Maharishi Bhrigu (Sanskrit: महऋषि भृगु) was one of the seven great sages, the Saptarshis, in ancient India, one of the many Prajapatis (the facilitators of Creation) created by Brahma (The God of Creation),^[1] the first compiler of predictive astrology, and also the author of Bhrigu Samhita, the astrological (Jyotish) classic written during the Vedic period, Treta yuga.^[2]

Bhrigu is a ManasaPutra (mind-born-son) of Lord Brahma, who simply wished him into existence, to assist in the process of creation, for this reason he is also considered one of the Prajapatis.

He was married to Khyati, the daughter of Daksha. He had two sons by her, named Dhata and Vidhata. ^[3] His daughter Sri or Shri, married Lord Vishnu (Narayana). Thus, in some traditions, Laxmi, the consort of Lord Vishnu, is said to be his daughter.

He has one more son, who is better known than Bhrigu himself - Shukra, learned sage and guru of the asuras. The sage Chyavana is also said to be his son. [Maha:1.5]

In scriptures[link]

Sage Bhrigu finds mention in Shiva Purana and Vayu Purana, where he is shown present during the great Yagna of Daksha Prajapati (his father-in-law).^[4] He supports the continuation of the Yagna of Daksha even after being warned that without an offering for Lord Shiva, it was asking for a catastrophe for everyone present there.

In the Bhagavad Gītā, Lord Krishna refers to Sage Bhrigu, by stating "among the Rishis, I am Bhrigu". ^[5]

Maharishi Bhrigu, is known to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu the mention of which has been evident in many of his writings.

Bhrigu Samhita[link]

Maharishi Bhrigu is credited as the father of Hindu astrology and the first astrological treatise Bhrigu Samhita is attributed to his authorship. This treatise is said to contain over 5 million horoscopes, in which he wrote down the fate of every being in the universe. According to popular tradition, only about a hundredth of these horoscopes have survived to this age. The Bhrigu Samhita is an astrological (jyotish) classic attributed to Maharishi Bhrigu during the Vedic period, although the available evidence suggests that it was compiled over a period of time by the various sishyas (students in the lineage) of Maharishi Bhrigu.

Maharishi Bhrigu was the first compiler of predictive astrology, Jyotisha. He compiled about 500,000 horoscopes and recorded the life details and events of various persons. This formed a database for further research and study. This study culminated in the birth of the science (shastra) of determining the quality of time (Hora) and is the Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra. These Horoscopes were based upon the planetary positions of the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu (North Node of the Moon) and Ketu (South Node of the Moon). After that, Maharishi Bhrigu gave his predictions on different types of horoscopes compiled by him with the help of Lord Ganesha in a brief and concise manner. The total permutations/ possible horoscope charts that can be drawn with this is about 45 million. Though it is said that these horoscope have been recorded for all mankind who were, have and will be born till eternity.

During foreign invasions of India by Muslim warriors from the north west in the 12th and 13th centuries, the Brahmin community became dispersed all over India. The invaders captured these prime assets of the Brahmins. Some parts of the 'Bhrigu Samhita' were taken away by them. The most unfortunate and destructive event was the destruction of the Nalanda university library where several thousands of the horoscopes compiled by Maharashi Bhrigu had been stored. Only a small percentage of the original horoscopes of Bhrigu Samhita remained with the Brahmin community which are now scattered throughout various parts of India.

Bhrigu In Buddhism[link]

In the Buddhist Vinaya Pitaka of the Mahavagga (I.245)^[6] section the Buddha pays respect to Vishwamitra by declaring that the Veda in its true form was declared to the Vedic rishis "Atthako, Vâmako, Vâmadevo, Vessâmitto, Yamataggi, Angiraso, Bhâradvâjo, Vâsettho, Kassapo, and Bhagu"^[7] and because that true Veda was altered by some priests he refused to pay homage to the altered version.^[8]

Testing the divine Trinity[link]

Many great sages gathered at the bank of river Saraswati to participate in Maha yagya organized at that time. Maharishi Bhrigu was also present there. All the great saints and sages could not decide that out of the Trinity Lord Vishnu, Brahma and Shiv who is pre-eminent and to whom should they offer Pradhanta (Master) of that yagya. With the consent of all the great saints present there, it was decided that Maharishi Bhrigu will test and decide who was pre-eminent.

