VP Releases Book on Sage Agatthiyar, Highlights India's Ancient Cultural Unity

Speaking about the life and legacy of Agatthiyar, Shri Radhakrishnan said the revered sage occupies a unique place in both northern and southern traditions.

Vice President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan on Monday released the book "Agatthiyar – The Unifier" at the Uprashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, describing Sage Agatthiyar as one of the strongest symbols of India's cultural and spiritual unity.

Addressing the gathering, the Vice President said that India's unity did not emerge from political arrangements or modern institutions but has been shaped over centuries through a shared civilizational heritage. He noted that sages and rishis played a far greater role in connecting different parts of the country than rulers and kingdoms often credited in history.

Agatthiyar Linked North and South India

Speaking about the life and legacy of Agatthiyar, Shri Radhakrishnan said the revered sage occupies a unique place in both northern and southern traditions. From the Himalayas in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south, Agatthiyar's influence can be seen across the country through stories, places of worship, and cultural traditions that continue to survive even today.

He pointed to Tamil Nadu's Pothigai Hills and the River Kaveri as enduring reminders of the sage's presence. Agatthiyar's contribution to Tamil grammar and the Tamil Sangam tradition was also highlighted, with the Vice President describing him as a bridge that connected different cultural streams of Bharat.

Languages Strengthen One Another

The Vice President said India's many languages should be viewed as members of the same family rather than rivals. According to him, centuries of interaction, respect, and cultural exchange have helped these languages grow together while retaining their individual strengths.

He expressed concern that scholars who devoted their lives to preserving Tamil heritage are not always remembered as they deserve. Referring to Tamil scholar U. Ve. Swaminatha Iyer, often known as Tamil Thatha, Shri Radhakrishnan said his extraordinary efforts saved priceless literary works that may otherwise have been lost forever. He added that the public needs greater awareness of such contributions.

Book Showcases Agatthiyar's Presence Across Bharat

The Vice President rejected the argument that India's unity depended on British rule, saying the country's civilization and culture had connected people across regions for thousands of years. He also cautioned against attempts to create divisions through language-based debates and urged discussions that help younger generations better understand India's cultural roots.

Highlighting the widespread influence of Agatthiyar, he noted that more than a hundred temples in Tamil Nadu are dedicated to the sage as Agatheeswarar temples. Temples bearing the same name in both Kashi and Tamil Nadu reflect the deep cultural bonds that link different regions of the country, he said.

Praising the authors, Shri O. Shama Bhat and Dr. M. N. Sudha, the Vice President said the book presents extensive research documenting traditions, references, and stories related to Agatthiyar from different parts of Bharat. He expressed confidence that the work would help introduce the sage's legacy and India's civilizational unity to readers around the world.

He also commended Kalaimagal magazine for publishing the book, noting that the publication has spent more than nine decades preserving and promoting Tamil literature, culture, and heritage.