Sages:

◍ Association with Sri Rama: (Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sage Vasishtha acted as the kulaguru of the Ikshvaku dynasty (where Sri Rama was born).
• Sage Vasishtha and sage Rishyashringa guided the Yagnas of King Dasharatha which led to the incarnation of Sri Rama in Ayodhya.

◍ Compositions:
• Rig Vedic Mantras: Seer of Rig Vedic Mantras (Mandala 7).
• Yoga Vasishtha: Philosophical discourse between sage Vasishtha and prince Rama based on Advaita Vedanta.
• Vasishtha Samhita: Text on Yoga.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Ayodhya - Vasishtha Kund: Hermitage of sage Vasishtha.
► Ayodhya outskirts - Makhauda Dham: Place of Putrakameshti Yagna of king Dasharatha.
► Dwarka: Sage Vasishtha brought river Gomati to Dwarka.

◍ Association with Sri Rama: (Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sage Vibhandaka was the father of sage Rishyashringa who presided over the Putrakamesthi Yagna of King Dasharatha.

◍ Pilgrimages:

◍ Association with Sri Rama: (Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sage Rishyashringa presided over the Putrakamesthi Yagna of King Dasharatha which led to the incarnation of Sri Rama in Ayodhya.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Ayodhya outskirts - Makhauda Dham: Place of Putrakameshti Yagna of king Dasharatha.
► Shringverpur - Shringi Rishi Temple: Hermitage of sage Rishyashringa.

◍ Association with Sri Rama: (Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sage Vishwamitra bestowed Bala and Atibala mantras to Sri Rama (to overcome hunger and fatigue) while going through Koshala.
• Sage Vishwamitra took Sri Rama to Tataka Vanam where Rama slayed demoness Tataka.
• Sage Vishwamitra bestowed divine weapons to Sri Rama at Tataka Vanam.
• Sri Rama protected the Yagna of sage Vishwamitra at Siddhashrama.
• Sage Vishwamitra took Sri Rama to Gautama Ashrama (Mithila Upavana) where Rama delivered Devi Ahalya.
• Sage Vishwamitra took Sri Rama to Mithila where Rama heard the story of the appearance of Devi Sita.
• Sage Vishwamitra took Sri Rama to Mithila where Rama broke the bow of Lord Shiva and thereafter married Devi Sita.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Buxar - Vamaneshwar Dham: Identified with Siddhashrama which was a temporary hermitage of sage Vishwamitra.

◍ Association with Sri Rama: (Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sri Rama delivered Devi Ahalya from the curse of sage Gautama in the erstwhile Gautama Ashrama on the outskirts of Mithila.

◍ Association with Lord Shiva: (Shiva Purana) (Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya)
• Sage Gautama performed penance in the Brahmagiri Mountain meditating on Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva relieved Gautama from the false accusation of brahmanas and released river Gautami Ganga (Godavari).
• Sage Gautama told the glory of Arunachala Kshetra (Arunachala Mahatmya) to Devi Parvati before She performed penance there.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Mithila - Ahilya Asthan: Identified with the hermitage of sage Gautama.
► Nashik - Tryambakeshwar: The place where sage Gautama brought river Godavari on Earth.
► Thiruvannamalai: Told the glory of Arunachala Kshetra to Devi Parvati before She performed penance there (Pavala Kundru).

◍ Association with Sri Rama: (Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sri Rama heard the story of sage Vishwamitra from sage Shatananda in the palace of king Janaka at Mithila. (Sage Shatananda was the son of Devi Ahalya and kulaguru of king Janaka)

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Mithila - Janakpur Janaki Mandir: Identified with the palace of king Janaka.

◍ Association with Sri Rama: (Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sri Rama visited the Bharadwaja Ashrama at Prayaga during his forest exile. Sage Bharadwaja suggested Sri Rama to stay in Chitrakoota and told him the route.
• Sri Rama revisited the Bharadwaja Ashrama at Prayaga while returning from forest exile. Sage Bharadwaja extended the hospitality to Sri Rama before he returned to Ayodhya (through Nandigrama).

◍ Compositions:
• Rig Vedic Mantras: Seer of Rig Vedic Mantras (Mandala 6).
• Bharadwaja Samhita: A Pancharatra text of Vaishnavism.
• Bharadwaja Shrauta-Sutras: Sutras related to Shrauta sacrifices.
• Bharadwaja Grihya-Sutras: Sutras related to domestic ceremonies.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Prayaga - Bharadwaja Ashrama: Identified with the hermitage of sage Bharadwaja.

