Sage Viswamitra

 

Sage Vishwamitra was son of King Gadhi. His original name was Kaushika. King Gadhi was son of Kushanubha and grand son of King Kusha. Sage Viswamitra was the author of some sections of Rigveda and also composer of Gayatri Mantra. He was father of Shakuntala through Menaka. King Bharata was son of Shakuntala.

 

Once king Kaushika  visited Sage Vasishta’s ashram along with his army. He was surprised to see that Sage Vasishta was able to feed the entire army with the help of calf Nandini, daughter of the famous Kamadhenu cow. The king thought that the cow would be more useful for him than the sage and expressed the same to Sage Vasishta. He grew angry when Vasishta refused to handover the cow to him and he ordered his army to capture the cow forcibly. But Brahmarshi Vasishta defeated the king with his yogic powers.

The king realized that the yogic powers were far more superior and decided to relinquish kingdom and did Tapasya for Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva blessed him many powers and weapons.  The king became a Rajharshi and was known as Vishwamitra, meaning friend of universe. He could not become Brhmarshi for several more years because of his short temper.

He was also guru of Lord Rama. He took prince Rama and Lakshmana to forest for the protection of Yagna. There after, he lead them to Mithila, to participate in the Swayamvaram of Sita Devi. Lord Rama successfully lifted the Shiva Danushu and married Sita Devi.

Viswamitra Gotra and Kaushika gotra are still in vogue now.