Upon being entrusted with the task Maharishi Bhrigu decided to test Lord Brahma first. He went on to see Lord Brahma in Brahmalok. On reaching Brahmalok Maharishi displayed utter disrespect to Lord Brahma on purpose. Lord Brahma got angry and wanted to punish Maharishi but Maha Saraswati, wife of Lord Brahma saved Maharishi from his anger. Angry with disrespect, Maharishi Bhrigu cursed Lord Brahma that no one will worship Brahma in Kaliyug. To this day, there are very few temples devoted to Lord Brahma (the notable exception being the Brahma Temple at Pushkar).

Maharishi Bhrigu then decided to visit Lord Shiva at Kailash Parvat. On reaching Kailash Parvat, Nandi stopped him from going inside because at that time, Shiva and Parvati were sporting fun.

Then in order to test Lord Vishnu, Maharishi reached Vaikunth Dham. He entered the Dham without Lord Vishnu's permission and saw that the Lord was resting at that time. Maharishi asked him to wake up, but Lord was in deep sleep. On seeing no reaction from Lord, Maharishi hit Lord Vishnu on his chest (that strike by Maharishi Bhrigu left a foot print on Lord's chest and that foot print is known as "Shri Vatsa").

Lord Vishnu got up after the strike and realized what has happened. On realizing that Maharishi had hit him with his foot, Lord asked him, “Maharishi, are you hurt in your foot? My chest is strong but your foot is not so strong". Seeing the decorum of Lord Vishnu, Bhrigu was pleased and declared him superior amongst the Tridev.

According to Hindu mythology, goddess of prosperity and wife of Lord Vishnu, Maha Laxmi also witnessed the whole incident, as she was also present in the Dham at that time. She could not tolerate disrespect displayed by Maharishi Bhrigu towards Lord Vishnu and cursed him that henceforth she would never visit Brahmins and they will all live in absence of wealth.

On hearing this curse from Maha Laxmi, Maharishi told her, his very purpose of visiting the Vaikunth Dham and his mission. On hearing this, Maha Laxmi told Maharishi, that her curse will definitely haunt Brahmins but whenever any Brahmin will worship Lord Vishnu, he will be liberated from her curse.

It is after this incident that Maharishi Bhrigu decided to write famous book of astrology , the Bhrigu Samhita, with the blessings of Lord Ganesha and Maha Saraswati, to help Brahmins earn their living. He eventually wrote this 'Grantha'(book) to the benefit of all mankind for their 'kalyan'(well being) which would lead mankind to 'Moksha'(Complete Salvation). Maharishi Bhrigu collected numbers of birth charts, wrote their predictions for full life and compiled them together to be known as Bhrigusamhita today. Parts of the Bhrigu Samhita are said to be destroyed over the ages but a few parts of the book are still available in Hoshiarpur city in Punjab.^[9]

Bhrigusamhita is believed to be the first book of its kind in the field of astrology.Parvati is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Mahadevi, the Great .... the daughter of Himavat and Menā and is named Kali, 'the dark one', because of .... lingam of Shiva, who was cursed by sage Bhrigu to be the form of the lingam. ... The couple are often depicted in the Puranas as Sage Bhrighu tests trinities regarding right for Poornahoothi.

In the Padma Purana it is related that the Rishis, assembled at a sacrifice, disputed as to which deity was best entitled to the homage of a Brahman (Poornahoothi). Being unable to agree, they resolved to send Bhrigu to test the characters of the various Gods, and he accordingly went. He could not obtain access to Siva because that deity was engaged with his wife; “finding him, therefore, to consist of the property of darkness, Bhrigu sentenced him to take the form of the Linga, and pronounced that he should have no offerings presented to him, nor receive the worship of the pious and respectable.

His next visit was to Brahma, whom he beheld surrounded by Sages, and so much inflated with his own importance as to treat Bhrigu with great inattention, betraying his being made up of foulness. The Sage therefore excluded him from the worship of the Brahmans.

Repairing next to Vishnu, he found the deity asleep, and, indignant at his seeming sloth, Bhrigu stamped upon his breast with his left foot and awoke him; instead of being offended, Vishnu gently pressed the Brahman’s foot and expressed himself honoured and made happy by its contact; and Bhrigu, highly pleased by his humility, and satisfied of his being impersonated goodness, proclaimed Vishnu as the only being to be worshipped by men or Gods, in which decision the Sages, upon Bhrighu’s report, concurred, "Who was he to test the trimurtis? How could he disturb their privacy? More so how could he even dare to curse the deities who by their mercy had bestowed upon him many a boon and made him so illustrious? Even when he had been unimaginably haughty, the Gods had displayed forbearance and kindness when they could have burnt him to ashes by a mere glance."

