Once Agastya, the great sage, went to heaven. There he found his dead ancestors hanging upside down, which meant they would be going to hell. They said, "It was because of you that we are going to hell. You have not married and have no children who will continue our family. There will be no one to make prayer offerings on our behalf and therefore, we have to go to hell." Agastya said that he would go to earth and get married. But no woman was worthy of marrying such a great sage.

At that time, the king of Vidarbha was performing yajnas for the birth of a child in his family. Agastya went and blessed him and eventually a daughter was born in the royal family. The king named her Lopamudra.

Lopamudra grew up to be a beautiful woman, worthy enough to be married to Agastya. Agastya married Lopamudra and saved his ancestors from going to hell.