Angiras Rishi was an especially important sage of ancient India.

Angiras Rishi contributed to writing and creating hymns to the Rig Vedas, and was blessed with divine powers for the long and intense penance that he conducted.

Let’s read his amazing story.

Angiras Rishi’s Lineage and Legacy

Angiras Rishi was a mind-born “manav” by Lord Brahma. Being born from the Lord’s mind, he was bestowed with a tough task by lord Brahma.

He was married to Shraddha, who herself went on to become a rishika. Together, they were parents to the great sage Brihaspati and other great sages, too.

Angiras Rishi, through the wisdom he gained as a reward for his intense penance, wrote the hymns “Atharva Veda” along with Atharvan Rishi.

Angiras Rishi and his Severe Penance

When Lord Brahma created the Saptarishis for the betterment of mankind and for making eternal wisdom reach them, he had a wish to create one more “manav purush”. Thus, he created Angiras Rishi from his mind.

He gave him an eternal glow that would reach the heights, as well as the lowest part, of the universe.

Lord Brahma instructed Angiras Rishi, saying, “You shall look after the welfare of the human race, as they are growing in number. You shall come to me whenever I ask you to ask you to. Till then, you shall go on an indefinite penance”.

Angiras Rishi, respecting his father figure Lord Brahma, accepted his fate and, as part of his duty, began indefinite penance.

Doing thus, with penance and meditation, he turned all his senses inwards. His inner senses, his mind power and control over himself gave him an inner glow, thus increasing his “teej”. This invoked in him inner powers and divine qualities, with which he could achieve any form of riches in the world. He could also invoke demigods to serve him.

However, Angiras Rishi had become oblivion to the material world. He went deeper into his meditation and continued doing penance. He started having visions of eternal mantras and Vedic wisdom, which he started writing.

Angiras Rishi brought knowledge of the Vedas to humankind and wrote hymns too.

Angiras Rishi and Agni Dev

Due to refined glow that Angiras Rishi shone with, the god of fire, Agni Dev, thought of visiting him.

Agni dev was mesmerized to see the glow that shone on the rishi’s face and offered himself to Angiras.

It was with the blessings of Agni Dev that Angiras Rishi could evoke fire whenever he wanted to. It was Angiras Rishi who performed the first yagna with fire and hence stated the tradition of doing yagnas and poojas with Agni.

Angiras Rishi And the Mahalaxmi Vrat

Angiras Rishi’s news of his knowledge and divine powers spread high and wide.

It so happened, once, Laxmi Mata visited Queen Choladevi in disguise to test her dedication towards her. The queen could not recognize Laxmi Mata, and did not serve her well.

Laxmi Mata got angry and cursed her by making her head turn into a deer.

Queen Choladevi apologized to Laxmi Mata, but in vain. She decided to go to Angiras Rishi for his guidance.

Angiras Rishi, through his divine powers, got to know what had happened, and as soon as Queen Choladevi came, he immediately narrated the Mahalaxmi mantra.

He told Queen Choladevi to perform the Mahalaxmi vrat to appease Laxmi Mata.

It has since then that the Mahalaxmi vrat has been followed by the Indian women to date, to appease Laximata.

Bhavisha Doshi

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