as a foundational figure who established the Siddha system of medicine. A substantial corpus of Tamil texts is attributed to him, with the most famous being the Agathiyar Gunapadam (also called Agathiyar Nool). This work is a pharmacopoeia that describes herbs, minerals, their medicinal properties, and therapeutic preparations, and it is often accompanied by guidance on diet, daily regimen, and spiritual discipline.

These texts have circulated in palm-leaf manuscripts and later printed editions, forming the core of traditional Tamil medical knowledge. Through them, Agathiyar’s name became synonymous with herbal medicine, alchemy, and holistic approaches that blend health practices with ethical and spiritual dimensions.

Historically, the figure of Agastiyar embodies a fusion of myth, religious devotion, and medical lore. Scholars typically treat him as a legendary author whose attributed writings reflect ancient Siddha and Vedic currents rather than a single verifiable biography. His legacy continues to influence religious, cultural, and medical traditions in Tamil-speaking regions.