He is one of the seven celestial sages known as “Sapta-rishis”.
He is also stated elsewhere as being the son of Indra (the king of Gods). The
Taittiriya Upanishad of Krishna Yajur Veda tradition, in its Valli 3, Anuvak 1
describes him as ‘Bhirgu Vaaruni’, i.e. the son of Varun (the Water God). He was the
father of Laxmi, the divine consort of Vishnu the sustainer and protector of creation.
That is why Laxmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, is also known as Bhargavi,
the daughter of Bhargava, or Bhrigu.
According to Bhagwat Maha-Puran, Skandha 4, Canto 1, verse nos. 43-45, sage
Bhrigu had a wife named ‘Khyaati’ from whom he begot two sons named Dhaataa
and Vidhaataa, and a daughter named Sri. ‘Sri’ (whose another name was Laxmi) was
later married to Vishnu. Meanwhile, sage Meru married his daughters Aayati and
Niyati to Dhaataa and Vidhaataa respectively. Aayati gave birth to Mrikand, and
Niyati gave birth to Praan. Mrikand’s son was the famous sage Markendeya, and
Praan’s son was Ved-shiraa. Hence, sage Markendeya was a great grandson of
Bhrigu.
According to Bhagwat Maha-puran, 3/24/21-24, and 4/1, it is narrated that in the
epoch called Swayambhu-Manwantar, king Manu’s daughter named Devhuti was
married to sage Kardam from whom she begot nine daughters. They were named
Kalaa, Anusuya, Shraddha, Havirbhu, Gati, Kriyaa, Urjaa or Arundhati, Chiti and
Shaanti, and Khyaati. They were married repectively to sages Marichi, Atri, Angiraa,
Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Vasistha, Atharvan and Bhrigu.
In other births sage Bhrigu is regarded as the grand-father of Shukracharya (also
known as Ushnaa), the moral preceptor of the Demons (Refer: Bhagwat, Skandha 4,
Canto 1, verse no. 45). [Bhrigu’s son was Kavi, and the latter’s son was
Shukracharya.]
He was one of the ancient sages after whom a lineage was established—and his
descendents assumed his name as their surname or title. It is ‘Bhargava’ or ‘Bhrigu’.
Some well known names of sages who followed him in this lineage are sages
Jamdagni and Parashuram.
He is one of the four sages (the others being Marichi, Atri and Kashyap) who had
elaborately described the Vakhaanas Aagam followed by some Vaishnav sects
(followers of Vishnu worship).
He performed severe austerity and penance at a place called Bhrigu Kaccha
located on the banks of river Narmada where it merges with the Arabian Sea. It is
situated in the Broach area of Gujrat state of western India.
He is credited with composing the tome of astrology and horoscopes known as
‘Bhrigu Sanhita’. It is said to contain a data base of all possible horoscopes that can
be created by considering all possible permutations and combinations of the nine
planets and twelve zodiac signs.
The third chapter, called Valli no. 3, of the famous Taittiriya Upanishad of the
Krishna Yajur Veda tradition is revealed by Varun to Bhrigu when the latter
approached his father Varun to ask him the method by which Brahm can be realised.
He once tested the Trinity Gods (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) and determined that
Vishnu is the best amongst them and alone deserves worship. This story in brief is as
follows—
Once all the sages had collected and decided to judge which of the Trinity Gods,
i.e. Brahma the creator, Vishnu the sustainer, and Shiva the concluder, is the greatest.
Sage Bhrigu was appointed to find it out. Bhrigu first went to Brahma and did not
show any respect to him. This enraged Brahma, but somehow he managed to control
himself. Then Bhrigu went to meet Shiva. Shiva came forward but Bhrigu did not
want to meet him, accusing the Lord of following inauspicious way of life. This
enraged Shiva who lifted his trident to kill Bhrigu. Then Parvati, the consort of Shiva,
intervened and pacified him.
Finally, Bhrigu went to Vishnu who was reclining in his divine abode known as
Vaikuntha. Bhrigu got annoyed that Vishnu did not get up to welcome him, and so he
kiana
(Kiana)
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