◍ Association with Sri Rama: (Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sage Valmiki getting divine inpiration to compose Ramayana.
• Sri Rama visited the Valmiki Ashrama while entering Chitrakoota during his forest exile. Sage Valmiki welcomed him cordially.

◍ Compositions:
• Valmiki Ramayana: Life of Sri Rama written in Sanskrit.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Chitrakoot - Valmiki Ashrama: Identified with the hermitage of sage Valmiki.

◍ Association with Sri Rama: (Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sri Rama visited the Atri-Anusuya Ashrama while leaving Chitrakoota during his forest exile. Sati Anusuya gave divine garments and ornaments to Devi Sita.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Chitrakoot - Atri-Anusuya Ashrama: Identified with the hermitage of sage Atri.

◍ Association with Sri Rama: (Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sri Rama visited the Sharabhanga Ashrama in the Dandakaranya forest during his forest exile. Sage Sharabhanga told Sri Rama to go to sage Suteekshna.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Dandakaranya - Sharbhanga Ashrama: Identified with the hermitage of sage Sharabhanga.

◍ Association with Sri Rama: (Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sri Rama visited the Suteekshna Ashrama in the Dandakaranya forest during his forest exile. Sage Suteekshna welcomed him cordially.
• Sri Rama revisited the Suteekshna Ashrama in the Dandakaranya forest during his forest exile after 10 years. Sage Suteekshna told him the way to Agastya Ashrama.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Dandakaranya - Suteekshna Ashrama: Identified with the hermitage of sage Suteekshna.

◍ Association with Sri Rama: (Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sri Rama visited the Agastya Ashrama in Dandakaranya (near Panchavati) during his forest exile. Sage Agastya bestowed divine weapons to Sri Rama and praised Devi Sita for her devotion to husband. Then sage Agastya suggested Sri Rama to stay in Panchavati.
• Seeing Sri Rama exhausted in the battlefield and Ravana appearing with renewed vigour (after removing his fatigue), sage Agastya appeared with the celestials and told Sri Rama to worship the Sun-god and chant the Aditya Hridayam stotra.

◍ Association with Lord Shiva: (Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda)
• Sage Agastya had his hermitage in Kashi and worshipped Lord Shiva there. For the work of the devas, the sage moved to the south to make the Vindhya mountain short. (Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda)

◍ Association with Devas: (Mahabharata)
• Sage Agastya eliminated demon Vatapi, the brother of demon Ilavala, both of whom conspired and devoured the Brahmanas.
• Sage Agastya liberated his ancestors by begetting a son through Lopamudra.
• Sage Agastya checking the rise of the Vindhya mountain which was obstructing the path of the Sun.
• Sage Agastya drank up the Ocean to eliminate the Kalakeya demons who used to hide inside the Ocean during the day and destroyed the Brahmanas during the night.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Kashi: Sage Agastya has his hermitage in Kashi before moving to the south to check the rise of the Vindhya mountain.
► Nashik - Ankai Agastya Ashrama: Identified with the hermitage of sage Agastya.

◍ Association with Sri Krishna: (Srimad Bhagavatam)
• Sage Garga performed the naming ceremony of Sri Krishna secretly in cow-shed of Gokula.
• Sage Garga performed the upanayana ceremony of Sri Krishna in Mathura after Kamsa was killed.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Gokul - Gokul Nand Bhavan: Identified with the house of Nanda and Yashoda where Sri Krishna grew up.
► Gokul - Mahavan Nand Bhavan: Identified with the house of Nanda and Yashoda where Sri Krishna grew up.
► Mathura - Krishna Janambhoomi: Sage Garga performed the Upanayana ceremony of Sri Krishna after Kamsa was killed.

◍ Association with Sri Krishna: (Srimad Bhagavatam)
• Sri Krishna became the disciple of sage Sandipani at his gurukula in Avanti.
• Sri Krishna returned the dead son of sage Sandipani as gurudakshina.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Avanti (Ujjain) - Sandipani Ashram (Ankapada): Identified with the hermitage of sage Sandipani at Avanti.

◍ Association with Sri Krishna: (Skanda Purana - Dwaraka Mahatmya)
• Sage Durvasa cursed Devi Rukmini in Dwarka and separated her from Sri Krishna. Thus their temples are separate in Dwarka.
• Sage Durvasa later gave boons to the devotees of Sri Krishna coming to Dwarka. Sri Krishna told sage Durvasa to abide in Dwarka.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Dwarka - Dwarkadheesh Temple: Dwarkadheesh Temple has a shrine of sage Durvasa inside it.

