Editing Bhrigu

{{EngvarB|date=April 2015}}
{{Short description|Legendary Hindu sage}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2015}}
{{Infobox deity
| image = Maharishi Bhrighuji.jpg
| affiliation = [[Saptarishi]]
| type = Hindu
| alt = Bhrigu
| caption = A painting depicting Bhṛgu
| father = [[Brahma]]
| spouse = [[Kavyamata]], [[Puloma]], [[Khyati]], Divyadevi, and Paulami
| children = * [[Shukra]] (from Kavyamata)
* [[Chyavana]] (from Puloma)
* Dhata, Vidhata, and [[Bhargavi]] (from Khyati)
* Tvashta (from Divyadevi)
* Richika (from Paulami)
}}
{{Hinduphilosophy}} 
'''Bhrigu''' ({{langx|sa|भृगु}}, {{IAST3|Bhṛgu}}) is a [[rishi]] of Adi-rishi tradition. He is one of the seven great sages, the [[Saptarishi|Saptarshis]], and one of the many [[Prajapati]]s (the facilitators of creation) created by [[Brahma]].<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02011.htm |title=[[Mahabharata|The Mahabharata]] |chapter=Book 2: Sabha Parva: Lokapala Sabhakhayana Parva: Section XI |translator=Kisari Mohan Ganguli |translator-link=Kisari Mohan Ganguli |page=25 |quote=And Daksha, Prachetas, Pulaha, Marichi, the master Kasyapa, Bhrigu, Atri, and Vasistha and Gautama, and also Angiras, and Pulastya, Kraut, Prahlada, and Kardama, these ''Prajapatis'', and Angirasa of the Atharvan Veda, the Valikhilyas, the Marichipas; Intelligence, Space, Knowledge, Air, Heat, Water, Earth, Sound, Touch, Form, Taste, Scent; Nature, and the Modes (of Nature), and the elemental and prime causes of the world&nbsp;– all stay in that mansion beside the Lord Brahma. And Agastya of great energy, and Markandeya, of great ascetic power, and Jamadagni and Bharadvaja, and Samvarta, and Chyavana, and exalted Durvasa, and the virtuous Rishyasringa, the illustrious Sanatkumara of great ascetic merit and the preceptor in all matters affecting Yoga |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027194957/https://sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02011.htm |archive-date= Oct 27, 2023 }}</ref> He was the first compiler of predictive [[astrology]] and also the author of ''[[Bhrigu Samhita]]'', an astrological ([[Hindu astrology|jyotisha]]) classic. Bhrigu is considered a [[Mānasaputra|manasaputra]] ("mind-born son") of [[Brahma]]. The adjectival form of the name, ''[[Bhargava|Bhārgava]]'', is used to refer to the descendants and the school of Bhrigu. According to ''[[Manusmṛti|Manusmriti]]'', Bhrigu was a compatriot and companion of [[Swayambhuva Manu|Svāyambhuva Manu]], the progenitor of humanity.<ref>{{cite book|title=India through the ages|url=https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada|last=Gopal|first=Madan|year= 1990| page= [https://archive.org/details/indiathroughages00mada/page/78 78]|editor=K.S. Gautam|publisher=Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India}}</ref> Along with Manu, Bhrigu made important contributions to the ''Manusmṛti'', which was constituted out of a sermon to a congregation of saints in the state of [[Brahmavarta]], after the great floods in this area.<ref>A.V. Sankran, ''Saraswati – the ancient river lost in the desert'', Current Science, 1997, Vol. 72, pages 160–61</ref> As per the ''[[Skanda Purana]]'', Bhrigu migrated to Bhrigukaccha, modern [[Bharuch]], on the banks of the [[Narmada]] river in [[Gujarat]], leaving his son [[Chyavana]] at [[Dhosi Hill]].

