Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Apastamba included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana�).
Story of Ā貹ٲ
An ancient sage. He once consoled King Dyumatsena. (Śǰ첹 18, Chapter 298, Vana Parva, Ѳٲ).
How he got his name.
Once a brahmin did not get a suitable man toofficiate as priest for a ś ceremony. He then prayed to his ancestors, վś𱹲 and Ѳ屹ṣṇ for help and then Ā貹ٲ appeared before him. The brahmin gave him food to his heart’s content and asked him how he felt. To the surprise of the brahmin Ā貹ٲ replied, he wanted some more and thus made the Śrāddha ineffective. The brahmin got angry and cursed him by sprinkling on his face water taken in his palm. But before the water-particles reached his face Ā貹ٲ ordered the water-drops to remain still. Water stopped stiff and still midway by the power of the sage. Because water (Āpa) became stiff (Stamba) the ṛṣi was named Ā貹ٲ. (Brahma Purāṇa).
How Ā貹ٲ īٳ came into existence.
Once he met Agastya Muni and asked him who was superior among the gods , վṣṇ and Ś. Agastya declared that Ś stood supreme of the lot and gave him advice as to how to please Ś. Following his instructions Ā貹ٲ did penance on the banks of the river Ҳܳٲī and Ś appeared before him, blessed him, and made that place a holy one. Ś declared that those who, bathed at that place would obtain 'Divyajñāna' (Divine knowledge enabling one to know the past, present and future). From then onwards that place was known as Ā貹ٲ īٳ.
Other details.
Ā貹ٲ had a very chaste and humble wife named Akṣasūtrā. Their son was Gārki. 'Gṛhyasūtrasaṃgraha' containing a prayer and two mantras is a contribution to the holy science by Ā貹ٲ. Many Hindus follow it even now. He had stated that the decrease in the number of great sages was because of the fact that people were not practising the control of the senses as before.