◍ Association with Sri Krishna: (Brahma Purana)
• Sage Markandeya saw the vision of child Krishna on a Holy Banyan Tree (Kalpa Vata) during Pralaya (final dissolution).

◍ Association with Lord Shiva: (Brahma Purana)
• Sage Markandeya saw the vision of child Krishna on a Holy Banyan Tree (Kalpa Vata) during Pralaya (final dissolution). Sage Markandeya established a Shiva temple after seeing the vision for the welfate of the world and to bring amity between the Vaishnavas and Shaivas.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Puri - Markandeshwar Temple: Markandeshwar Temple and Markandeya Sarovar was established by sage Markandeya with the blessings of Sri Krishna.

◍ Association with Lord Vishnu: (Srimad Bhagavatam)
• Sage Narada in his first birth meditated on Lord Vishnu as the Aatman in all beings as instructed by his teachers and merged into Samadhi. In his second birth in a different kalpa, sage Narada incarnated from Lord Vishnu as a sage. Refer to Narada Avatara.

◍ Association with Lord Vishnu: (Srimad Bhagavatam)
• Sage Kardama performed penance in Bindu Sarovara for a son. Lord Vishnu gave the boon to be born as his son (sage Kapila).
• Sage Kapila incarnated from Devahuti as the son of sage Kardama.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Siddhpur - Bindu Sarovar: Identified as the place of the hermitage of sage Kardama and sage Kapila.

◍ Association with Lord Vishnu: (Srimad Bhagavatam)
• Sage Kardama performed penance in Bindu Sarovara for a son. Lord Vishnu gave the boon to be born as his son (sage Kapila).
• Sage Kapila incarnated from Devahuti as the son of sage Kardama.
• Sage Kapila imparted the knowledge of Sankhya Yoga to mother Devahuti.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Siddhpur - Bindu Sarovar: Identified as the place of the hermitage of sage Kardama and sage Kapila.

◍ Association with Lord Vishnu: (Srimad Bhagvatam)
• Sage Vyasa composed the Srimad Bhagavatam describing the glories of the Incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

◍ Compositions:
• Classifying Vedas: Classifying the Vedas into Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva.
• Mahabharata: Composing Mahabharata.
• Puranas: Composing Srimad Bhagavatam and other Puranas.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Badrinath - Vyas Gufa: Identified with region of the hermitage of sage Vyasa where he composed the Srimad Bhagavatam.

◍ Association with Sri Parashurama: (Brahmanda Purana)
• Sri Parashurama was the obedient son of sage Jamadagni.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Janapav - Parashurama Temple: Identified with the place of the hermitage of sage Jamadagni.

◍ Association with Sri Parashurama: (Brahmanda Purana)
• Sri Parashurama met his grandfathers (Richika, Aurva, Cyavana and Bhrigu) visiting their respective hermitages.

◍ Pilgrimages:

◍ Association with Sri Parashurama: (Brahmanda Purana)
• Sri Parashurama met his grandfathers (Richika, Aurva, Cyavana and Bhrigu) visiting their respective hermitages.

◍ Pilgrimages:

◍ Association with Sri Parashurama: (Brahmanda Purana)
• Sri Parashurama met his grandfathers (Richika, Aurva, Cyavana and Bhrigu) visiting their respective hermitages.

◍ Pilgrimages:

◍ Association with Sri Parashurama: (Brahmanda Purana)
• Sri Parashurama met his grandfathers (Richika, Aurva, Cyavana and Bhrigu) visiting their respective hermitages.
• Sage Bhrigu sent Sri Parashurama to perform penance in the Himalayas and obtain divine weapons from Lord Shiva.
• Sage Bhrigu resuscitated sage Jamadagni when he was killed by the soldiers of king Kartavirya (to get the divine cow).

◍ Association with Lord Shiva: (Skanda Purana - Reva Khanda)
• Lord Shiva blessed sage Bhrigu for the creation of Bhrigukaccha.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Bhrigukaccha (Bharuch) - Bhrigu Temple: Bhrigukaccha was created by sage Bhrigu with the blessings of Lord Shiva.

◍ Association with Sri Rama: (Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sri Rama delivered Devi Ahalya from the curse of sage Gautama in the erstwhile Gautama Ashrama on the outskirts of Mithila.

