Who is Sage Brahma Rishi Vishwamitra?

Birth

King Kusika of the Chandravansha had a son called Gadhi, who fell in love with and married a beautiful lady. They had a daughter called Satyavati, who later married Sage Ruchika, who was born to them. Satyavati revealed to Ruchika that she wanted to become a mother and that she desired a boy.

Ruchika said that he would prepare a wonderful rice pudding that would result in the birth of a son for her. Due to the fact that her mother had just one daughter, Satyavati, Satyavati asked that he also give her a portion of the money to her mother. Sage Ruchika pondered on Parabrahma and constructed two containers of rice as a result of her meditation.

One of them would give birth to a strong warrior, while the other would give birth to a great sage, according to the legend. In contrast, he handed Satyavati the sage talisman while giving her mother the warrior talisman. He instructed them to embrace a fig tree and an Ashwatta tree before eating the rice pudding he had prepared for them.

Satyavati’s dessert was accidentally mixed up with her mother’s pudding, which resulted in a mess. As soon as Ruchika arrived, he knew that Satyavati had taken the incorrect beverage and went completely insane.

“Please, oh great rishi, I beg of you. It was completely by chance. Please make the substitution of sage for the one I ingested. The goddess Satyavati pled, “I don’t want to have a warrior.”

In agreement, Sage Ruchika altered the pudding Satyavati had taken, ensuring that it would likewise result in the birth of a rishi. Satyavati and Sage Ruchika had a son called Jamadagni, who was raised by the sages. Gadhi and his wife had a son called Kaushika, who was their only child.

Training

Vishwamitra was the name given to Kaushika. His father, Gadhi, taught him how to fight when he was a little boy. When he was a child, he learned all of the techniques of a warrior from Kusasana, a Brahmin with a lot of experience. Vishwamitra rose to become a legendary warrior.

Following in the footsteps of his father

When Gadhi reached the age of retirement, Vishwamitra took over as his successor. Vishwamitra was a good and virtuous monarch who upheld the law. He was the ruler of the kingdom of Kanyakubja. Vishwamitra enjoyed hunting in the bush while he was a monarch.

Vashishta is in a state of conflict with you.

King Vishwamitra once stumbled and discovered the hermitage of Sage Vashishta while out hunting with his sons and a large army, and he decided to stay. Vashishta received a respectful bow from Vishwamitra.

“Welcome, king, please have a seat. “Can you tell me how things are doing in your kingdom?” Vashishta requested.

In response, Vishwamitra said, “Everything is perfect, sage.”

For a while, Vishwamitra and Vashishta sat and chatted in silence. After considerable consideration, Vashishta expressed his desire to honor the king with a banquet. Vishwamitra agreed but expressed some skepticism about where he would acquire all of the food.

Vashishta had called Kamdhenu, and Vishwamitra had heard it. Vashishta began naming delicacies as they emerged from Kamdhenu, and they became popular. Vishwamitra was taken aback and immediately desired Kamdhenu for himself.

In between bites of delicious food, Vishwamitra said, “Should Kamdhenu belong to me?” I’ll offer you 100,000 cows in exchange for Kamdhenu.”

Vashishta flatly refused, stating that he would never abandon Kamdhenu. According to Vishwamitra, the prize will be increased to 14,000 elephants, 800 gold-plated chariots drawn by four white horses, 11,000 thoroughbred horses drawn by gold, ten million cows of all colors, and as much wealth as you want.” “All you have to do is give me Kamdhenu,” says the author.

Vashishta, on the other hand, was adamant. Vishwamitra became enraged and ordered his troops to catch the cow. Kamdhenu threw off the troops and ran to Vashishta, where he was captured.

“How come you aren’t assisting me?” says the Lord. “I think I’m in danger,” Kamdhenu confided in Vashishta.

“Dear Kamdhenu, I’m afraid I won’t be able to accomplish anything against the massive troops of Vishwamitra,” Vashishta said, his voice filled with regret.

In response, Kamdhenu said that he would “raise soldiers to combat his army using your spiritual skills.” She worked tirelessly to create Pahlava soldiers, who were slaughtered by Vishwamita’s army.

As a result, she produced warriors descended from the Shaka-Yavana dynasty. The Kambhojas erupted from her mouth, the Barvaras emerged from her udder, the Yavanas and Shakas emerged from her rear, and Haritas, Kiratas, and other foreign warriors sprouted from pores on her skin. The army of Kamdhenu was able to defeat Vishwamitra’s army when they worked together.

Vashishta was attacked by the sons of Vishwamitra, who charged at him with ferocity. Vashishta said a single sentence, and they were all reduced to ashes instantly. Vishwamitra returned to Kanyakubja in dissatisfaction.

