Bhrigu Samhita

Maharishi 'Bhrigu Samhita'

Maharishi Bhrigu (Sanskrit: Bhṛgu) was one of the seven great sages, the Saptarishis, one of the many Prajapatis (the facilitators of Creation) created by Brahma (The God of Creation), the first compiler of predictive astrology, and also the author of Bhrigu Samhita, the astrological (Jyotish) classic. Bhrigu is considered as a Manasa Putra (mind-born-son) of Brahma. The adjectival form of the name, Bhargava, is used to refer to the descendants and the school of Bhrigu.

The Bhrigu Saṃhitā is an astrological (Jyotish) classic attributed to Maharishi Bhrigu during the Vedic period, Treta yuga. It is said that it was compiled by the Sage out of compassion for humanity so that humanity could cope with the pressures of its existence and move towards a more spiritual nature. The Bhrigu Samhita is said to contain predictions on the current and future lives as well as information on the past life.

Maharishi Bhrigu was the first compiler of predictive astrology. 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 (Śāstra) of determining the quality of time (Horā) and is the Bṛhat Parāśara Horāśāstra.

These Horoscopes were based upon the planetary positions of the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Rāhu (North Node of the Moon) and Ketu (South Node of the Moon). After that, Maharishi Bhṛigu gave his predictions on different types of horoscopes compiled by him with the help of Lord Gaṇeśa in a brief and concise manner. The total permutations/possible horoscope charts that can be drawn with this is about 45 million. Maharishi taught this art of predictions to his son (Śukra) and other pupils. After the incident of testing of trinity, Maharishi Bhrigu decided to write his famous book of astrology, the Bhrigu Samhita, to help Brahmins earn their living. Maharishi Bhrigu collected birth charts, wrote full-life predictions and compiled them together as Bhrigu Samhita. Bhrigu Samhita is believed to be the first book of its kind in the field of astrology. A few parts of Bhrigu Samhita have survived the wear of time and are still available in Hoshiarpur, Punjab. When the sages heard Bhrighu report, they retorted, "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 favors 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 Bhrighu 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.

Perhaps the Bhrigu Samhita set to have penned downed by Shukracharya dictated by Rishi Bhrigu who was master of Brahmavidya. Lord Bhrigu ji was born on fire. His body was charred yet the illumination of knowledge made him shine like fire. Since Shri Bhrigu ji was very learned. His ego was difficult to appease. In Hinduism, the trinity of Brahma (Progenitor), Vishnu (saviour) and Mahesh (Destroyer) is well known. The trinity symbolizes God. Once Bhrigu ji in order to judge who among the three gods is the greatest of all. It is said that among the three only Lord Vishnu was able to impress Bhrigu ji. The story goes like this Bhrigu ji in anger had kicked Lord Vishnu on the chest in his false ego to being the greatest Brahmin. On realising his mistake he immediately apologised to Lord Vishnu, who forgave him. It is well known that destiny places role in the formation or birth of remarkable thing. This rude action of Bhrigu ji infuriated Lakshmi ji who cursed Bhrigu ji that all the coming generations of Brahmin will bear the wrath. Maharishi Bhrigu ji apologised to Lakshmi ji and suggested him to write Bhrigu Samhita. This Samhita would enable to Brahmins to earn their livelihood through the reading done.

Origin of Samhita

Brahmins are considered the most learned among all the four castes in Hindus. Thousands of years ago, originally, Shri Bhrigu ji the “ eldest Manas Putra” of Shri Bharma ji, a very kind highly learned and supremely evolved in his mind decided to compose one such manuscript which when read by man, should open layers upon layers of his past, present and future lives. Bhrigu Samhita was originally a massive data of birth charts of millions and trillions of human beings to inhabbit this Planed Earth. The samhita was originally written in Pali which was perhaps later translated in Prakrit and then in Sanskrit. With the passage of time like during foreign invasions of India by various Muslims form the north west in the 12th and 13th centuries, The Brahmin community became dispersed all over India. The invaders captured prime assets of the Brahmins. This Granth witnessed history of India. The Granth was valued by some secular rulers who thereby enabled life to the Granth. Originally it was written on “Bhoj Patras” (Barks of trees). They were later copied into papers by the help of various Sanskrit scholars who credited this help. Which we are able to avail today. Though the material of the paper is very delicate and the ink is dimmed some horoscopes are written still on tree barks, on the whole are fragile and difficult to handle. The preservation of the Samhita is the most difficult task. It is not possible for everybody to find his or her horoscope in the pool as the whole Granth in quantity is in tonnes and tonnes. It takes a period of time to get it matched and later predicted in reading to the person concerned.

About

The original edition of the Bhrigu Samhita does not seem to be available anymore, but there is however a number of different editions and copies of the book written by different astrologers from various time-periods in the name of Maharishi Bhrigu. it appears some parts of Bhrigu Samhita are owned by Brahmin families in Benares, Poona and Meerut but they do not allow anyone to study these chapters. Thus this great astrological book still remains beyond the reach of scholars. Reference to Bhrigu Samhita is made in Jatak-Skand, which implies that the horo­scope and the forecast of the entire life of every human being born on this planet are given in this book, accor­ding to the time, place and date of birth of the individual.

Eleven chapters deal with different aspects of human life. These chapters are:

Kundli Khand - horoscopes;

Phabit Khand - forecasts;

Jarah­Parharan - previous lives;

Tathalin Bhrig­Prashan ­ questions of Bhrigu;

Nasht-Janmong Deepiha - index to lost horoscopes;

Sarivarisht­Nivaran­Khand - remedy to human problems;

Raj-Khand ­ pertaining to rule;

Santan-upaya-Khand ­ for be­getting child­ren;

Narpati-Jaya­charya Khand - for the victory and works of a king;

Istri­Phabit-Khand - on the nature of women.

The copies of Bhrigu Samhira that I have seen were very different from each other. In some cases they contained thousands of natal charts and life-readings obviously based on the Surya-Lagna by using the Sun as the Ascendant. In some other cases they were based on either the natal Ascendant or the Horary-Ascendant.

One of the Bhrigu Sastris in Hoshiarpur, Punjab told me that 98% of the horoscopes and life-readings available at his place were found and identified by using a Prasna-Kundali or horary-chart for the time of arrival of the person.

Then there is an edition called “Bhrigu Samhita Paddhati” containing the detailed predictions of all the 1296 different combinations (12 x 12 x 9) of the 9 planets in the 12 houses and 12 signs.

Another edition called “Sri Bhrigu Samhita Mahashastram” seemed like a kind of compendium of traditional Hindu astrology dealing with the usual astrological textbook-material like Graha-phalam, planets in the 12 houses, Graha-dristi, planetary aspects, Gochara-phalam, transits of planets, Dasa-Bhukti-phalam, about planetary periods and sub-periods and finally Nasta-Jatakam, an ancient method of finding out the year, month, day and time of birth from the Horary-Chart in case of unknown birth-details.

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