◍ Association with Lord Shiva: (Shiva Purana) (Skanda Purana - Arunachala Mahatmya)
• Sage Gautama performed penance in the Brahmagiri Mountain meditating on Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva relieved Gautama from the false accusation of brahmanas and released river Gautami Ganga (Godavari).
• Sage Gautama told the glory of Arunachala Kshetra (Arunachala Mahatmya) to Devi Parvati before She performed penance there.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Mithila - Ahilya Asthan: Identified with the hermitage of sage Gautama.
► Nashik - Tryambakeshwar: The place where sage Gautama brought river Godavari on Earth.
► Thiruvannamalai: Told the glory of Arunachala Kshetra to Devi Parvati before She performed penance there (Pavala Kundru).

◍ Association with Sri Parashurama: (Brahmanda Purana)
• Sri Parashurama met his grandfathers (Richika, Aurva, Cyavana and Bhrigu) visiting their respective hermitages.
• Sage Bhrigu sent Sri Parashurama to perform penance in the Himalayas and obtain divine weapons from Lord Shiva.
• Sage Bhrigu resuscitated sage Jamadagni when he was killed by the soldiers of king Kartavirya (to get the divine cow).

◍ Association with Lord Shiva: (Skanda Purana - Reva Khanda)
• Lord Shiva blessed sage Bhrigu for the creation of Bhrigukaccha.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Bhrigukaccha (Bharuch) - Bhrigu Temple: Bhrigukaccha was created by sage Bhrigu with the blessings of Lord Shiva.

◍ Association with Sri Krishna: (Brahma Purana)
• Sage Markandeya saw the vision of child Krishna on a Holy Banyan Tree (Kalpa Vata) during Pralaya (final dissolution).

◍ Association with Lord Shiva: (Brahma Purana)
• Sage Markandeya saw the vision of child Krishna on a Holy Banyan Tree (Kalpa Vata) during Pralaya (final dissolution). Sage Markandeya established a Shiva temple after seeing the vision for the welfate of the world and to bring amity between the Vaishnavas and Shaivas.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Puri - Markandeshwar Temple: Markandeshwar Temple and Markandeya Sarovar was established by sage Markandeya with the blessings of Sri Krishna.

◍ Association with Sri Rama: (Valmiki Ramayana)
• Sri Rama visited the Agastya Ashrama in Dandakaranya (near Panchavati) during his forest exile. Sage Agastya bestowed divine weapons to Sri Rama and praised Devi Sita for her devotion to husband. Then sage Agastya suggested Sri Rama to stay in Panchavati.
• Seeing Sri Rama exhausted in the battlefield and Ravana appearing with renewed vigour (after removing his fatigue), sage Agastya appeared with the celestials and told Sri Rama to worship the Sun-god and chant the Aditya Hridayam stotra.

◍ Association with Lord Shiva: (Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda)
• Sage Agastya had his hermitage in Kashi and worshipped Lord Shiva there. For the work of the devas, the sage moved to the south to make the Vindhya mountain short. (Skanda Purana - Kashi Khanda)

◍ Association with Devas: (Mahabharata)
• Sage Agastya eliminated demon Vatapi, the brother of demon Ilavala, both of whom conspired and devoured the Brahmanas.
• Sage Agastya liberated his ancestors by begetting a son through Lopamudra.
• Sage Agastya checking the rise of the Vindhya mountain which was obstructing the path of the Sun.
• Sage Agastya drank up the Ocean to eliminate the Kalakeya demons who used to hide inside the Ocean during the day and destroyed the Brahmanas during the night.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Kashi: Sage Agastya has his hermitage in Kashi before moving to the south to check the rise of the Vindhya mountain.
► Nashik - Ankai Agastya Ashrama: Identified with the hermitage of sage Agastya.

◍ Association with Devas: (Mahabharata)
• Sage Dadhichi gave up his bones to the Devas to create a Vajra for slaying demon Vritra.

◍ Pilgrimages:
► Naimisharanya - Mishrik Dadhichi Ashram: Identified with the hermitage of sage Dadhichi.

◍ Association with king Janaka: (Mahabharata)
• Sage Ashtavakra defeated Bandi, a great learned argumentator in the palace of king Janaka and brought back his father Kahoda. Refer to Sage Ashtavakra.

◍ Compositions:
• Ashtavakra Gita: A famous Advaitic text which is also known as Ashtavakra Samhita.