Etymology and nomenclature thumb|Sage Agastya in seated posture. This sculpture is from Angkor period, Cambodia, . Several different etymologies have been suggested for "Agastya". One theory states that the root is Aj or Anj, which connotes "brighten, effulgent one" and links Agastya to "one who brightens" in darkness, and Agastya is traditionally the Indian name for Canopus, the second most brilliantly shining star found in skies in the Indian sub-continent, next to Sirius. A third theory links it to Indo-European origins, through the Iranian word gasta which means "sin, foul", and a-gasta would mean "not sin, not foul".Edwin Bryant and Laurie Patton (2005), The Indo-Aryan Controversy, Routledge, , pages 252–253 The fourth theory, based on folk etymology in verse 2.11 of the Ramayana states that Agastya is from aga (unmoving or mountain) and gam (move), and together these roots connote "one who is mover-of-mountains", or "mover-of-the-unmoving". The word is also written as Agasti and Agathiyar.
Etymology and nomenclature thumb|Sage Agastya in seated posture This sculpture is from Angkor period Cambodia  Several different etymologies have been suggested for "Agastya" One theory states that the root is Aj or Anj which connotes "brighten effulgent one" and links Agastya to "one who brightens" in darkness and Agastya is traditionally the Indian name for Canopus the second most brilliantly shining star found in skies in the Indian sub-continent next to Sirius A third theory links it to Indo-European origins through the Iranian word gasta which means "sin foul" and a-gasta would mean "not sin not foul"Edwin Bryant and Laurie Patton (2005) The Indo-Aryan Controversy Routledge  pages 252–253 The fourth theory based on folk etymology in verse 211 of the Ramayana states that Agastya is from aga (unmoving or mountain) and gam (move) and together these roots connote "one who is mover-of-mountains" or "mover-of-the-unmoving" The word is also written as Agasti and Agathiyar