Maha Muni Agastya was known for his mystical powers, as borne out by his very name – one who can stun Ag (Sanskrit for mountain) – see Balmiki Ramayan/Aranya Kand/Canto 11(lxxi) and the footnote to it. Once, when the Vindhyas went on rising higher and higher that even the sun got obstructed, the maharishi thundered at the mountain range to stop. And the Vindhyas just stopped growing higher, never again to obstruct the sun! Hence, the name Agastya.
The venerable Agastya was immune too to the violence of the rakshasas. Two rakshas brothers, Vatapi and Ilwal, had adopted a curious method to kill Brahmins. Ilwal went about in the guise of a brahmin to invite priests to perform the ‘shradh’ ceremony. Taking advantage of the rakshas’ ability to change forms, he made his brother Vatapi takethe form of a ‘saag’ and fed the meal to the unsuspecting brahmin. When the priest had ingested the Vatapi-infested preparation, Ilwal would call out his name loudly and Vatapi would come bursting out of the brahmin’s stomach in the form of a ram.
The Ilwal-Vatapi duo came to the great sage to perform the same trick on him as well. Agastya happily sat down to finish the noxious meal that Ilwal had served him. At the right moment, Ilwal cried out Vatapi’s name asking him to come out, but nothing happened no matter how many times he tried. Then the maha-muni smilingly told the villainous Ilwal that he had ‘digested’ his brother, that Vatapi would never appear again in the world. Ilwal invited his own death when in a fit of anger, he rushed at Agastya. The maha-muni gave him one angry look and that was the end of the cruel rakshas.
One does not just barge into the residences of the personages of Agastya’s eminence, even if one is an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. So, when Ram, Lakshman and Sita arrived at the gate of Agastya’s ashram, Lakshman informed an acolyte that ‘the Benevolent and Generous King Shri Ram, the eldest son of the well-known Raja Dashrath’ had come with his spouse Sita, to see the maharishi; and he, Lakshman, was Ram’s ‘younger brother, well-wisher and a follower’. Lakshman also added why the three of them were there. The acolyte hastened to his master with Lakshman’s message. Agastya was too happy at the prospect of meeting Ram whom he had been expecting for some time. He instructed his pupil to respectfully escort Ram along with Sita and Lakshman to his presence.
Maharishi Agastya warmly greeted his guests. He also presented Ram with divine bows, arrows and a sword for conquering rakshasas. When Ram asked him for a suitable place to spend the remaining period of his banishment, the maharishi suggested that Panchvati, some two yojans – about 25 kilometres – from his own ashram – would be an ideal place for him to set up an ashram.
Panchvati derived its name from the presence of five banyan trees. It is situated on the left bank of the Godavari river, near the present day city of Nasik in Maharashtra. In Ram’s time, the place was infested with snakes of different kinds, carnivorous beasts and other animals. Looking at the lush landscape, Ram instructed Lakshman –
“Lakshman! You cast a look at the four corners of this forest. You are adept in this work. Based on your perception take a decision on what spot the construction of an ashram will be good for us.
“Lakshman! Search out a place which is close to a water source, which the Princess of Videh, Sita may find engaging, where you and I too should be able to live happily, where both the forest and water present a pleasant view, and a place where ‘samidha’,flowers, kusha grass and water for performing yagyas are easily available.”
-Balmiki Ramayan, Aranya Kand, Canto 15(iii-v)
Lakshman, however, left it to Ram himself to choose a befitting site for the ashram. Ram, after carefully surveying the land, came to a spot which met his expectations. It was vibrant with all kinds of plants, birds and beasts. The Godavari River flowed not too near, nor too far from it. Mineral-rich mountains in the background enhanced its beauty. Ram instructed Lakshman to build the ashram on the spot. “We all will live here,” he said, “along with the King of Birds, Jatayu.” (Ram, Lakshman and Sita had met Jatayu while they were on their way to Maharishi Agastya’s ashram – see Balmiki Ramyan, Ayodhya Kand, Canto 14).
Rishi Balmiki describes how Lakshman went about the task of constructing the ‘Parnkuti- a hut of leaves –
“That ashram was built in the shape of a vast hut of leaves. The benevolent Lakshman first gathered soil and raised a wall with it, then he constructed beautiful and strong pillars in it. On the pillars he placed large bamboos slantwise. With the placing of bamboos, that hut began to look beautiful. Then he spread branches of the sacred Shami tree and tied them up firmly with strong ropes. After that he diligently topped the roof with the kusha grass, khus grass, sarkanda and leaves; and levelled the ground underneath to make the place habitable. In that way Lakshman made a residence for Shri Ram that was worth seeing.”
– Ibid, Canto 15(xxi-xxiii)
Ram was immensely pleased with Lakshman for his fruitful exertions. “Lakshman!” he exclaimed, “you are the one who instantly reads my mind. You are appreciative and mindful of your duties and responsibilities. Because of you, my pious father is not dead yet – he is alive even now in your form.”
– Ibid 15(xxix)
In the happy company of Sita and Lakshman, the pious Ram lived for some time in the Parnkuti in the same manner as live gods in the swarga-lok.
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