[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Reference works](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference) › [A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879) › c5.627 # A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.627 A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.627 - **Language:** English ### [c5.627](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.627) GRITSA-MADA. The reputed \*Rishi\* of many hymns in the second Mandala of the \*Rig-veda\*. According to the Vishnu Purāna he was a Kshatriya and son of Suna-hotra, being descended from Purūravas of the Lunar race. From him sprang Saunaka, the eminent sage versed in the \*Rig-veda\* “who originated the system of four castes.” The Vāyu Purāna makes Sunaka to be the son of Gritsa-mada, and Saunaka the son of Sunaka : this seems probable. “It is related of him by Sāyana that he was first a member of the family of Angiras, being the son of Suna-hotra. He was carried off by the Asuras whilst performing a sacrifice, but was rescued by Indra, under whose authority he was henceforth designated as Gritsa-mada, the son of Sunaka or Saunaka of the race of Bhrigu. Thus the Anukramanikā says of him : He who was an Āngirasa, the son of Suna-hotra, became Saunaka of the race of Bhrigu.” According to the Mahā-bhārata, he was son of Vita-havya, a king of the Haihayas, a Kshatriya, who became a Brāhman. (\*See\* Vita-havya.) The Mahā-bhārata alludes to a legend of his having assumed the semblance of Indra, and so enabled that deity to escape from the Asuras, who were lying in wait to destroy him. There are several versions of the story, but they all agree that after Indra had escaped Gritsa-mada saved himself by reciting a hymn in which he showed that Indra was a different person. - [Previous: c5.626](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.626) - [Next: c5.628](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.628) - [Up: c5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5) ## Cites (4) - [Vāyupurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.vayu) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Mahābhārata](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit - [Ṛgvedasaṃhitā](https://indike.org/pramana/in.veda.samhita.rg) — Sanskrit - [Viṣṇupurāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.visnu) — Vyāsa, Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.627](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.reference.dowson-1879.c5.627) · Pramāṇa