He only had one son remaining, whom he had abdicated the throne and handed the authority to rule. He withdrew from the woodlands and started a period of great austerity and penance. Last but not least, Lord Shiva was satisfied with the outcome and came before Vishwamitra.

“What boon are you looking for, Vishwamitra?” Shiva inquired.

“Allow me to possess all of the knowledge of weaponry and battle,” Vishwamitra demanded.

As soon as Shiva gave the blessing, he disappeared into thin air. Vishwamitra has now set out towards Vashishta’s hermitage in order to exact vengeance on his sons. As soon as he arrived at the hermitage, he immediately set it ablaze using his newfound abilities. Everyone who had been living in the hermitage had fled. Vashishta appeared on the scene and challenged Vishwamitra to a duel.

“You terrible idiot, you have the audacity to demolish my spiritual retreat. “I’m going to murder you for this!” Vashishta let out a scream.

Vishwamitra launched weapon after weapon at Vashishta, but they were all absorbed by Vashishta’s staff, even the Brahmastra, which was thrown at him. As soon as he realized that his weapons would have no effect on Vashishta’s spiritual strength, Vishwamitra departed the scene. He returned to his hometown of Kanyakubja.

Penance

Vishwamitra and Kalmashapada are two of the most powerful people on the planet.

It is my ambition to become a Brahmarshi. Vishwamitra informed his wife that they would be traveling south and that she might assist him in his penance.

His wife agreed with him. They embarked on their journey to the south, where Vishwamitra started his penances. During this period, Vishwamitra gave birth to four noble and powerful sons. He was finally awarded the position of Rajarshi by Brahma, who came before him.

Vishwamitra, on the other hand, was dissatisfied with his position as Rajarshi. To become a Brahmarshi, which is the highest rank among rishis, was his ambition. He began to impose ever more severe penances and austerities on himself.

Kalmashapada was the name of a monarch who reigned in ancient India. He was once going on a tiny trail that could only accommodate one person at a time. While trekking down the way, he came upon Shakti rishi, who was also interested in walking along the path with him.

They got into a heated debate over who had the right to stroll along the walkway. Angry, King Kalmashapada struck Shakti rishi with his horse-whip, causing him to fall to the ground. Kalmashapada was cursed by Shakti and turned into a flesh-eating Rakshasa.

Vishwamitra happened to be passing by and saw that both the monarch and the rishi were there. Both Vishwamitra and Vashishta had shown an interest in having the monarch as a pupil. The monarch, on the other hand, was not on board. Vishwamitra took advantage of the situation to exact vengeance on the king as well as on Vashishta.

It was he who arranged it such that Shakti’s curse took effect immediately. He conjured up an evil ghost named Kinkara to infiltrate Kalmashapada’s physical body. The spirit of the rakshasa had gained possession of Kalmashapada at this point.

Kalmashapada made his way back to his castle. On the way, he came across a Brahmin beggar who asked him to give him some food. The beggar was completely disregarded by Kalmashapada. When he arrived at his palace, he instructed his chefs to prepare a dish consisting of human flesh and rice, which he would then serve to the Brahmin.

The Brahmin was instantly aware of what was in the dish and how it was prepared. He cursed the monarch, telling him that he would turn into a man-eating Rakshasa if he did not repent.

Kalmashapada then returned to the location where he had been cursed by Vishwamitra for the first time. There, he reconnected with Shakti. He swallowed Shakti rishi as a result of the curse on him. Vishwamitra then ordered the monarch to consume Vashishta’s hundred sons, which the king duly did.

Vashishta was distraught and contemplated murdering Vishwamitra as a result of what had happened. Because of his spiritual abilities, he had a good chance of succeeding. However, he decided against it because he only used his powers for good purposes.

Afterward, Kalmashapada attempted to consume Vashishta. Vashishta pardoned Kalmashapada for his actions by releasing the rakshasa soul from his body.

Sending Trishanku to the Celestial Kingdom

Meanwhile, a monarch of the Ikshvaku dynasty by the name of Trishanku found himself suddenly consumed with ambition. He desired to join Swarga while still in his mortal form. He sought the assistance of Vashishta, his guru, in order to carry out a sacrifice in order to accomplish this. Vashishta said that this was impossible to do. Trishanku requested assistance from Vashishta’s sons.

“Are you willing to become my gurus and assist me in achieving this?” Trishanku inquired.

“How dare you request our assistance when our father and your guru have expressed their disapproval,” they said, enraged.

“After that, I’ll seek assistance from another sage,” Trishanku said.

“You have the audacity to say such things. “May you be sent out like a chandala (outcast),” they wished.

As a result, Trishanku was converted into a chandala, and his body was altered as well. Trishanku, on the other hand, was unyielding. He went to Vishwamitra, who welcomed him with open arms and listened intently to what had occurred to him in the past. Trishanku made a pledge to Vishwamitra that he would assist him in carrying out the sacrifice.