Only then Bhrughu realized that the best of merits was to remain free of vain pride and conceit. He begged pardons from the Gods who were glad to bless him, seeing that he had realized his folly. Since then the trimurtis have been the supreme owners of the purnahuti and the devotees could offer the aahuti to the God of their choice and devotion.

References[link]

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Sant Shri Asharamji Bapu (Hindi: संत श्री आशारामजी बापू, Gujarati: સંત શ્રી આશારામજી બાપુ, born as Asumal Sirumalani on April 17, 1941), also endearingly called "Bapu Ji", is a self-realized Hindu Spiritual Guru from India. He is also regarded as the Greatest ever saint of India, having uncountable number of devotees which also includes very reputed personalities. Bapu preaches the existence of One Supreme Conscious in every human being and represents a confluence of Bhakti_yoga, Gnana_yoga and Karma_yoga. Under his guidance, an Ashram was started in 1971 at Ahmedabad on the historically significant place where sage Sandipani (Guru of Lord Krishna) used to do Yagya. As of now, the number of Ashrams have surpassed 350. A documentary video "Voice of Consciousness" showed life-sketch of Sant Sri Asharamji Bapu. His teachings have changed the lives of millions and millions of people.

Biography[link]

Youth[link]

Asumal Sirumalani [Asaram Bapu], born to father Thaumal Sirumalani and mother Menhgiba. Place of birth being Berani village of the Nawabshah District in Sindh (Un-Partitioned Indibaa) on April 17, 1941 (Gregorian calendar).^[1] His father was a wealthy businessman.^[2]

Bapu went to school in Maninagar. His mother helped develop his interest in dhyaan-bhajan (meditation and prayers) from his early childhood.

At a very young age Asumal lost his father, but grew more and more interested in pursuing meditation and spirituality. He finally left his family (who wanted him to get married) and traveled the country, until he went to Vrindavan, the land of Lord Krishna. Here he was inspired to go to the ashram of the Guru, Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj. He had to wait for 40 days in the Ashram to get a glimpse of the Guru. There he stayed and served his Guru with devotion. Lilashah Ji for testing the determination of Asumal, made him go through several hardships and tests for another 30 days before Asumal was blessed. Then Swami Sri Lilashah Ji Maharaj asked him to go back to home and continue his spiritual practices at home.

While coming back to his home, he left the train and went to Moti Koral (A place in Gujarat). He started Spiritual practice at the bank or river Narmada. A local saint Shri Lalji Maharaj was impressed by Asumal's interest to attain Self Realization. Lalji Maharaj made arrangements for Asumal to stay in Datt Kutir of Ram Niwas (Lalji Maharaj's Ashram).

When Asumal's wife and mother came to know that he was staying at Moti Koral they visited him. They asked him to come back. Asumal refused to return until he completed the Anushthan. He successfully completed the Anushthan. The whole village including Lalji Maharaj came to the railway station to see them off to Ahmadabad. As soon as the train started moving from Miyagaun junction, Asumal jumped out and boarded a train towards Mumbai where He met Guru Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj.

Self Realization[link]

Asumal reached Bombay (Mumbai) and met Guru Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj. Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj was very happy to see his disciple's keen interest to attain the truth. Hence, on 2nd Day of Ashvin month in Samvat 2021 at2.30 in the afternoon Asumal was transformed into Sant Sri Asaramji Bapu by the blessings of Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj (Asumal se ho gaye sai Asaram). After this Asaramji Bapu went into samadhi for next two and a half days.

Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj instructed Asharamji to serve the humanity by staying as a householder. After Self-Realization Asaram Bapu stayed in solitude for seven years.^[1] Asharamji Bapu used to give religious discourse to all those who came to meet & see Bapu. Bapu spent His solitude in various places like Disa, Naareshwar Dhaam, the Himalayas, Mount Abu.

