Agastya was a great Hindu sage who is believed to have lived 5,000 years ago in south India. Better known as Agathiyar in Tamil, the sage is regarded as the Father of the Tamil Language.
Agastya was one of 18 celebrated Shaiva siddhas (skillful persons) who is said to have migrated from north India to the south for teaching Vedic religion. His name is found in the Mahabharata, Ramayana and the Puranas.
