Name profile

Agastya

An ancient Sanskrit name borne by the revered Vedic sage Agastya.

OriginSanskrit

Meaning and history

Agastya is an ancient Sanskrit name best known from the revered sage Agastya. He appears in Vedic and later Hindu literature, is credited with hymns of the Rigveda, and holds particular importance in South Indian traditions. The name's literal etymology is debated, so explanations such as “mover of mountains” are better understood through later legend and wordplay. Its clearest defining fact is its long religious and literary history.