Life as a Householder[link]

Asharam Bapu met Swami Sri Lilashahji Maharaj in Nanital in Vikram Samvat 1928, & by the commands of Guru, in order to provide a good example to common householders, Bapu entered the life of a householder. It was the day of Guru Punam in Vikram Samvat 2028 when Asharam Bapu reached Ahmedabad after staying in solitude for seven years.[2]

Asharam Bapu chose a peaceful place in the Motera village on the banks of Sabarmati river. Later on some of the devotees constructed a small room for him which is known as "Moksha Kutir". Slowly, the number of devotees coming to Motera kept on increasing and in a very short time the place became a great spiritual center. Today Motera is the main spiritual centre for the devotees coming to Sant Sri Asharamji Ashram.

Parliament of the World's Religions, 1993[link]

In 1893 Swami Vivekananda represented India and top religious people from all over the world listened to him with great reverence, in 1993 yet again after 100 years, India represented by Saint Sri Asaram ji Bapu representing WRP and people listened to him with same reverence.

Foundations[link]

There are 366 ashrams working under the guidance of Asharam Ji Bapu.^[3] These ashrams organise spiritual and social welfare activities on a regular basis. Some of these activities include weekly video satsangs, distribution of Rishi Prasad www.rishiprasad.org Rishi Darshan www.rishidarshan.org, Lok Kalyan Setu, other spiritual publications like Divya Prerna Prakash, free distribution of Netra Bindu (eye drops) and a device to remove Vaastu related issues. LIVE webcast of Spiritual Discourse is facilitated for more than 5 crore followers (sadhaks) living worldwide through the Ashram website.^[4]

Sri Yog Vedant Seva Samiti[link]

More than 1300 Sri Yog Vedant Seva Samitis are formed under the guidance of Pujya Bapuji. These Samitis do various social welfare programs like development of tribals, and people belonging to backward classes, Service activities in orphanages,distribution of food-grains through ration cards, distribution of buttermilk and water outlet service, de-addiction Campaigns, centres for Spiritual Literature, Video Satsang Centres, Free-Food and Financial Support for extremely poor people and upliftment programmes for prisoners in Jails etc. are few among them but not limited to this list.

Bal-Sanskar Kendras[link]

Bal Sanskar Kendra or BSK ^[5] for short are sessions and camps conducted for all-round and comprehensive development of children/students. BSKs are inspired by spiritual teachings of Asharam Bapu and coordinated by Bal Sanskar Kendra Dept., Shri Akhil Bhartiya Yoga Vedanta Seva Samiti, Sant Shri Asarmaji Ashram, Ahmadabad, Gujarat, India.

Yuva Seva Sangh[link]

Aims at strengthening the Youths of India (YSS )Yuva Seva Sangh - Inspire by Param Pujya Asharam Ji Bapu .Yuva Seva Project - Vyasan Mukti Abhiyan, Parents Worship day, Prisoners upliftment program, Seeding moral values in Youths, Environmental care Jeevan Vikas Abhiyan, Tejasvi Yuva Abhiyan.

Controversies since 2009[link]

Other News in Media and Sting Operation[link]

In December 2009, the Gujarat Police filed an attempt to murder case against Bapu Ji and two others.^[6]

After initial police investigation, it turned out that the person who made the allegations had already been caught on a video tape by a TV Channel A2Z News in a Sting Operation, in which his gang of people got busted and accepted in front of camera about their conspiracy of targeting Sant Shri Asharam Ji Bapu and their Ashrams, with false allegations by support of some media houses. Asharam Bapuji or any of his disciples had nothing to gain by attempting to harm this individual when he had already been caught on tape conspiring to malign the Sant. .^[7] On 3 April 2010, the channel broadcast details of investigations and reports by government instituted special investigation commission, under leadership of Justice D K Trivedi.^[8]

Other controversies involving Asharam Bapu include tax evasion^[9] and land encroachment.^[10]

Asharam Bapu rebutted all such allegations,^[11] as Ashram is having all legal and documentation proofs of legally purchasing land and all required tax paid on time, with legal representations..

CID gives Ashram Clean Chit (April, 2010)[link]

Two children were found drowned in the river Sabaramti in 2008. But On April 8, 2010 after months of investigation and searching through records and witnesses, CID gave Clean Chit to Asaram Ashram and asserted that there were no black magic or any other activities that may have anything to do with the death of the children. Most popular press amusingly stayed tongue tied about why it made earlier allegations of such practices at the Ashram. ^[12]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official Website
• Rishi Prasad, Monthly Publication
• Balsanskar, Website for kids
• HariOmGroup, Followers Website
• Ashram News
• Satsang Radio Portal
• Vedic Vivaah
• Official Twitter Account
• About Asaram Bapu
• Yuva Seva Sangh