Viśvāmitra

Viśvāmitra

Viśvāmitra is a name used for more than one ṛshi and place in the Purāṇas and Itihāsas. Each is listed below with where it is told; choose the one you are looking for.

People

• Viśvāmitra: Viśvāmitra Maharshi, the king who became a brahmarshi by his tapas, rival of Vasishṭha and the ṛshi of the Gāyatrī mantra. Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa; Vāmana Purāṇa; Agni Purāṇa; Bhāgavata Purāṇa; Bhavishya Purāṇa; Brahma Purāṇa, Chapters 5, 7–8, 10, 13, 210, 213; Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapters 23, 34, 53, 68, 77, 80, 101, 103–104

Places

• Viśvāmitra Tīrtha (Gautamī): the tīrtha on the Gautamī, also called Madhutīrtha, Aindra, Śyena and Pārjanya, where in a great drought Indra rained amṛta for Viśvāmitra, and where Śrī Rāma honoured him with the ṛshis; its account is told on Viśvāmitra and the Dog’s Flesh (Viśvāmitratīrtha). Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 23
• Viśvāmitra Tīrtha (Hariścandra’s Yajña): the first of the fifteen tīrthas on the southern bank of the Gautamī that arose from King Hariścandra‘s yajña, named for the ṛshi whose plea saved Śunaḥśepa. Brahma Purāṇa, Gautamī Māhātmya, Chapter 34