Agastya Mala

Agastya Mala

Agasthyarkoodam (Malayalam: അഗസ്ത്യകൂടം Tamil: அகத்தியர் மலை) (also known as Agathiyar Malai or Agasthyakoodam) is a 1,868-metre (6,129 ft) tall peak within Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghats of South India in Trivandrum and Tirunelveli Districts of South India. The mountain lies on the border between the Indian states of Kerala (in Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram district) and Tamil Nadu (in Kanyakumari district, Tirunelveli district). The perennial Thamirabarani River originates from the eastern side of this hill and flows into the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu.

Agasthyarkoodam is a pilgrimage centre for devotees of the Hindu sage Agastya, who is considered to be one of the seven rishis (Saptarishi) of Hindu Puranas.The shrine was installed under the auspices of the Chenkottukonam Madathipathi Jagadguru Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi Thiruvadikal who entered the forests with the right wing Hindu Aikya Vedi activists and his followers including those from the Kani Tribe desecrated a cross erected by Christians. The Tamil language is considered to be a boon from Agasthya. There is a full-sized statue of Agathiyar at the top of the peak and the devotees can offer pujas themselves.