Bhargava

Bhargava is a common surname in Northern India and Maharashtra, mainly around Nashik. In Maharashtra, it is pronounced as Bhargave instead of Bhargava. It is also used as a first name in parts of southern India.

The conflict between Bhargavas and Kshatriyas

Bhargavas owe their lineage to Bhrugu Rishi, and his son Chavan Rishi, who is better known for creating Chyawanprash. According to Hindu Scriptures, Bhargava or Parashurama as he is better known was a threat to the Kshatriya Kings who ruled in India during Treta and Dwapara Yuga. The arrival of this warrior class sage to India was somewhere around the transition period of Treta Yuga and Dwapara Yuga.

They have attacked and annihilated the existing Kshatriya rulers of India, as many as 21 times, probably spanning a time period of a 1,000 years. The rulers of central India were the major victims of this massacre. The first victim of Parasurama was a ruler of central India, of Haiheya tribe, called Kartavirya Arjuna. Bhargava and Kshatriya were hostile to each other for this many years until they started living in harmony.

Bhargavas are a community, who are seminal descendents of Rishi Bhrigu (who contributed in Manu Samriti also) and Parshurama. As per lienage of Bhrigu, described by M.L. Bhargava in his book "Bhargava Jati Ka Itihas", Parshuram was in his 39th generation of Bhrigu and had existed during the period of Bhagwan Ram Chandra and period of Ramayana. Bhagwan Parshuram was known as this, because he was carrying a 'farsa' all the time and used it to kill enemies. Parshuram is also known as 'Bhargava Rama'.

Those in the seminal birth of Bhargavas became a community after Bhrigu Maharsishi's period and both Bhargava Rama and Bhrigu existed at different times.

Kula Devatha for the Brahmins of Bhargava Gothra

Mundkur Sri Durga Parmeshwari is the Kuladevi of Bhargava Gothra Brahmins including the Astakula Brahmins as per records available. The Mahishamardini idol was installed by Sage Bhargava in Mundkur. In Skandapurana a sloka is found Sage Bhargava mentioning the reason behind installation of Sri Durga in Mundkur saying for the destruction of evil spirits and protection of the devotees and fulfilment of their desire people should visit and pray Goddess Durga of Mundkur. This sloka has been displayed in the Main entrance of Sri Khethra Mundkur. (Mundkur is the temple village in Karkala Taluk of Udupi District in Karnataka State.) Durga Parameshwari of Talapady (Kinya) near Mangalore is the family deity (Kuladevi) for some of the Shivalli Madhva brahmins who belong to Bhargava gotra.

Evidence of the conflict spanning generations

(Mythological epic Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 64) The son of Jamadagni (Parasurama), after twenty-one times making the earth bereft of Kshatriyas wended to that best of mountains Mahendra and there began his ascetic penances. Mahendra Mountains are in central India, the northern end of the Eastern Ghats of India, situated in the south-western part of Orissa,in Gajapati district. (Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 104) In olden days, Rama, the son of Jamadagni, in anger at the death of his father, slew with his battle axe the king of the Haihayas. Haiheya was a central Indian kingdom in Madhya Pradesh of India, on the banks of Narmada River. Its capital was Mahishmati, the modern day town named Maheswar. (Mahabharata, Book 3, Chapter 85) One proceeds to Surparaka, where Jamadagni’s son (Parasurama) had formerly dwelt. Surparaka also is in central India with the modern name Sopar.

Notable people with surname Bhargava

• Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya- 16th century Indian Hindu Emperor
• Gopi Chand Bhargava - First Chief Minister of Haryana and Punjab
• Alok Bhargava
• Manjul Bhargava
• Vikrant Bhargava - Co-founder, Partygamin
• Girdhari Lal Bhargava - MP, Jaipur
• Rajul Bhargava - Head of Credit
• Vishant Bhargav

Links

Rajul Bhargava