Bhrigu was a sage according to Indian mythology.
Once upon a time, the story says, there was a discussion among the sages as to which of the three Lords of creation, viz, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiv) was the greatest.
In order to put the matter to the test, Brahma's son Bhrigu was deputed to visit the three divinities one by one.
Bhrigu first approached his own father and did not bow to him as a dutiful son. This enraged Brahma; but he somehow managed to curb his anger by force of reason.
From Brahma's court, the sage went to Kailash. The god of gods, Shankara, rose to greet the sage and stretched His arms to embrace him. But Bhrigu avoided His touch saying,"Touch me not, since you have broken social conventions and flouted the injunctions of the Vedas." Shiv lost his temper when He heard these aspersions. Taking up His trident He proceeded to strike the sage; but Goddess Parvati intervened and pacified Him.
Thereafter, Bhrigu went to Vaikuntha, the abode of Bhagavan Vishnu, and round the Lord reposing with His head on the lap of Lakshmi. Breaking into His room unceremoniously, the sage suddenly kicked Him on the chest. The almighty Lord quickly rose with Lakshmi, alighted from His bed and, offering him homage, asked his forgiveness for the incivility shown to him by not welcoming him in advance. The Lord then rubbed the sage's foot saying that it might have been hurt by striking against His hard breast. Since then the Lord has ever borne on His bosom the print of the sage's foot as a mark of honour and it stands an abiding monument to His unequaled forbearance.
Once upon a time, the story says, there was a discussion among the sages as to which of the three Lords of creation, viz, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh (Shiv) was the greatest.
In order to put the matter to the test, Brahma's son Bhrigu was deputed to visit the three divinities one by one.
Bhrigu first approached his own father and did not bow to him as a dutiful son. This enraged Brahma; but he somehow managed to curb his anger by force of reason.
From Brahma's court, the sage went to Kailash. The god of gods, Shankara, rose to greet the sage and stretched His arms to embrace him. But Bhrigu avoided His touch saying,"Touch me not, since you have broken social conventions and flouted the injunctions of the Vedas." Shiv lost his temper when He heard these aspersions. Taking up His trident He proceeded to strike the sage; but Goddess Parvati intervened and pacified Him.
Thereafter, Bhrigu went to Vaikuntha, the abode of Bhagavan Vishnu, and round the Lord reposing with His head on the lap of Lakshmi. Breaking into His room unceremoniously, the sage suddenly kicked Him on the chest. The almighty Lord quickly rose with Lakshmi, alighted from His bed and, offering him homage, asked his forgiveness for the incivility shown to him by not welcoming him in advance. The Lord then rubbed the sage's foot saying that it might have been hurt by striking against His hard breast. Since then the Lord has ever borne on His bosom the print of the sage's foot as a mark of honour and it stands an abiding monument to His unequaled forbearance.