भृगु
Bhrigu, one of the seven great sages, the SaptaRishis, is a ManasaPutra (wish-born-son) of Lord Brahma, created to assist in the process of creation. His father, Brahma, simply wished him into existence. Bhrigu is married to Khyati, the daughter of Daksha, and has two sons, Dhata and Vidhata, with her. According to some traditions, Laxmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu, is said to be his daughter. He also has another son, Shukra, who is more well-known than Bhrigu himself, and the sage Chyavana is believed to be his son.
Bhrigu is credited with being the father of Hindu astrology and is attributed with authoring the first astrological treatise, the Bhrigu Samhita. This treatise is said to contain over 5 million horoscopes, detailing the fate of every being in the universe. According to popular tradition, only about a hundredth of these horoscopes have survived to this age.
In a famous tale involving Bhrigu, he participated in a debate to determine who among the divine trinity, Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, is greater. He first visited Brahma and Shiva, both of whom, upon learning of his quest, sought to impress him with their power. However, when he reached Vaikunta, the abode of Vishnu, he found the god fast asleep. Despite calling out to him multiple times, Bhrigu was unable to wake him up. Angered, he kicked Vishnu on the chest, which woke the god up. Immediately, Vishnu began pressing Bhrigu’s feet, asking if he had hurt his feet in kicking his hard chest. Upon seeing the humility of the God, Bhrigu learned the answer he had been seeking for so long.
In Hindu mythology, Bhrigu is closely related to other significant entities, including:
- Shukra: Bhrigu’s son, who is better known than his father and is often referred to as Shukracharya. Shukra is a renowned astrologer and is said to have written the famous astrological text, the Mahabharata.
- Laxmi: According to some traditions, Laxmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu, is said to be Bhrigu’s daughter. Laxmi is the goddess of wealth, prosperity, and good fortune.
- Chyavana: Bhrigu’s son, who is also a sage and is said to have been born from Bhrigu’s mind. Chyavana is known for his wisdom and is often depicted as a wise and powerful sage.
- Brahma: Bhrigu’s father, who is the creator of the universe and the god of creation. Brahma is one of the three primary aspects of the Hindu trinity, along with Vishnu and Shiva.
- Vishnu: Bhrigu’s son-in-law, who is the preserver of the universe and the god of protection. Vishnu is one of the three primary aspects of the Hindu trinity, along with Brahma and Shiva.
- Shiva: Bhrigu’s son-in-law, who is the destroyer of the universe and the god of destruction. Shiva is one of the three primary aspects of the Hindu trinity, along with Brahma and Vishnu.
These entities are all significant figures in Hindu mythology and are often depicted as having important roles in the creation and maintenance of the universe.