Agastya

 Agastya 

One of the stories about this sage, which made a very deep impression on me , is about his unintended conflict with an ascetic who did intense tapas( austerities) to acquire a great siddhi.

When traveling down south of India, Agastya became too popular and very soon among people of tamilnadu.

A local ascetic grew jealous of this popularity, overtaking his own popularity!

This ascetic decided to settle the issue of ‘who is greater, me or Agastya?’

He sought an audience with Agastya and challenged him to compete with the ascetic.

Initially, Agastya conceded defeat with all humility, being not interested in any competition.

But that ascetic won't leave it. Popularity of Agastya was unbearable 😥

Ultimately, the ascetic himself suggested a very simple and primitive siddhi as a test of greatness, thinking that ‘this fellow isn't going to win over even this👍’

That ascetic handed a sword to Agastya and asked him to slash the arm of the ascetic. Agastya refused saying “i don't indulge in such crude and gross acts of violence”

Then that acetic uses the sword on his own arm, holding the sword in the other. The sword broke!!! Ascetic’s arm withstood the blow of the sword!!!🙂

Now the ascetic asked Agastya to demonstrate the same feat. Agastya replied “🙏 I cannot inflict an injury on myself. You may do it👍…and, since I am the nuisance to you, slash the sword across my chest_itself, right to left diagonal, so that I cease to be, conclusively. The audience is witness to the event and will absolve you of any related_crime allegations “

Ascetic gave a powerful blow with the sword across Agastya. The sword passed through, smoothly without leaving any cut or injury.

Ascetic: “ 😳😳😳 “ surprised! 

Agastya: now, do it the other way “ X “ to make it doubly_sure 🙏

Still no injury! Sword unspoiled as well 😜

Agastya broke the silence: “see, the spiritual practices are about becoming more and more subtle (sookshma)and not about becoming more gross( jadam) than the steel_blade of that sword, to put up a stronger Resistance 🙏”

Needless to add, that ascetic joined the gang of devotees of Agastya 🙏

(My ‘take’ for my own personal use, nothing to do with others ….  Siddhis however super human powers they yield, do not purify the mind, by themselves. Unless there is purity( ‘innocence’ with full awareness, moksha is a distant_dream🙏. Remaining as a non_entity/नाचीज़, and yet accomplishing the minds purity, to me, is what matters most 😜. I use this story, for my personal evolvement, even if it was a fiction👍… my teacher had warned “while i will be doing my best, to plug any ‘super powers creeping into you, a few capabilities are inevitable, due to the nature of spiritual practices you do with me🙏, please exercise caution+self-restraint, in misuse or abusing them! Best option is to ignore those siddhis😌)

नाचीज़, yours,

psn( 3 June, 2026)