Story of Bhṛgu

General.

A sage, the son of Brahmā. He was the founder of Bhṛgu vaṃśa. Members of the Bhṛgu vaṃśa are called 'Bhārgavas.' Bhṛguvaṃśa has been reputed for many of its members who were Ṛṣis of great sanctity and grandeur.

Birth.

"utsaṃgād nārado jajñe dakṣo 'ṃguṣṭhāt svayaṃbhuvaḥ / prāṇādvasiṣṭhaḥ saṃjāto bhṛgustvacaḥ karātkratuḥ"*

From these lines we see that Bhṛgu was born from Brahmā’s skin (tvak). But in Mahābhārata Ādi Parva, 5th Chapter, we find another version regarding his birth. In that passage we read that Bhṛgu was born from "Vahni" (fire). In the light of these two statements, we may examine Bhṛgu’s birth.

Bhṛgu had two incarnations. The first time he was born from Brahmā’s skin. In course of time, the sage Bhṛgu became famous. In the Dakṣayāga, this sage was present as one of the Ṛtviks (officiating priests). On that occasion, Satīdevī who was in rage and grief because her husband (Śiva) was not invited to the yāga, committed suicide by jumping into the sacrificial fire. Hearing about this, Śiva was enraged and the monster spirits who emerged from his matted locks caught hold of the Ṛtviks. Bhāgavata caturtha skandha says that the Bhūta named Nandīśvara, who emerged from Śiva’s locks, caught hold of Bhṛgu and killed him.

Therefore the Bhṛgu who was born from Brahmā’s skin must be considered as having died at Dakṣayāga. Bhṛgu was born again in Vaivasvata Manvantara. This second birth was at the famous Brahmayajña of Varuṇa. He was reborn from fire, as Brahmā’s son. This child who was born from Brahmā’s semen which fell in the sacrificial fire, was brought up by Varuṇa and his wife Carṣaṇī. Consequently Bhṛgu is referred to as "Varuṇaputra" and "Carṣaṇīputra" in some Purāṇas. Since he was born at Varuṇa’s yāga he is sometimes called "Vāruṇī Bhṛgu".

Bhṛgu Vaṃśa. (Bhṛgu family).

Each birth of Bhṛgu gave rise to a separate family. They are given below separately:—First birth: Bhṛgu and his wife Khyāti had a daughter Lakṣmī and three sons, Dhātā, Vidhātā and Kavi. Mahāmeru’s daughters, Āyati and Niyati became the wives of Dhātā and Vidhātā, respectively. Two sons, Prāṇa and Mṛkaṇḍu were born to those two couples. Mārkaṇḍeya was born to Mṛkaṇḍu and from Mārkaṇḍeya was born Vedaśiras. Prāṇa had a son, Dyutimān who had a son Rājavān. From that Rājavān, Bhṛgu Vaṃśa multiplied. The family tree of this first Bhṛgu Vaṃśa is given below:—(See Viṣṇu purāṇa, Part I, Chapter 10).

BRAHMĀ

Bhṛgu Khyāti

Dhātā = Āyati Vidhātā = Niyati Kavi Lakṣmī = Viṣṇu

Prāṇa Mṛkaṇḍu

Dyutimān Mārkaṇḍeya

Rājavān Vedaśiras

Second Birth: The second Bhṛgu Vaṃśa is the family which took its origin from the second birth of Bhṛgu as the son of Varuṇa. Varuṇa’s son, Bhṛgu married the woman, Pulomā. They had six children who were, Bhūta, Cyavana, Vajraśīrṣa, Śuci, Śukra, and Savana. By his first wife Bhūtā, he had his sons, "Ekādaśa Rudras" (eleven Rudras) and "Rudra Pārṣadas" (Attendants of Rudra) and by his second wife Sarūpā he had a crore of Rudras. Cyavana had two wives, Sukanyā and Āruṣi. Aurva, a son was born to Āruṣi. From Aurva was born Ṛcīka, from Ṛcīka Jamadagni and from Jamadagni, Paraśurāma. Cyavana had a son, Pravati, by his wife Sukanyā. Ruru or Śunaka was the son of Pravati by the Apsarā Ghṛtācī. Ruru and his wife Pramadvarā had a son, Śaunaka. Śuka, the son of Bhṛgu had two sons, Caṇḍa and Alarka and a daughter, Devayānī. This is the second Bhṛgu Vaṃśa.** The family tree is given below.

