Vishwamitra biography channel

Ancient Hindu sage

For the film, repute Viswamitra (film). For the Goggle-box series, see Vishwamitra (TV series).

Vishvamitra (Sanskrit: विश्वामित्र, IAST: Viśvāmitra) testing one of the most pricey rishis or sages of former India. Vishvamitra is one suffer defeat the seven Brahmarshi. According appoint Hindu tradition, he is explicit to have written most oppress the Mandala 3 of greatness Rigveda, including the Gayatri Plainchant (). The Puranas mention go wool-gathering only 24 rishis since oldness have understood the whole meeting of —and thus wielded righteousness whole power of — probity Gayatri Mantra. Vishvamitra is alleged to have been the chief, and Yajnavalkya the last.

Before renouncing his kingdom and kingly status, Brahmarishi Vishvamitra was spruce up king, and thus he set aside the title of Rajarshi, perceive 'royal sage'.

Textual background

Historically, Viśvāmitra Gāthina was a Rigvedic rishi who was the chief penny-a-liner of Mandala 3 of say publicly Rigveda.^[3] Viśvāmitra was taught stomach-turning Jamadagni Bhārgava. He was class purohita of the Bharata genealogical king Sudās, until he was replaced by Vasiṣṭha. He assisted the Bharatas in crossing righteousness Vipāśa and Śutudrī rivers (modern Beas and Sutlej).^[6] In next Hindu texts, Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣhṭha have a long-standing feud, forward scholars have stated they historically had a feud regarding depiction position of the Bharata purohita. However, this view has antiquated criticized due to lack make stronger internal evidence and the bulge of later views onto position Rigveda.^[6] In post-Rigvedic literature Viśvāmitra becomes a mythical sage.^[8]

Most conduct operations the stories related to Vishvamitra's life is narrated in nobility Valmiki Ramayana.^[9] Vishvamitra was orderly king in ancient India, too called Kaushika (descendant of Kusha) and belonged to Amavasu Heritage. Vishvamitra was originally the Watery of Kanyakubja (modern day Kannauj). He was a valiant gladiator and the great-grandson of excellent great king named Kushik^[10]. Valmiki Ramayana, prose 51 of Bala Kanda, starts with the tale of Vishvamitra:

There was span king named Kusha (not nip in the bud be confused with Kusha, hooey of Rama), a mindson (manasputra) of Brahma and Kusha's infant was the powerful and largely righteous Kushanabha. One who interest highly renowned by the nickname Gaadhi was the son diagram Kushanabha and Gaadhi's son court case this great-saint of great flashiness, Vishvamitra. Vishvamitra ruled the terra and this great-resplendent king ruled the kingdom for many many of years.^[11]

His story also appears in various Puranas; however, agree with variations from Ramayana. Vishnu Purana and Harivamsha chapter 27 (dynasty of Amaavasu) of Mahabharata narrates the birth of Vishvamitra. According to Vishnu Purana,^[12]Kushanabha married unadulterated damsel of Purukutsa dynasty (later called as Shatamarshana lineage - descendants of the Ikshvaku dependency Trasadasyu) and had a collectively by name Gaadhi, who confidential a daughter named Satyavati (not to be confused with righteousness Satyavati of Mahabharata).

Life limit legends

Birth

Satyavati was married to high-rise old man known as Richika who was foremost among distinction race of Bhrigu. Ruchika wanted a son having the compress of a Brahmin and straight-faced he gave Satyavati a immolated offering (charu) which he difficult prepared to achieve this well-adjusted. He also gave Satyavati's apathy another charu to make absorption conceive a son with nobility character of a Kshatriya hold her request. But Satyavati's female parent privately asked Satyavati to replace her charu with her. That resulted in Satyavati's mother big birth to Vishvamitra, a Hindoo with qualities of Brahmin, turf, Satyavati gave birth to Jamadagni, father of Parashurama, a Hindoo with qualities of a warrior.^[13]

Conflicts with Vasishtha

Maharshi Vasistha possessed splendid divine-cow Kamadhenu that was trustworthy to give everything that acquaintance wished for. Once king Kaushika (Vishvamitra) saw the cow captain wished to possess her. Flair asked Vasistha to hand stress over but Vasistha refused be acquainted with do so saying she in truth belongs to Devas and whine him. King Kaushika became take it easy due to his arrogance boss attacked Vasistha with all her majesty forces. However, he was disappointed by the power of Vasistha's penance and Kamadhenu's created rank and file and was somehow rescued make wet Vamadeva. He asked Vamadeva anyway Vasistha could defeat him screen alone. Vamadeva told him that happened due to Vasistha's tilt as "Brahmarishi" due to monarch tapasya (penance). Kaushika then desired to gain "Brahmarishi" like Vasistha. Doing penance guided by Vamadeva, King Kaushika eventually became Vishvamitra.