According to ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'', he was married to [[Khyati]], one of the nine daughters of Prajāpati [[Kardama]]. She was the mother of [[Lakshmi]] as [[Bhargavi]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AB4UEQAAQBAJ&q=Bhargavi|title=7 Secrets Of The Goddess|isbn=9789395073073|last1=Pattanaik|first1=Devdutt|date=16 August 2023|publisher=Westland}}</ref> They also had two sons named Dhata and Vidhata. He had one more son with [[Kavyamata]], who is better known than Bhrigu himself – [[Shukra]], learned sage and [[guru]] of the [[asuras]]. The sage [[Chyavana]] is also said to be his son with [[Puloma]], as is the folk hero [[Mrikanda]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Vishnu Purana a System of Hindu Mythology and Tradition Translated from the Original Sanskrit, and Illustrated by Notes Derived Chiefly from Other Puranas by the Late H.H. Wilson: 1|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_rf3DwwYP40UC|year=1864|publisher=Trubner|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_rf3DwwYP40UC/page/n301 152]–}}</ref> [Maha:1.5] One of his descendants was sage [[Jamadagni]], who in turn was the father of sage [[Parashurama]], considered an [[avatar]] of [[Vishnu]].<ref name="Kapoor2004">{{cite book|author=Subodh Kapoor|title=A Dictionary of Hinduism: Including Its Mythology, Religion, History, Literature, and Pantheon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HJ6O8nwsFWgC&pg=PA185|year=2004|publisher=Cosmo Publications|isbn=978-81-7755-874-6|pages=185–}}</ref><ref name="Williams2003">{{cite book|author=George Mason Williams|title=Handbook of Hindu Mythology|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9791576071068|url-access=registration|year=2003|publisher=[[ABC-CLIO]]|isbn=978-1-57607-106-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9791576071068/page/160 160]–161}}</ref><ref name="BonnefoyDoniger1993">{{cite book|author1=Yves Bonnefoy|author2=Wendy Doniger|title=Asian Mythologies|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r4I-FsZCzJEC&pg=PA83|year=1993|publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]]|isbn=978-0-226-06456-7|pages=82–83}}</ref>

==Legends==
Bhṛgu is mentioned in the ''[[Shiva Purana]]'' and the ''[[Vayu Purana]]'', where he is shown present during the great ''[[yajna]]'' of [[Daksha]] (his father-in-law).<ref>[http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/vp/vp043.htm Vishnu Purana] SACRIFICE OF DAKSHA (From the [[Vayu Purana]].) The ''Vishnu Purana'', translated by [[Horace Hayman Wilson]], 1840. 67:6.</ref> He supports the continuation of the [[Daksha yajna]] even after being warned that without an offering for [[Shiva]], it was asking for a catastrophe for everyone present there. As a result, Veerbhadra tore off Bhrigu's beard and moustache in front of everyone. In the [[Taittiriya Upanishad|''Tattiriya Upanishad'']], he is described to have had a conversation with his father Varuni on [[Brahman]].

In the ''[[Bhagavad Gītā|Bhagavad Gita]]'', [[Krishna]] says that among sages, Bhrigu is the representative of the opulence of [[God in Hinduism|God]].<ref>[http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-10-23.html Bhagavad Gītā&nbsp;– Chapter 10 Verse 25]</ref>

=== Testing the Trimurti ===
The ''[[Bhagavata Purana]]'' describes a legend in which sages gathered at the bank of the river [[Sarasvati River|Sarasvati]] to participate in a great ''yajna''. The gathered sages could not decide who among the [[Trimurti]] (supreme trinity) of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva was pre-eminent and should be the recipient of the ''yajna''. They deputed Bhrigu to determine this answer.{{sfn|Satish|2014}}

