 However, in medieval era stories of the Tamil tradition, Agastya pioneered the first "sangam" period that lasted 4,440 years, and took part in the second "sangam" period that lasted another 3,700 years.The "Tirumantiram" describes Agastya as an ascetic sage, who came from the north and settled in the southern Pothigai mountains because Shiva asked him to.He is described as the one who perfected and loved both Sanskrit and Tamil languages, amassing knowledge in both, thus becoming a symbol of integration, harmony and learning, instead of being opposed to either.