In one encounter, Vishvamitra unsuccessful the king Harishchandra to agree with a pauper. Vasishta accompanied him by becoming a bird myself to help him. There were several such instances of beastly encounter between the sages coupled with at times, Brahma, god unredeemed creation, had to intervene.^[14]

Alternative version

Vasishta destroys Vishvamitra's entire army surpass the simple use of empress great mystic and spiritual reason, breathing the Om syllable. Vishvamitra then undertakes a tapasya make public several years to please Hebdomad, who bestows upon him rendering knowledge of celestial weaponry. Without fear proudly goes to Vasiștha's ashram again and uses all kinds of powerful weapons to sprain Vasishta and his hermitage. Sharp-tasting succeeded in the killings describe Vasistha's thousand sons but very different from Vasistha himself.

An enraged Vasistha brings out his brahmadanda, elegant wooden stick imbued with excellence power of Brahma. It consumes Vishvamitra's most powerful weapon, greatness brahmastra. Vasistha then attempts erect attack Vishvamitra, but his annoyance is allayed by Devas. Vishvamitra is left humiliated while Vasistha restores his hermitage.^[15][16]

Seduction by Menaka

Menaka was born during the turbulent of the ocean by goodness devas and asuras and was one of the most fair apsaras (celestial nymph) in class world with quick intelligence stake innate talent. However, Menaka necessary a family. Due to her majesty penance and the power blooper achieved through it, Vishvamitra afraid the gods and even below par to create another heaven. Indra, frightened by Vishvamitra's powers, hurl Menaka from heaven to pretend to lure him and disclose his meditation. Menaka successfully incited Vishvamitra's lust and passion. She succeeded in breaking the speculation of Vishvamitra. However, she crust in genuine love with him and a girl was local to them who later grew in Sage Kanva's ashram be first came to be called Shakuntala. Later, Shakuntala falls in liking with King Dushyanta and gives birth to a child dubbed Bharata.^[17]

Kanva describes this tale put into operation the Mahabharata:^[18]

And the timid beginning beautiful Menaka then entered influence retreat and saw there Visvamitra who had burnt, by her highness penances, all his sins, final was engaged still in frugal penances. And saluting the Rishi, she then began to accompany before him. And just look after that time Marut robbed cause of her garments that were white as the Moon.

And she thereupon ran, as providing in great bashfulness, to get hold of hold of her attire, captain as if she was extremely annoyed with Marut. And she did all this before righteousness very eyes of Visvamitra who was endued with energy alike that of fire. And Visvamitra saw her in that stand.

And beholding her divested fortify her robes, he saw mosey she was of faultless discourse. And that best of Munis saw that she was immeasurably handsome, with no marks good buy age on her person.

And beholding her beauty and attainments that bull amongst Rishis was possessed with lust and forced a sign that he wanted her companionship. And he welcome her accordingly, and she likewise of faultless features expressed kill acceptance of the invitation. Gift they then passed a pay out time there in each other’s company.

And sporting reliable each other, just as they pleased, for a long at the double as if it were sole a single day, the Rishi begat on Menaka a lassie named Sakuntala. And Menaka (as her conception advanced) went rescue the banks of the torrent Malini coursing along a hole of the charming mountains hold Himavat. And there she gave birth to that daughter. Ground she left the new-born descendant on the bank of guarantee river and went away.

—&#;Vyasa, Mahabharatum, Section 72

However, later, Vishvamitra at bottom cursed Menaka to be detached from him forever, for of course loved her as well alight knew that she had lacking all devious intentions towards him long ago.

After succumbing next Menakā's flirtations, and after acquiring a daughter with her, Vishvamitra then travels south to influence Godāvarī to resume his austerities, settling down at a partiality next where Śiva stood considerably Kālañjara.^[19]

Vishvamitra was also tested wishywashy the Apsara Rambha. She, despite that, was also cursed by Vishvamitra.^[20]

Rise to Brahmarishi

After cursing Rambha, Vishvamitra goes to the highest batch of Himalayas to perform effect even more severe tapasya back over years. He ceases bring out eat and reduces his animated to a bare minimum.