Varuṇa=Carṣaṇī

Vāruṇi Bhṛgu—Pulomā

Bhūta=Bhūtā=Sarūpā Vajraśīrṣa Śuci Śukra Savana.

Sukanyā—Cyavana—Āruṣi

Ekādaśa

Rudras Koṭi Aurva Caṇḍa Alarka Devayānī

Rudra Rudras Ghṛtācī—Pravati

Pāṛṣadas Ṛcīka

Pramadvarā = Ruru Jamadagni (Śunaka)

Paraśurāma

Śaunaka

Bhṛgu cursed Mahāviṣṇu.

Once a terrible war broke out between Devas and Asuras. In that war, not only were the Asuras defeated but many of them were also killed. Diti, the mother of the Asuras, with tears in her eyes, complained to Bhṛgupati. Pulomā, Mother of Śukra, promised to find a remedy for this somehow. She at once went to the forest and started a tapas for the annihilation of the Devas. As the tapas gained force, the Devas were alarmed and they sought the protection of Mahāviṣṇu. Mahāviṣṇu used his Vajrāyudha (Vajra weapon) against Bhṛgu’s wife, Pulomā. Under the stroke of Vajra she fell down, a headless corpse. The enraged Maharṣi Bhṛgu cursed Mahāviṣṇu to be born as a mortal in this world and to suffer the pangs of separation from his wife. When the curse was pronounced against Mahāviṣṇu, he directed his weapon Cakra against the Maharṣi. Bhṛgu fied in panic and at last begged pardon and prayed for shelter to Mahāviṣṇu himself in the ocean of milk. Viṣṇu withdrew his Cakra. Bhṛgu himself restored Pulomā to life. To fulfil the condition of Bhṛgu’s curse, Viṣṇu agreed to incarnate in the world as Śrī Rāma, the son of Daśaratha and to experience the pain of separation from his wife. (Uttara Rāmāyaṇa).

Bhṛgu kicked Viṣṇu.

Long ago all the Maharṣis joined together to perform a yāga on the bank of the river Sarasvatī. A dispute arose among them as to who was the most mighty among the Trimūrtis. Some of them voted for Brahmā, others declared that Viṣṇu was more mighty than the other two, while a third group stood for Śiva’s superiority. They unanimously elected Bhṛgu to ascertain and find out the truth of the matter.

Bhṛgu set out to Devaloka. First he went to Brahmā’s assembly. There, in the presence of Brahmā who was seated in the midst of many Munis, Bhṛgu took his seat on a stool. Brahmā was provoked by this act of disrespect. Bhṛgu left the place without a word and went to Śiva’s place. Śiva rose from his seat and approached him to embrace and welcome him. Bhṛgu, shrank back saying, "Do not touch me?" Śiva became angry and was about to hit him with his trident when Pārvatī stopped him.

Bhṛgu then turned his steps to Vaikuṇṭha, the abode of Mahāviṣṇu. There he saw Mahāviṣṇu in a deep slumber. Seeing Mahāviṣṇu whose task is the preservation of the world, sleeping like an irresponsible person, Bhṛgu gave him a kick on his breast. Viṣṇu who sprang up suddenly, saw Bhṛgu standing before him. He begged pardon of the sage. He declared that he would carry Bhṛgu’s footprint permanently on his chest as a sign of his repentance for having shown disrespect to the Maharṣi. This foot-print still remains on Viṣṇu’s chest and is known by the name "Śrīvatsa". In this way, the Munis came to the conclusion that Mahāviṣṇu is the noblest of the Trimūrtis. (Bhāgavata, Daśama Skandha).

The origin of Bhṛgu Tīrtha.

There is a sacred spot called, "Bhṛgu Tīrtha" on the western side of Daśāśvamedha. It is here that Bhṛgu once offered tapas to Śiva. Owing to the austerity of his tapas, his hair became matted and discoloured. His body was completely covered with earth heaped up by termites. When Śiva was still not propitiated, Pārvatī interceded with him on behalf of Bhṛgu, Śiva agreed to bless Bhṛgu.

