Bhardwaj (15)--Notable Mortals Who Lived Through Most of the Four Eras

(This is an excerpt from my book “Four Eras of The Battling Gods & Mortals.” The book can be obtained from Amazon. The is also available at Kitab Ghar, Gaiety, Shimla. The Amazon link is given below):

https://www.amazon.in/dp/9390758173?ref=myi_title_dp

Opening Note : This write-up in installments, is intended to drive home the sole point, hitherto ignored by the historians with utter impunity, that Ramayan and Mahabharat periods were only couple of years apart, almost extending into each other. The study is based on the evidences from 18 Mahapuranas and 18 Uppuranas, along with other Ancient Indian scriptures. Here is the list of at least 106 notable personalities who were alive and present in these two epic periods and even beyond and prior to these periods.  I am confident that one day this truth will have to be accepted by savants of history and general public interested in the study of Ancient India.

Here Bhardwaj, one among 116 mortals, who found references in the texts of  Ramayan, Mahabharat, Vedas & Puranas.  A careful, meticulous and sincere study of these ancient literary composition reveals that most of such notables not merely find references in, but they actively interacted with the other people living through periods of Ramayan & Mahabharat.

 

 

15. Bhardwaj—He was Angiragotriya.[1] Son of Utthay and brought up by Brihaspati. He was one of the Saptrishis of Vaivasvat Manvantar.

The sixth mandal of Rig Ved contains the hymns of Bhardwaj.

Bhardwaj taught Vaaman Vedas and manners after Upnayan sanskar. It was at the behest of Bhardwaj that Vaaman went to Bali and asked for the three steps of land as offerings to Brahman.[2]

Bhardwaj Rishi

He made the story of Ramayan popular among masses. He fondly listened to the story of Shri Ram from the lips of Yagyavalkay. One of his daughters was married to Yagyavalkay. His second daughter Daivavarshini was married to Vishrava, of whom she bore Kuber.[3] Ravan was also son of Vishrava.

He obtained knowledge of Dhanurved (science of Archery) from Swayambhuv Brahma.[4] Bhardwaj discoursed on Dhanurveda, and Raajshashtra (politics). Shri Ram visited his ashram immediately after exile. He guided Shri Ram to Chitrakut.[5] Historically this period aligns the overlapping period of Treta-Dwapar Yug.[6]

He is referred to as Dhirghjivitam. He asked for the prolongation of his age from Indra for the forth time but Indra declined it very reverently with philosophic instructions to him.[7]

He came from North to visit and greet Shri Ram on his arrival to Ayodhya from exile.[8] He was also present at Valmiki ashram when Sita disappeared in yogagni and went down to rasatal.[9]

This sage took part in a birthday celebrations of Arjun.[10] Arjun met Bhardwaj muni at his ashram situated in south near the banks of Mahanadi at Kalhasti hilltop and listened to the stories of Shiv-Parvati, Agastay rishi etc. It came to pass a couple of years after Pandavas got the area of Khandavprasth from Dhritrashtra, after Pandavas married Draupadi. Arjun was on the journey of all the Tirthas as he happened to break the agreement about Draupadi. It was agreed among Pandavas that she will reside for full one year with each, and during that period of one year others will not even gaze at Draupadi.[11]

He was the guru[12] and father[13] of Acharya Dron from Ghritachi apsara.[14]

In the Mahabharat battle an effort was made by Bhardwaj and others to dissuade Dron from the battle. But it was in vain.[15]

He was one of the many eminent and illustrious sages present at the Vaasudev Yagya performed by Shri Krishan and Balram.[16]

He was among the sages who once went to Dwarka and cursed Saamb.[17]

He was appointed by Raja Indraduman, who himself lived through all the four Yugas, as Ritwik for Shantikarma when the temple of Shri Jaggannath, containing idols of Shri Krishan, Balram and Subhadra, was being erected. Bhardwaj muni did pran-pratishtha of idols in the month of Vaishakh Shukal Paksh Ashtami on the auspicious day of Thursday.[18]

In Narsinh Puran Bhardwaj narrates the story of Sahsraneek to Soot about the incarnations of Vishnu. Sahsraneek was the fourth of the generation from Abhimanyu.[19]

---

[1] Vedkatha Ank, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, p 30 & 240.

[2] Kurm Puran, Adhyay 16, Shlok 44, 48.

[3] Sant Ank, Kalyan, Gita Press, Gorakhpur. p. 217.

Puranic Encyclopedia, Vettam Mani, see Bharadvaja II (4).

[4] Mahabharat, Shantiparv, Adhyay 210, Shlok 21.

[5] Valmiki Ramayan, Baal Kand, Sarg 1, Shlok 30-31; Ayodhya Kand, Sarg 54, Shlok 38-43.

[6]Article Mahrishi Bhardwaj by Acharya Durgacharan Shukal, Vedkatha Ank, reference Aitraiya Aaranyak 1/2/2, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, p. 391.

[7] Vedkatha Ank, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, p. 16, ref. Taitriya Aranayak; p. 391, ref. Taitriya Brahman 3/10/11.

[8] Valmiki Ramayan, Uttar Kand, Sarg 1, Shlok 5-6.

[9] Valmiki Ramayan, Uttar Kand, Sarg 96, Shlok 4.

[10] Mahabharat, Adi Parv, Adhyay 122, Shlok 57.

[11] Skand Puran, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, Vaishnav Khand: Bhumi Varaha Khand, Adhyay 68-69.

[12] Hindu Sanskriti Ank, Kalyan. Gita Press, Gorakhpur, p. 1.

[13] Hindu Sanskriti Ank, Kalyan. Gita Press, Gorakhpur, p 251.

[14] Mahabharat, Adi Parv, Adhyay 129, Shlok 35, 37-38.

[15] Mahabharat, Dron Parv, Adhyay 190, Shlok 33-36.

[16] Bhagvat Puran, Skandh 10, Adhyay 84, Shlok 3-5.

[17] Puranic Encyclopedia, Vettam Mani, see Bharadvaja II (3).

[18] Skand Puran, Gita Press, Gorakhpur, Vaishnav Khand: Uttkal Khand, Adhyay 87.

[19] Narsinh Puran, Adhyay 29 & 32.