Bhṛgu Tests the Trimūrti (Padma Purāṇa)

In the Uttara Khaṇḍa of the Padma Mahā Purāṇa, the ṛshis at the great yajña of Svāyambhuva Manu on Mount Mandara debate which of Brahmā, Vishṇu and Śiva is the highest, and which one brāhmaṇas should adore. They send the ṛshi Bhṛgu to test all three.

Bhṛgu is kept out at the door of Śiva and curses him. Brahmā does not rise to greet him, and Bhṛgu curses him too. Then Bhṛgu kicks the chest of Bhagavān Vishṇu, and Bhagavān Vishṇu receives him with joy. Bhṛgu returns and declares that Bhagavān Vishṇu alone is fit to be adored.

The debate at Svāyambhuva Manu’s yajña

Svāyambhuva Manu held a long yajña (fire ritual) on the great mountain Mandara. All the great ṛshis came. They had kept their vows, they knew the Vedas well, and they had burned away their pāpa (sin) through tapas.

A great debate arose among them: “Which deva among Brahmā, Vishṇu and Śiva is the highest? Whose foot-water should be drunk? Whose remnant food makes pure? Who grants moksha?”

Some said that Rudra alone is the greatest. Others argued for Brahmā. Others named the Sun. Others again, among them Svāyambhuva Manu himself, said that it is Vishṇu: “He has auspicious qualities. He has lotus eyes. He is the husband of Lakshmī and the highest Brahman. He alone is adored by brāhmaṇas who follow the Vedas. The others are mixed with passion and fault, and they are not fit to be adored.”

Bhṛgu is sent to test them

The ṛshis could not settle the matter by reasoning alone. They turned to Bhṛgu. He was known as a treasure of tapas, a son of Brahmā, and a ṛshi of faultless judgement.

They asked him: “Go near Brahmā, Vishṇu and Maheśa. Watch them closely. The one who has pure sattva, who is friendly to brāhmaṇas, and whose foot-water and remnant food make pure, is the only one fit to be adored.”

Bhṛgu accepted and set out, with Vāmadeva.

Bhṛgu at Kailāsa: Śiva and the curse

Bhṛgu came to Kailāsa. At the door of Śiva, Nandin stopped him. Nandin was a fierce attendant who held a spear. He said roughly: “The master cannot be met. Śaṅkara is sporting with Pārvatī. O best of ṛshis, go back if you wish to live.”

Bhṛgu waited at the door for many days. He grew angry at being treated with such contempt. The door was closed to a brāhmaṇa of his standing while Śiva was lost in pleasure. He spoke a harsh śāpa (curse): “He is proud because of a woman’s company, and he thinks lightly of me, a brāhmaṇa. So he shall have the form of a liṅga. He is overcome by fault and has fallen into an unholy state, so brāhmaṇas will not adore him. All food, water, flowers and offerings given to him will be of no use.”

Then Bhṛgu turned to Nandin and cursed him: “May the devotees of Śiva, who carry ash, bones and skulls, be unholy and outside the Vedic fold.”

Bhṛgu at Brahmā’s world: the curse

Bhṛgu next went to the world of Brahmā. He saw Brahmā sitting in great majesty, filled with rajas. Brahmā, ruled by rajas, did not rise to honour Bhṛgu when he came, and he spoke no words of welcome.

Bhṛgu saw this neglect, which came from Brahmā’s rajas, and he spoke another curse: “You are full of rajas and you slight me. So all people will dishonour you.”

So it is that Brahmā, although he is the creator, has no widespread worship in temples.

Bhṛgu at Vishṇu’s world: the kick and the glad welcome

Bhṛgu then went to the world of Bhagavān Vishṇu on the northern shore of the Milky Ocean (Kshīra Sāgara). The shining beings there honoured him properly, and no one stopped him at the entrance. He went in freely and came to the inner rooms.

There he found the husband of Lakshmī lying on the coils of the serpent Śesha. Lakshmī’s lotus-like hands were gently pressing his feet. Bhṛgu wished to test the sattva of Bhagavān Vishṇu to its limit. He kicked the chest of Bhagavān Vishṇu with his left foot. This was a great act of disrespect towards the supreme Bhagavān Vishṇu.

Bhagavān Vishṇu rose at once, glad, and said: “I am fortunate!” He took Bhṛgu’s foot in his hands with joy and pressed it gently. Then he spoke with great sweetness: “O brāhmaṇa-ṛshi, I am always fortunate. By the touch of your foot there will be good fortune in my body. May the dust of a brāhmaṇa’s foot make me pure. It is the cause of all wealth, and it is like a comet against every disaster. All the holy places, such as the Gaṅgā, live in the body on which the dust of a brāhmaṇa’s foot always rests.”

Then Bhagavān Vishṇu rose with Lakshmī and honoured Bhṛgu with divine garlands and sandal paste.

Bhṛgu’s declaration

Bhṛgu wept with joy. He rose from his seat and bowed to Bhagavān Vishṇu. Then he said: “Oh, what a form! Oh, what peace! Oh, what knowledge, what kindness, what spotless patience! This goodness of Vishṇu is natural and auspicious. It is not found in any other deva. You alone are kind to brāhmaṇas. You alone are the protector. You alone are the highest Brahman. You alone are the master of brāhmaṇas. No other deva deserves respect. You, Janārdana, have pure sattva, and you alone are fit to be adored by brāhmaṇas. Brahmā, Rudra and the others are mixed with rajas and tamas, and they are not fit to be adored. All should take shelter in the water that flows from your feet. Your remnant food makes pure the pitṛs (ancestors), the devas and the brāhmaṇas alike.”

Bhṛgu returned to the assembly of the yajña and told the ṛshis what he had found. They all accepted his verdict. Bhagavān Vishṇu, who has pure sattva, is the highest deva, and he alone is truly fit to be adored by brāhmaṇas. Offerings to all the other devas and to the pitṛs must first be offered to Bhagavān Vishṇu to have real effect.

Vasishṭha’s closing words

The speaker of the account is Vasishṭha, and he adds, speaking to King Dilīpa: “The marks that the world condemns, the liṅga form of Śiva and the dishonour of Brahmā, will be made pure by the lotus-like touch of Rāma. Rāghava is the highest Brahman and the one who purifies among all the devas. Vishṇu is an ocean of love. He is the father and mother of all the devas and the protector of all people.”

Sources

• Padma Mahā Purāṇa, Uttara Khaṇḍa, Chapter 255