Upon being entrusted with the task, Bhṛgu decided to test each of the Trimurti. He first visited Brahma at [[Brahmaloka|Satyaloka]], and to test his patience, he refused to sing in his praise or prostrate before him. Brahma grew angry, but realised that his son was testing him and allowed him to pass. Bhṛgu left for [[Mount Kailash|Kailasha]], the abode of Shiva. Upon seeing the sage, Shiva rose to his feet and moved forward with great joy to embrace the sage. Bhṛgu, however, refused the embrace, and tested him by calling the deity a maligner of social conventions and rituals. Shiva was infuriated and prepared to strike the sage with his [[Triśūla|trident]], but was calmed by his consort, [[Parvati]]. The sage then asked Shiva for forgiveness and received his blessings and travelled to Vishnu's abode [[Vaikuntha]].{{sfn|Satish|2014}} Vishnu was resting his head on the lap of [[Lakshmi]] when the sage arrived. Bhṛgu kicked Vishnu on the chest to wake him up, enraged by the perceived insult. Vishnu woke up, greeted Bhṛgu, and starts massaging his feet, regarding his chest to have been sanctified due to its contact with the sage's foot. Overpowered with emotion, Bhṛgu went back to the sages and declared [[Vishnu]] to be the greatest among the Trimurti.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Tapasyananda |first=Swami |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q-yBDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT743 |title=Srimad Bhagavata Volume – 3 |publisher=Sri Ramakrishna Math(vedantabooks.org) |pages=743 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Coulter |first1=Charles Russell |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VWxekbhM1yEC&pg=PT228 |title=Encyclopedia of Ancient Deities |last2=Turner |first2=Patricia |date=2013-07-04 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-96397-2 |pages=228 |language=en}}</ref>  

According to some traditions, Vishnu's consort [[Lakshmi]] grew angry at him because the chest was considered as Lakshmi's place (''vakshasthala'') and left Vaikuntha to be born on earth. She was found on a lotus flower, and was raised by Bhrigu and his wife Khyati, which is why another name of Lakshmi is Bhargavi, daughter of Bhṛgu. Since she was found on a lotus, she is also called Padmavati.{{sfn|Satish|2014}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pattanaik |first=Devdutt |date=2020-11-13 |title=Bhrigu: The Father of Fortune |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bhrigu-the-father-of-fortune/articleshow/79213947.cms |access-date=2024-07-05 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Walker |first=Benjamin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6zj3DwAAQBAJ&dq=Bhrigu+sage&pg=PA151 |title=Hindu World: An Encyclopedic Survey of Hinduism. In Two Volumes. Volume I A-L |date=2019-04-09 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-429-62465-0 |language=en}}</ref> 

A variation of this is the legend behind [[Tirupati]], in which a furious Lakshmi is born as Padmavati on earth and Vishnu assumes the form of [[Srinivasa]] and [[Venkateswara]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dalal |first=Roshen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DH0vmD8ghdMC&pg=PA453 |title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide |date=2010 |publisher=Penguin Books India |isbn=978-0-14-341421-6 |pages=453 |language=en}}</ref>

==Associated sites ==
Bhrigu is regarded to have had his [[āśrama|ashram]] (hermitage) on the Vadhusar River, a tributary of the [[Drishadvati river|Drishadwati River]] near [[Dhosi Hill]] in the state of [[Brahmavarta]],<ref>Mahabharta, Van Parv, page 1308, Geeta Press, Gorakhpur</ref> presently on the border of [[Haryana]] and the [[Jhunjhunu]] district of [[Rajasthan]] in [[India]].<ref>Sudhir Bhargava, "Location of Brahmavarta and Drishadwati river is important to find earliest alignment of Saraswati river" Seminar, Saraswati river-a perspective, Nov. 20–22, 2009, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, organised by: Saraswati Nadi Shodh Sansthan, Haryana, Seminar Report: pages 114–117</ref><ref>Padampuran</ref> 

His son Chyavana, known for [[Chyavanprash]] also had his āśrama at Dhosi Hill. Bhṛgu is also worshipped at [[Bharuch]], [[Swamimalai]], [[Tirumala]], [[Ballia]], [[Nanguneri]], [[Thiruneermalai]], and [[Mannargudi]].

