page_title: Lopamudra
hierarchical_section_title: Lopamudra
caption_attribution_description: English: Agathiyar Lopamudra in maravakadu near mannargudi
context_page_description: Lopamudra also known as Kaushitaki and Varaprada was a female philosopher according to ancient Vedic Indian literature. She was the wife of the sage Agastya who is believed to have lived in the Rigveda period as many hymns have been attributed as her contribution to this Veda. She was not only the consort of Agastya but a Rishiki in her own right, as she was the well known rishiki who visualized the "Panchadasi" mantra of the Sakta tradition of Hinduism. She was one of the prominent Brahmavadini.
  There are three versions of Lopamudra' legend; one is in the Rigveda Hymns; the second is in the epic Mahabharata, where there is an elaborate version with a mention that Agastya Rishi did penance at Gangadwara, with the help of his wife, Lopamudra. According to legend, Lopamudra was created by sage Agastya with the most graceful parts of animals such as eyes of the deer etc.; and the third version is Giridhara Ramayana.
  The name Lopamudra signifies the loss that the animals and plants suffered by giving their distinctive beauties when Agastya created her. After creating her, Agastya gave Lopamudra to the King of Vidarbha who was doing penance seeking for a progeny.
context_section_description: Lopamudra (Sanskrit: लोपामुद्रा) also known as Kaushitaki and Varaprada  was a female philosopher according to ancient Vedic Indian literature. She was the wife of the sage Agastya who is believed to have lived in the Rigveda period (1950 BC-1100 BC) as many hymns have been attributed as her contribution to this Veda. She was not only the consort of Agastya but a Rishiki in her own right, as she was the well known rishiki who visualized the "Panchadasi" mantra of the Sakta tradition of Hinduism. She was one of the prominent Brahmavadini. 
  There are three versions of Lopamudra' legend; one is in the Rigveda Hymns; the second is in the epic Mahabharata (Vanaparva: Tirtha-yatra Parva), where there is an elaborate version with a mention that Agastya Rishi did penance at Gangadwara (Haridwar), with the help of his wife, Lopamudra (the princess of Vidarbha). According to legend, Lopamudra was created by sage Agastya with the most graceful parts of animals such as eyes of the deer etc.; and the third version is Giridhara Ramayana.
  The name Lopamudra signifies the loss (lopa) that the animals and plants suffered by giving their distinctive beauties (mudra's) when Agastya created her. After creating her, Agastya gave Lopamudra to the King of Vidarbha who was doing penance seeking for a progeny. Agastya had created Lopamudra with the intention of marrying her. The king brought up Lopamudra as his daughter. When she grew up, Agastya demanded her hand in marriage. Lopamudra agreed to marry him and left the King's palace for his hermitage. However, after some time, she grew tired of Agastya's austerity. She wrote hymn in the Rigveda, asking for his attention and love. The hymn made Agastya realize his duties towards his wife. The couple had a son named Dridhasyu, who became a poet.
  Together with her husband she is also credited with spreading the fame of the Lalita sahasranama (the thousand names of the Divine Mother). It is also believed that Agastya learnt the hymns of Lalitha Sahasranama from Hayagriva who is an avatar of Lord Vishnu.
caption: Agastya and Lopāmudrā
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