Knowledge Bank

Is Agastya muni mentioned in Ramayana?

In the Balakanda of Valmiki Ramayana it is mentioned that Tataka became a rakshasi due to the curse of Agastya rishi. Yuddhakanda talks about Agastya giving upadesha of Aditya-hridaya-stotra to Lord Rama when he was fatigued in the battle to rejuvenate and motivate him. Uttara Ramayana also mentions a Gandharva offering a golden bangle to Agastya as penance and Agastya giving Lord Rama a special arrow which would pierce the enemy, come out from the other side, take bath in the sea, and come back to the quiver.

Why God created the world?

Upanishads say - एकाकी न रमते स द्वितीयमैच्छत्। एकोऽयं बहु स्यां प्रजायेय. God was by Himself, alone and felt that being alone wasn't fulfilling. So, He wished for company and decided to create the world. To make it happen, He multiplied Himself and became everything around us. This act of creation was God’s way of bringing diversity and life into existence. This explanation reminds us that the world and everything in it are expressions of God’s desire for companionship and joy. It also signifies the oneness of all beings, as we all come from the same divine source.