An āśrama for Bhṛgu is in Maruderi, [[Chengalpattu]] district in Tamil Nadu. [[Khedbrahma]] in Gujarat is associated with Brahma and Bhṛgu's legend of testing the Trimurti. Lastly, Bhṛgu migrated to Bhuinj [[Satara (city)|Satara]], [[Maharashtra]] where he took [[Samadhi]]. His āśrama and his [[Lakshmi|daughter]]'s temple also situated there. His [[Chyavana|son]]'s āśrama and samadhi are also situated on Chyavaneshwar hill near Bhuinj.

== Literature ==
=== ''Upanishads'' ===
In [[Taittiriya Upanishad|Tattiriya Upanishad]], first six anuvakas of Bhrigu Valli are called ''Bhargavi Varuni Vidya'', which means "the knowledge Bhrigu got from (his father) Varuni". It is in these anuvakas that sage Varuni advises Bhrigu with one of the oft-cited definition of Brahman, as "that from which beings originate, through which they live, and in which they re-enter after death, explore that because that is Brahman".<ref name=pauldeussen311>Paul Deussen, Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Volume 1, Motilal Banarsidass, {{ISBN|978-8120814684}}, pages 241-246</ref> This thematic, all encompassing, eternal nature of reality and existence develops as the basis for Bhrigu's emphasis on introspection and inwardization, to help peel off the outer husks of knowledge, in order to reach and realize the innermost kernel of spiritual self-knowledge.<ref name=pauldeussen311/>

=== ''Bhrigu Samhita'' ===
Bhrigu decided to write his famous books of astrology, the ''[[Bhrigu Samhita]]''. Bhrigu collected birth charts, wrote full-life predictions, and compiled them together as ''Bhrigu Samhita''. ''Bhrigu Samhita'' is believed to be one of the first book of its kind in the field of [[astrology]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Koʻmarhanʻ |first1=Mranʻ mā Nuiṅʻ ṅaṃ Samuiṅʻʺ |title=Myanmar Historical Commission conference proceedings |publisher=Myanmar Historical Commission, Golden Jubilee Publication Committee |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nWtuAAAAMAAJ&q=first+astrological+treatise+brighu |access-date=12 August 2018|year=2005 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Experts |first1=Disha |title=The History Compendium for IAS Prelims General Studies CSAT Paper 1, UPSC & State PSC |date=1 May 2017 |publisher=Disha Publication |isbn=978-9386323446 |edition= Second |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OLctDwAAQBAJ&q=maharishi+bhrigu+during+the+vedic&pg=PA56}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Rao |first1=T.M. |title=Bhrigu Samhita |publisher=Pustak Mahal |isbn=978-8122310214 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7pNxr9blvjgC&q=it+is+confirmed+fact+that+saint+bhrigu+was&pg=PT9 |access-date=12 August 2018|year=2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Eyzdagird |first1=Erhiem |title=Bhrigu Samhita: el Primer Libro de Astrología Védica: Traducción Al Español de Manuscritos de Hojas Del período Védico |publisher=Independently Published |isbn=978-1980573210 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2HsJtwEACAAJ&q=bhrigu+samhita |access-date=12 August 2018|date=16 March 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Lane |first1=David |title=The World's Oldest Astrological Book: The Bhrigu Samhita of Ancient India |date=18 March 2011 |publisher=MSAC Philosophy Group }}</ref>

== Lineage ==
The lineage of Bhrigu includes [[Shukra]], [[Chyavana]], [[Aurva]], Richika, [[Jamadagni]], [[Parashurama]], [[Bhargava]], [[Balai]], and [[Dadhichi]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Arya |first=Vedveer |date=2022-10-03 |title=A Genealogical Account of Bhrigu Gotra from Saptarshis |url=https://www.myindiamyglory.com/2022/10/03/a-genealogical-account-of-bhrigu-gotra-from-saptarshis/ |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=myIndiamyGlory |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pravase |title=Saptarishi Seven Sages Who Guided Humanity, Saptarshi {{!}} Pravase |url=https://pravase.co.in/gyan-detail/82/saptarshi-seven-sages-sanatan-dharma-vedic-time |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=pravase.co.in |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Bhalla |first=Prem P. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DN4xDwAAQBAJ |title=ABC of Hinduism |publisher=Educreation Publishing |language=en}}</ref>

