BHRIGU SAMHITA (part one): SAGE BHRIGU

BHRIGU SAMHITA (part one): SAGE BHRIGU

V.S.Gopalakrishnan

This writing is an amateur’s attempt at understanding and presenting to readers the art of astrology as propounded by Maharishi Bhrigu. In this Part One, I shall be touching on the life and work of sage Bhrigu.

Under the Bhrigu system, the horoscope (birth/life chart) of each one of us can be accessed in which one can find mention about past lives and future lives and of course about the current life. The name of the consulting person, of his father and even the date and time of consulting are given already in the leaf. Sage Bhrigu dictated our life charts to Lord Ganesha. The original palm leaf and bark writings are mostly gone, and the life charts are now available in ancient paper, loosely and not in a book form. It is said that the Brahmins of Uttar Pradesh who had the charts ran away to Hoshiarpur, Punjab, during Aurangzeb’s persecution, since the Sikh State of Punjab could not be touched by the Moghuls. Hoshiarpur is the basic centre in India where dozens of Bhrigu astrologers practice their art, and most of them are related to one another, being the descendants of old practitioners.

I have not myself been to Hoshiarpur. The charts are available not only for Indians but for foreigners too with their names and details. Here is a short account of a European’s visit to an astrologer in Hoshiarpur in 1990 and he was awed by his experience: http://www.wandahl.com/Pages/Articles/VisitingBhriguSamhita.htm. A short video testimony of another foreigner about his incredible experience can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6gDqxJU5J8.

We may therefore have to at least partially suspend our disbelief in things other than science ! We will go into some details about the charts and predictions later on. But here, in this blog, we shall concentrate on the founder of the astonishing system of prediction.

WHO WAS BHRIGU?

Sage Bhrigu is not mentioned in the Vedas but is mentioned in the Puranas (Shiva Purana and Vayu Purana). He was not amongst the early Saptarishis (seven sages) who are mentioned in the Vedas (rather particularly in Brahmanas and Upanishad). However, Bhrigu was later given a place amongst the Saptarishis. In astronomy Bhrigu in the name of “Alkaid” is one of the seven stars of Ursa Major. He is mentioned in Bhagavad Gita where Krishna says “among the Rishis, I am Bhrigu”.

Bhrigu was surely one of the manasa-putras (mind-born-sons) born to Brahma. The Creator Brahma felt he was not fully competent to visualize and carry out the entire creation, and he felt the need for Assistants. He created those Assistants from his mind and they are called manasa-putras. Bhrigu, one of the ten manasa-putras, aided Brahma in the Creation process. The manasa-putras were also called Prajapatis.
Bhrigu married Khyati, the daughter of Daksha. He had two sons by her named Data and Vidhata. Another son was Shukra (Venus) who became more famous than his father Bhrigu. The sage Chyavana is also said to be Bhrigu’s son.

STORY OF SAGE BHRIGU AND THE DIVINE TRINITY:

There was a Maha Yagna to be performed on the bank of Saraswathi river for the welfare of the people and Rishis were assembled for the purpose. Sage Narada spoke to Maharishi Bhrigu and raised the issue of whom to invite as the Chief Guest for the Maha Yagna, amongst the Divine Trinity, namely Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Bhrigu took upon himself the task of finding out who among the Trinity was the best.

Sage Bhrigu went to Brahmalok to meet Lord Brahma. Lord Brahma was too busy to pay attention to him as he was  chanting the Vedas, saying prayers and looking at his wife Saraswathi (Brahma had more than one face). Angered by this, the short-tempered Sage Bhrigu cast a curse on Brahma by which no temples would be raised for him during the Kaliyug.

Bhrigu then went to Kailasa to meet Shiva but the latter was busy by being in dalliance with Parvathi. The angry Bhrigu cursed Shiva by stating that he would not be worshipped in figure but only worshipped as lingam.

At last, Sage Bhrigu went to Vaikuntam to meet Vishnu. Lord Vishnu was resting and slumbering on the Seshnag with wife Mahalaxmi close by. Finding no response or recognition by Vishnu, Bhrigu put a foot on Vishnu’s chest (and that sacred impression is called “Shri Vatsa”). Vishnu who got up, and totally unoffended, told Bhrigu that his chest was very strong and enquired if the tender foot of Sage Bhrigu was hurt . Sage Bhrigu was very impressed by Lord Vishnu’s humility and decided that he was the one to be invited for the Maha Yagna.

However, Mahalaxmi was very displeased by the insult meted out to her husband by Sage Bhrigu. She cursed him to the effect that her “anugraham” (blessings) would never be with the Brahmins and that the Brahmins would not have wealth. This was a defining moment for Sage Bhrigu who undertakes his mammoth project of compiling horoscopes of all mankind. (to be continued in next Part).

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