Ancient Indian Historical Tradition c26.2

c26.2

The family of the Viśvāmitras was founded by the great Viśvāmitra, and the story about him has been narrated above (p. 205). His brahmanhood was disputed by the great Devarāj Vasiṣṭha, and he succeeded in establishing it, with the result that he held a position independent of all other brahmans, and so founded an independent brahman family, the only separate brahman family founded by a kṣatriya.⁵ His position has been fixed above (p. 152). The various Viśvāmitras who will be noticed are however often confused, and sometimes regarded as one and the same person,⁶ with the result that no allusions occur which can well suggest names to distinguish them. An account of Viśvāmitra and his sons is given by four Puranas⁷ and the texts should be collated. Lists of the gotras are also given by various authorities and will be noticed.