Epic Mythology c8.4

c8.4

§ 121. Bhṛgu is the greatest Maharṣi (6, 34, 25). He heads the list of Bhṛgus, Aṅgirasas, Vāsiṣṭhas, and Kāśyapas (3, 115, 2); and composes a Śāstra which differs philosophically from the one ascribed to Manu (12, 182 to 192), deriving fire and wind from water, while Manu derives water from light and light from wind. Bhṛgu teaches here that the earth is water solidified by the action of wind, which came from water. Wind here is not a god, but sun and moon are limited gods who can "see no farther than their own light". Bhṛgu was born from Fire, Pāvaka, at Varuṇa's sacrifice, though fathered by Brahman, whose breast he cleaves. He is father of Śukra Kavi (whose son he is in 13, 85, 133) and of Cyavana (by Pulomā), and thus grandfather of Pramati and ancestor of Aurva (named ūruṁ bhittvā, 1, 179, 8), the son of Āruṣī, daughter of Manu (1, 5, 13 f.; ib. 8, 1 f.; 66, 41). Aurva burned the sight of those descendants of Kṛtavīrya who stole the Bhṛgus' hoarded wealth (1, 178, 15 f.). He was father of Ṛcīka, the father of Jamadagni, and destroyed Tālajaṅgha (1, 66, 46 and 49; 13, 154, 11). Bhṛgu cursed Agni to "eat all things" (9, 47, 21); he cursed Himavat to lose its gems, because H. gave Umā to Rudra (12, 340, 62); and he cursed Viṣṇu, for beheading his wife Pulomā, who favored the demons, to be born as man and lose his wife (R 1, 25, 21; ib. 7, 51, 2, told by "Durvāsas, son of Atri"). When Vasiṣṭha cursed Nimi to lose his body, Bhṛgu kept him alive as nimeṣa (wink), Nimi being of Atri's race, son of Dattātreya (13, 91, 7 f.; he was king of Mithilā: āsīd rājā Nimir nāma, R 7, 55, 4 f.). A different genealogy is found in the story of Vītahavya, who attacked Divodāsa and changed his caste (tyājito jātim, 13, 30, 56 and 66). He became priest through Bhṛgu's lying statement that "only priests" were in his asylum (cf. AV. 5, 18, 10). Vītahavya's son is the Viprarṣi Gṛtsamada, about whom "there is a revelation in the Ṛg-Veda" (see AB. 5, 2, 4). He was fair as Indra and was attacked by the fiends in consequence. Gṛtsamada was first of his line born in the priesthood, vipratvam, as his father was a Kṣattriya who "got priesthood" (13, 30, 61 f.). Though a friend of Indra, Gṛtsamada worshipped Mahādeva; he was turned into a deer (13, 18, 19 f.). Bhṛgutuṅga preserves the name of the ancestral abode (1, 75, 57, etc.). He is ancestor of Ruru and Śunaka.