Śiva sent his bull to the place where Bhṛgu was sitting. The bull in the course of its gambols broke up and destroyed the earthen covering on his body which was made by the termites. Bhṛgu became angry and chased the bull. But he was stunned by the sight of the bull rising up to heaven through the air. A divine light spread there. Śiva appeared before him and asked him what boon he wanted. Bhṛgu prayed that the place where he was doing tapas should become a holy spot. Śiva granted his prayer and from that day, the place became famous under the name "Bhṛgu Tīrtha". Brahmā and other Devas and the Kinnaras still worship this Bhṛgu Tīrtha. All sin is removed by a mere sight of this sacred Tīrtha. Those who bathe in the holy water of this place attain Heaven and they will not be born again. Even by hearing about the greatness and glory of this Bhṛgu Tīrtha, one will be cleared of all sins and find an easy way to Śivaloka. (Padma Purāṇa, Chapter 20).

Other details.

(1) It was Bhṛgu who gave the boon for having progeny to Sagara, King of the solar dynasty. Sagara, with his two wives, Keśinī and Sumati, performed tapas at Bhṛgu prasravaṇa in the Himālayas. After a hundred years, Bhṛgu, who was pleased, blessed the king that he would have numerous children by one wife and one son who would be progenitor of a vaṃśa, by the other wife. (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa, 38th Sarga).

(2) Once when some Munis went to Dvārakā, Sāmba and other Yādavas mocked them and the Munis cursed them. Bhṛgu was one of those Munis. (See the word Sāmba).

(3) Paraśurāma, after exterminating the Kṣatriya kings, went to the Āśrama of Bhṛgu, the founder of the family and received his blessings. (Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa, Chapter 62).

(4) Bhṛgu Maharṣi was a prominent member in Yudhiṣṭhira’s assembly. (Mahābhārata Chapter 4, Verse 16).

(5) He was also a member of Indra’s assembly. It was by Bhṛgu’s brilliance that Indra’s glory was heightened. (Mahābhārata Sabhā Parva, Chapter 7, Verse 29).

(6) Bhṛgu was a member of Brahmā’s assembly also. (Mahābhārata Sabhā Parva, Chapter 11, Verse 19).

(7) Once Bhṛgu blessed his son Ṛcīka and his daughterin-law Satyavatī that they would have children. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 116, Verse 35).

(8) Śrī Kṛṣṇa who went as the messenger of peace to Hastināpura, travelled in Dakṣiṇāvarta, along with the sage Bhṛgu. (Mahābhārata Udyoga Parva, Chapter 83, Verse 27).

(9) Bhṛgu entered the scene of battle between the Kurus and Pāṇḍavas and tried to persuade Droṇācārya to withdraw from the fight. (Mahābhārata Droṇa Parva, Chapter 190, Verse 34).

(10) Once Bhṛgu lectured on the origin of the earth, Philosophy of life, etc. (Mahābhārata Śānti Parva, Chapter 128).

(11) Bhṛgu explained to Bharadvāja how the Pañcabhūtas except the sky originated (Śānti Parva, Chapter 183).

(12) Bhṛgu discussed in a logical manner, the principle of life and the transmigration of the soul. (Śāntiparva, Chapter 187).

(13) He made a critical examination of the merits and defects of racial discrimination. (Śānti Parva, Chapter 187).

(14) Once Bhṛgu bestowed Brahminhood on a King named Vītahavya. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana. Parva, Chapter 30, Verse 57).

(15) He got the name "Bhṛgu" because he was born out of fire. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 85, Verse 105).

(16) It was Bhṛgu who gave the necessary advice to Agastya to depose Nahuṣa from Indra’s post.

(17) There is a story that Nahuṣa kicked Agastya on the head while the latter was carrying Nahuṣa’s palanquin and that Bhṛgu, who was hiding in Agasty’s locks of hair, cursed Nahuṣa and changed him into a python. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 100).

*) Nārada was born from Brahmā’s lap, Dakṣa from his Aṃguṣṭha, Vasiṣṭha from his Prāṇa, Bhṛgu from his skin and Kṛatu from his arm.

**) Devī Bhāgavata, Saptama Skandha says that Bhṛgu had married two daughters of Dakṣa. Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva Chapter 85, Verse 127 says that Bhrgu had seven sons, namely Cyavana Vajraśīla, Śuci, Aurva, Śukra, Vareṇya, and Savana.