Vishwamitra instructed his sons to begin making arrangements for the sacrifice immediately. He instructed his followers to gather all of the devout and knowledgeable people in the country to participate in the sacrifice. Vashishta and his sons, on the other hand, refused to attend. The rituals started with the installation of Vishwamitra as high priest.

“O devas, come and escort this mighty monarch in his own body to Swarga!” Vishwamitra said once the ceremonies were completed.

However, no devas appeared. Vishwamitra was completely out of his mind. He utilized all of his spiritual might to elevate Trishanku to the position of Swarga. When Trishanku attempted to enter Swarga, Indra and the other devas obstructed his progress.

I condemn you for having been cursed by the sons of your Guru, you terrible creature. You have the audacity to attempt to gain entry into paradise. “May you return to the surface of the planet,” Indra remarked.

Trishanku began to crumble to the ground. When Vishwamitra saw this, he intervened and halted Trishanku in mid-flight. Vishwamitra surrounded himself with seven Saptarishi planets, which he built. In addition, he developed 27 Nakshatras (stars).

Vishwamitra, on the other hand, was not satisfied with this. He had the scheme to drive Indra out of Swarga and install Trishanku as the devas’ new ruler (gods). Following their discovery of Vishwamitra’s objectives, the devas presented themselves before him.

He was cursed by his guru’s kids, and he also went against the advice of his own guru,'” says the Sage. “He doesn’t deserve to be a part of Swarga,” Indra argued with her.

“I have promised him that I would assist him. “Allow him to enter and remain in heaven, or Indra will no longer be king,” Vishwamitra said emphatically.

“It’s up to you. The monarch will stay floating with his head pointing downward, surrounded by the planets that you have built for him. “He will become eternal,” Indra whispered, a sigh in her voice.

Shunahshepa’s life

“I have helped the king, but I have also exhausted all of my spiritual powers,” Vishwamitra thought to himself after the devas had left. “I’m going to have to restart my penance.”

According to his sons and disciples, “I am now going to Pushkar to continue my penance.”

Meanwhile, King Ambarisha of Ayodhya was performing a sacrifice. Suddenly, a messenger came and told the king that the sacrificial horse had been stolen. King Ambarisha looked everywhere, but couldn’t find the horse. The actual thief was Indra. The priest told him that there was one alternative. He could kill a human instead of a horse, or else his kingdom would be in trouble.

Ambarisha started looking for a human victim. Finally, he arrived at the hermitage of Saint Richika and his wife Satyavati, Vishwamitra’s sister. Richika and Satyavati decided to send their middle son, Shunahshepa for 100,000 cows.

While Ambarisha and Shunahshepa are going to Ayodhya, they pass the Pushkar forest. Here, they rested for a while. While Ambarisha rested, Shunahshepa wandered around and saw Vishwamitra. He fell at Vishwamitra’s feet and told him everything that had happened.

“Oh holy one, please help me. I want to lead a spiritual and long life. I want to attain heaven. I don’t want to die right now,” Shunahshepa begged.

“Be consoled, O virtuous son. I will never let you die,” Vishwamitra consoled.

Vishwamitra turned to his four sons. “I have promised Shunahshepa that he won’t die. One of you must take his place and go with King Ambarisha,” Vishwamitra said.

“How could you let one of your own children die for someone else’s child,” one of the sons asked.

“You arrogant sons. May you lose your caste and wander about the Earth, eating the flesh of dogs,” he cursed them.

Vishwamitra then told Shunahshepa, “Here are two mantras. You must chant these mantras at the sacrificial altar. Indra will come and save you,” Vishwamitra said and taught the mantras.

Shunahshepa then went back to King Ambarisha. At the sacrificial altar, just as Shunahshepa was about to step into the fire, he chanted the mantras. Indra appeared before him and granted him a long life.

Meanwhile, Vishwamitra was frustrated. He had saved Shunahshepa from death, but he had also exhausted his spiritual power by cursing his sons. He started doing penance again at Pushkar.

Vishwamitra and Harischandra

One day Vighnaraja, the lord of obstacles, tried to distract Vishwamitra from his penance by making an illusion. The illusion portrayed the cries of a woman. Meanwhile, King Harischandra, Trishanku’s son, was on a hunting expedition and heard the cries.

He rushed over to the cries and saw Vishwamitra. When Vighnaraja saw Harischandra, he went inside Vishwamitra’s body and started abusing him. Because of this, Vishwamitra woke up from his penance.

Harischandra realized that Vishwamitra was really mad at him. “I will do anything you wish,” Harichandra begged.

“Okay, then give me everything you have, except your wife and son,” Vishwamitra ordered.

Harischandra immediately gave Vishwamitra everything he had, including his clothes. Vishwamitra then demanded another donation. Harischandra said he didn’t have anything, but would a donation within a month.