=== Shukra ===
Shukra, son of Bhṛgu, is considered to be a Daitya-Guru, teacher of the [[Asura|Asuras]]. Shukra learned the mṛtyu sañjivini [[Vidya (philosophy)|vidya]] from Lord [[Shiva]], with which he could revive the dead and grant them immortality.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Shah |first=Saket |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PvnHDwAAQBAJ |title=Planet Venus Secrets: Vedic Astrology |date=2020-01-05 |publisher=Saket Shah |language=en}}</ref> Additionally, Shukra is also known the planet [[Venus]] in astronomical terms.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Blavatsky |first=H. P. |title=The secret doctrine: The synthesis of science, religion, and philosophy |date=2014 |publisher=Theosophical University Press |isbn=978-1-55700-228-0 |edition=Unabridged verbatim |location=Pasadena, California}}</ref>

=== Chyavana ===
Once, while Puloma was pregnant with Chyavana, Bhṛgu had gone for a bath. While he was gone, an asura who was also named Puloma came to Bhrigu's āśrama in the form of a boar and kidnapped, or carried away, Bhṛgu's wife. Because of this, Bhṛgu's wife had a miscarriage. Despite being prematurely born, the infant was radiating light like the sun, which burned the asura into ashes. Later, when Puloma went back to Bhrigu with her prematurely-born yet miraculous child, Bhṛgu asked her how the asura had come to know of the location of the āśrama. She revealed that it was [[Agni]] who had told the asura Puloma about their whereabouts. Angered, Bhṛgu cursed Agni that he would consume all that came in his way.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HkUQYvw2HGkC |title=Vyasa's Mahabharatam |date=2008 |publisher=Academic Publishers |isbn=978-81-89781-68-2 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Aurva ===
Aurva was the son of Chyavana and his wife [[Aarushi]] (daughter of Manu).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Parmeshwaranand |first=Swami |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6F0ZIBIL2ZAC |title=Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Puranas |date=2001 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=978-81-7625-226-3 |language=en}}</ref>

After King Krutavirya's death, his sons invaded the Bhargava rishis' ashrams to get their wealth. Since the [[Kshatriya|Kshatriyas]] were hunting them down, the rishis had to leave their ashrams. Among the fleers was Aarushi, who was pregnant at that time. In order to protect her unborn child, she hid her garbha (womb) in her thigh as she fled. The Kshatriyas, however, found out about this and caught her. As she was getting captured, her thigh broke and a child came out. The child was radiating immensely, and his light blinded the Kshatriya kings. The kings realized their mistakes and asked for forgiveness. The child, who was Aurva, returned their eyesight, however, his strong hatred towards the Kshatriyas remained even as he grew older. Aurva began to perform austerities to bring justice to his ancestors ([[Pitrs|pitrus]]) for how the Kshatriya kings had treated them, and the rigorousness of his austerities caused the world to start burning down. Frightened by the destruction caused by Aurva's intense austerities, Aurva's pitrus appeared before him, and pleaded him to withdraw the fire, force it into the ocean, and stop his austerities to prevent further damage.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RiuRBQAAQBAJ&q=bhrigu+trimurti&pg=PT113|title=Tales of Gods in Hindu Mythology|isbn=9781482827996|last1=Satish|first1=V.|date=10 October 2014|publisher=Partridge Publishing Singapore }}
{{Rishis of Hindu mythology}}

[[Category:Rishis]]
[[Category:Prajapatis]]
[[Category:Hindu astrologers]]