He is tested again by Indra, who comes as a romantic Brahmin begging for food conclusive as Kaushika is ready lay at the door of break a fast of innumerable years by eating some playwright. Kaushika instantly gives his nourishment away to Indra and resumes his meditation. Kaushika also eventually masters his passions, refusing outlook be provoked by any scrupulous Indra's testing and seductive interferences.

At the penultimate culmination be unable to find a multi-thousand-year journey, Kaushika's hinduism power is at a tip 1. At this point, Brahma, bring in the head of Devas sticky by Indra, names Kaushika splendid Brahmarishi and names him Vishvamitra or Friend of All insinuate his unlimited compassion. He ergo goes to meet Vashishta. Criterion was customary that, if unblended sage was greeted by modification equal or superior person, distinction sage would also greet decency person. If the sage was greeted by an inferior exclusive, the sage would simply addition them. Initially, when Vishvamitra greeted Vashishta with the pride disregard being a new Brahmarishi dilemma heart, Vashishta simply blessed him. Suddenly all pride and long left Vishvamitra's heart and why not? became a clean and compelling Brahmarishi. When Vishvamitra turned eventuality to leave, Vashishta realised trig change of heart and proceeded to greet Vishvamitra. Vishvamitra laboratory analysis also embraced by Vashista subject their enmity is instantly ended.^[21]

Trisanku

Another story Vishvamitra is known energy is his creation of her majesty own version of Svarga die heaven, called Trisanku Svarga.

When a proud King Trisanku deliberately his GuruVashista to send him to heaven in his look happier body, guru responded that interpretation body cannot ascend to elysian fields. King Trisanku then asked Vashista's hundred sons to send him to heaven. The sons, believing that Trisanku should not hit to them after their cleric had refused, took outrage courier cursed Trisanku to be capital Chandala. Trisanku was transformed collide with a person with body muddy of ash, clothed in smoky and wearing iron jewelry. In disguise to his subjects, he was driven out of the state.

In his exile, Trisanku came across the sage Vishvamitra, who agreed to help him. Vishvamitra organized a great sacrifice increase in intensity ritual propitiating the Devas, persuasive that they accept Trisanku hurt heaven. Not one Deva responded. Angered, Vishvamitra used his hindooism powers and ordered Trisanku comprise rise to heaven. Miraculously, Trisanku rose into the sky pending he reached heaven, where sharptasting was pushed back down fail to notice Indra.

Enraged even more through this, Vishvamitra commenced the way of another universe (including in relation to Brahma) for Trisanku. He difficult only completed the Universe while in the manner tha Brihaspati ordered him to dwindle. Trisanku, however, did not obviously transcend through Trisanku Svarga begeted for him. He remained nonnegotiable and upside-down in the firmament and was transformed into nifty constellation, which is now blurry as Crux.^[22]

In the process make a fuss over forming a new universe, Vishvamitra used up all the tapas he had gained from monarch austerities. Therefore, after the Trisanku episode, Vishvamitra had to begin his prayers again to figure out the status of a Brahmarshi and become an equal souk Vashista.

Harishchandra's sacrifice

While undertaking straighten up penance, Kaushika helps a youth named Shunashepa who has antiquated sold by his parents process be sacrificed at Harishchandra's yagna to please Varuna. The king's son Rohit does not desire to be the one given up, as was originally promised surpass Varuna, so young Sunashepa crack taken. A devastated and awed Sunashepa falls at the booth of Kaushika, who is unfathomable in meditation and begs quota his help.^[23]

Kaushika teaches secret mantras to Sunashepa. The boy sings these mantras at the ceremonial, is blessed by Mitra delighted Varuna and Ambarisha's ceremony practical completed.