Harischandra started living in poverty with his wife, son, and subjects. Vishwamitra told Harischandra to leave his subjects behind as they were part of the donation. Harischandra then decided to leave his kingdom with his family. To make them leave faster, Vishwamitra started beating Harischandra’s wife with a stick.

Soon, Harischandra left his kingdom and wandered around with his family. They soon arrived at Kashi. Vishwamitra was already over there.

“Where is your donation. It has been a month,” Vishwamitra demanded.

“There are still a few days left,” Harischandra pointed out.

“Fine. I will come back at the next sunset. You better have your donation by then,” Vishwamitra said.

Harischandra was in a dilemma. He had nothing to give to Vishwamitra.

“Sell me to someone. Then you can gain some money,” his wife Shaivya said.

After some hesitance, Harischandra sold Shaivya to an elderly man. Since his son didn’t want to let go of his mother, it was decided that his son would go with Shaivya. Soon, Vishwamitra appeared again and asked for the donation.

He gave Vishwamitra all the money he had gained from selling his wife and son. But Vishwamitra wanted more money. Harischandra decided to sell himself to a chandala (outcast). But since Harischandra was a Kshatriya, he couldn’t sell himself to an outcast. He decided to sell himself to Vishwamitra.

“Since you are my slave, I can order you to do anything. My first and only order is that you become the chandala’s slave,” Vishwamitra ordered.

Harischandra started working at the chandala’s cremation ground. One day, Harischandra had a nightmare of his past sins. In this nightmare, Shaivya was crying before him. When he woke up, Shaivya was actually crying before him, holding the body of their dead son.

“Our son was bitten by a snake,” she mourned.

Harischandra was depressed by this news. He thought of committing suicide but realized that he would have to continue paying for his sins in his next life. Shaiya prepared to cremate the dead body of their son. Harischandra came and said that she would have to pay.

At that moment, the chandala turned into Yama. All the other devas and Vishwamitra appeared there and praised Harischandra. Vishwamitra told Harischandra that everything was a test. Harischandra went back to his normal lifestyle as a king.

Penance Disturbed by the Devas

Vishwamitra continued his penance at Pushkar. One day, while Vishwamitra was at the bank of Pushkar Lake, he spotted the irresistible apsara Menaka bathing in the lake. When she came out naked, he declared her immense love for her. After spending a few months together, enjoying each other’s company, they once engaged in sexual intercourse and had a girl named Shakuntala.

A few years passed before Vishwamitra realized that Menaka had been sent by the devas to distract him from his penance. He instantly told Menaka to go back to Swarga.

Vishwamitra then decided to go to the Himalayas on the bank of the Kaushiki river for his penances. This time, his penances were so severe that the gods were perturbed. They went to Brahma for help. Brahma told them that he will make Vishwamitra a Maharshi. Brahma appeared before Vishwamitra and granted him the status of Maharshi.

“All of this penance just for Maharshi. I will have to subdue my passions further,” Vishwamitra said.

“Yes, you have not yet gained mastery over your senses,” Brahma replied.

Vishwamitra made his penances and austerities even more severe. In summer, he stood on one leg in the midst of a blazing fire, living only on air. He continued through the rainy season. And in winter, he stood in the middle of a cold stream.

The devas were once again perturbed. Indra sent the apsara Rambha to disturb Vishwamitra’s penances. Indra sat on a nearby branch in the form of a cuckoo. Indra started singing notes. Rambha then slowly approached Vishwamitra. Vishwamitra opened his eyes and saw the beautiful Rambha. But not for a second did he feel any attraction towards her.

“Rambha, I curse you that you will be turned into a rock. You shall remain a rock for 10,000 years till a Brahmin comes and delivers you,” he cursed.

Indra immediately fled from the scene. Vishwamitra was frustrated. He had once again used all his spiritual powers in cursing Rambha. He decided he wouldn’t eat, drink, speak, or breathe till he conquers his anger.

Brahmarishi Vishwamitra

Vishwamitra went east and began his most severe austerities. After he was sure he conquered them, he decided to eat. Just as he was about to eat, Indra came in the form of a beggar to test him. The beggar asked for food. Vishwamitra immediately gave his food to the beggar. Vishwamitra then continued his penance. The devas went to Brahma.

“If the rank of Brahmarishi isn’t given to Vishwamitra, he will destroy the Triloka. Please give him the status of Brahmarshi,” Indra begged.

“I will. He deserves it,” Brahma said.

Brahma appeared before him and granted him the status of Brahmarshi. But Vishwamitra wasn’t satisfied. He wanted Vashishta to address him as a Brahmarshi. He went to Vashishta’s ashram with the pride of being a Brahmarshi.

Vashishta addressed him as a Maharshi. Suddenly, all pride left Vishwamitra’s heart. Vashishta realized this and then called him a Brahmarshi.