Agasthyaasramamu

Oneday Rama asked Sutheeshna that he came to know that Agasthya mahamuni was living in the same forest.He would like to see him.He asked him if he would tell him the way to Agasthyaasramam.Sutheeshna was very happy to answer him.Indeed ,he himself was thinking of suggesting Rama to go and Visit Agasthya mahaamuni.If they went south for four yojanas,they would come across Agasthyamahamunis brothers aasramam.It would be pleasant there.Rama can stay there over night and proceed southwards for another yojana ,he would come across Agasthyaasramam.If they really wanted to see the rishi,they had to start moving then itself.Rama,Seetha and Lakshmana took leave of him and proceeded. They reached the abode of Agasthya mahamunis brother.It was really pleasant.Agasthya was very powerful.He won over deathby his penance.Rama was telling Lakshmana that Agasthya made the southern part of the forest congenial for sages to live.Once upon a time ,there lived two demons named Ilvaludu and Vaathaapi.They were brothers.THey used to kill bRAHMINS AND EAT THEM.They were clever.They used to appear as Brahmins and go to sages .They would say in sanskrit that rites for the dead should be done.Vaathaapi would become a goat.Ilvaludu would kill him and cook it for Brahmins.After the brahmins eat after the rites are completed ,he would call Vaathaapi to come out.Vaathaapi would come out from the bodies of brahmins making the sounds of a goat.Then the would eat the brahmins. One day they called Agasthya muni on similar pretext.Ilvaludu called Vaathaapi to come out.Then Agasthya muni laughed and said that he could digest Vaathaapi.He was dead and he went to hell.Ilvaludu got angry went to kill Agasthyamuni,but he killed the demon with his serious looks and burned him.While talking like ,it was dusk.They observed sandhyavandanam and entered sages abode.They stayed that night there.They took leave of the sage and left for Agasthyaasramam.Even wild animals there were calm.Demons were afraid to come that side.So southern side is called Agasthya dikku.Vindhya mountains were growing to halt the sun rays.On Agasthyas directions ,it stopped growing.He was good man for the good people,So if they meet him,it would do good to them.They can happily complete their term in the forest by staying here.Those who tell lies or incompetent person can not live here.Agasthyas effect is so much.Even devathas come here toserve him.Rishis come here and do penance and go to heaven with new bodies.Rama asked Lakshmana to go and inform them of their arrival.Lakshmana did as was told by his brother.One of the disciples went and informed the sage of the arrival of Rama,Seetha and Lakshmana.Agasthya mahamuni was very happy to hear the news.He said he too was waiting to meet Rama these days.He asked him to allow them fast.Rama,Seetha and Lakshmana entered the abode of Agasthya.Proper places were allocated for Brahma,Agni,Vishnu,indra,soorya and chandra.Besides these,Sreesthaanamu,kubera sthaanamu,dhaathru sthaanamu,vidhaathru sthaanamu,Vaayu sthaanamu,seshasthaanamu,ananthasthaanamu,gaayathree sthaanamu,vasu sthaanamu,varuna sthaanamu,kumaaraswaami sthaanaqmu,dharmasthaanamu were also prepared.Agasthya mahamuni came to meet them and accepted their reverence.Agasthya told Rama that if a sage does not look after his guests,he had to eat his own meet in hell as if he had given wrong judgement.He accepted the greatness of Rama. He showed him vishnu devuni bow,which was made by Viswakarma.Another was brahma datthamu.It was very special.Arrows ,ie akshyabaana thuneeramu was gifted by Devendra.Famous sword was also gifted by Devendra.Agasthya requested to accept all those weapons to kill the demons.SreeRama accepted them. Agasthya praised Seetha.She was tired.She was very delicate.Still due to love for Rama she followed Rama into the woods.All women were not like that.From the start of the universe their behaviour is different.They love their husbands if they are in good position.They leave him if he is in troubles.Their nature is like that.They have the fickle mindedness of lightning,hardness of weaponsand speed of air. Rama was happy that the sage like their behaviour and nature.He revealed his wish that if the sage shoed them convenient place,they too would make asramam and live there. Agasthya mahamuni thought for a minute and told him that in the distance of two yojanas there was a place called Panchavati.It was a convenient place for them.There they could find fruits,tubers,animals ,water facility and the place was congenial for living.Rama could easily complete his term there and go back to Ayodhya and rule it . Rama made his father proud by his behaviour.Agasthya could know what had happened by his powers.It was a good move for them to go to Panchavati.It was abeautiful place.Seetha would happily and live and enjoy there and play.It was neare to theri aasramam.It was not crowded.Rama can protect the sages of that area.He told them to west wards and clim a hillock.From there they could spot Panchavati.There the trees were always blooming.