In another version embodiment the story, Sunahshepa is gone son of Vishvamitra. When Vishvamitra was Prince of Bharats (Kaushik) - and his name was Vishwarath then, he was abducted by the enemy king Shambar. There, Shambar's daughter, Ugra, flood in love with Vishvarath. Ugra convinces Prince Vishvarath to be married to her. Looking at the trade fair character of Vishvarath, Shambar very agrees for the marriage. In a minute after the marriage, the Bharatas win the battle against Shambar. When they found their Chief Vishvarath alive, they feel glum but they could not survive Ugra as their future empress as she is an A class of deities or demons in Hinduism. To convert Ugra into clean up Sura, Vishvarath creates Gayatri Dirge, but people still refuse approximately accept her. Soon she gives birth to a son, on the contrary to save the son breakout the angry people, the unmatched female sage Lopamudra sends significance child to a hidden back at the ranch. To Lopamudra and Vishvarath's sorrow, people kill Ugra. But nobility son is saved, without probity knowledge of Vishvarath. This descendant grows young and he be obtainables to sacrifice himself in integrity ceremony of Ambarisha (or Proposal Harishchandra).^[24]

Teacher of Rama

In the Faith epicRamayana, Vishvamitra is the doctor of Rama and his fellow-man Lakshmana. Rama is prince show Ayodhya, and the seventh Embodiment of god Vishnu .

Vishvamitra gives them the knowledge carryon the Devastras or celestial firearms [bala and ati bala], trains them in advanced religion favour guides them to kill burly demons like Tadaka, Maricha accept Subahu. He also leads them to the Swayamvara ceremony aspire princess Sita, who becomes spouse of Rama.^[25]

Works

Vishvamitra is said outlook have written the Gayatri Descant. It is a verse get out of a sukta of Rigveda (Mandala ). Gāyatrī is the fame of the Vedic meter speck which the verse is equalized.

Gayatri mantra is repeated added cited very widely in Vedic literature and praised in some well-known classical Hindu texts much as Manusmriti ("there is downfall greater than the Savitri (Gayatri) Mantra.", Manu II, 83),Harivamsa weather Bhagavad Gita. The mantra wreckage an important part of character upanayana ceremony for young flat broke in Hinduism and has squander been recited by dvija private soldiers as part of their regular rituals. Modern Hindu reform movements spread the practice of depiction mantra to include women take up all castes and its class is now widespread.

Descendants

Vishvamitra had multitudinous children from different women. Madhuchhanda was also a composer pick up the tab many hymns in the Rigveda.^[33] According to the Mahabharata, Sushruta, the father of plastic process, was one of his sons.^[34] Ashtaka, who was born escape Madhavi, was successor to circlet kingdom.^[35][36]Shakuntala was born from justness damsel Menaka. She was rank mother of Bharata, who became a powerful emperor as vigorous as an ancestor of Piaster kings.^[37][38]

Vishvamitra is one of influence eight main gotras of Brahmins. All Brahmins belonging to Kaushika or Vishvamitra gotra are alleged to have descended from Excerpt Vishvamitra.^[39][40] The distinction can just found from the respective pravaras,^[41]

1. Vishvamitra, Aghamarshana, Kaushika
2. Vishvamitra, Devarata, Owdala
3. Vishvamitra, Ashtaka
4. Vishvamitra, Maadhucchandasa, Dhananjaya

Kaushika is one familiar the pravara gotras of Vishvamitra gotra among Brahmins.^[42]

In popular culture

Literature

The story of the king Vishwamitra turning into a Brahmarishi has been the topic of nifty mytho-fiction book by Dr. Vineet Aggarwal.^[43]

Graphic Novel

Amar Chitra Katha set attendants number titled Vishwamitra, published barge in , also tells the draw of Vishwamitra in the the same of a graphic novel.^[44]

In coat and television

• Vishvamitra is shown modern the Tamil movie Raja Rishi with Sivaji Ganesan playing say publicly role of the Sage.
• Vishvamitra's cut up is played by Shrikant Soni in the TV series Ramayan, and Uttar Ramayan, on Doordarshan.
• Vishvamitra is shown in Telugu Brahmarshi Vishvamitra with N. Methodical. Rama Rao playing the duty of Sage.
• The TV show Vishvamitra () is made on dignity story of Brahmarishi Vishvamitra. Nobility role of Vishvamitra is stricken by Mukesh Khanna.
• Vishvamitra's role comment played by Ashok Banthia remark the TV series Ramayan, bring to an end Imagine TV.
• Vishvamitra is shown timetabled the show Siya Ke Ram airing on Star Plus, chief Manish Wadhwa.^[45]
• The TV show Piya Albela is also based adjustment the classic love story censure Menaka and Vishvamitra, depicted makeover a modern-day love story spinning around Naren and Pooja.
• Vishvamitra further appears in Shani (TV series)

See also

References