Shri Shringirishi Maharaj
As described in religious books Hindu people are classified into 4 categories and Brahmin is among one of them i.e. people who engage in worship of god. There are various segments of Brahmins like Sanadhya, Saryupari, Kanyakubj and Jijhotia etc. which are based on the name of Rishi and Munis (Sage or Saints). Shringirishi Brahmins are also part of this system but they are few in numbers and are less known in country.
Shringirishi Brahmins are said to be the heirs of Shringirishi Maharaj. Eldest son of Brahma was Marichi, Marichi’s son was Kashyap, Kashyap’s son was Bibhandak and Bibhandaka’s son was Shringirishi. Shringirishi Maharaj was Bal Brahmchari and Mantra Drishtya when invited by King Rompad of Ang Desh (Bihar), conducted Parjanya Yagya for rain god and got rid him from worst famine in his kingdom by connecting all the rivers of his kingdom. Shringirishi Maharaj was famous for Putreshthi Yagya (Yagya for offspring or child) and King Rompad got son. Then on invitation from guru Vashishtha, he conducted Putreshthi Yagya for King Dashrath and Dashrath got 4 sons viz. Lord Rama, Laxman, Bharat and Shatrughna. Later, King Rompad married his daughter Shanta with Shringirishi Maharaj. Shanta was the daughter of King Dashrath and later was adopted by King Rompad as per description given in "Kritvas Ramayan" of Orisa/Bengal.
Shringirishi Brahmins are known as Shringirishi, Nayak, Sharma, Bhatt, Pandey, Upadhyay, etc. they are inhabitants of Bundelkhand region (Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh), Jhansi, Sagar, Bhopal, Damoh, Katni, Jabalpur etc. Another segment of Shringirihi Brahmins live in Rajasthan and are known as Sikhwal Brahmins.
There are 17 Gotras and 24 Pata among Shringirishi Brahmins.
There are about 50 Temples, ashram of Shringirishi Maharaj through out the country perhaps more than other Rishis(Sage or Saints). Melas (Fairs) are organized on different occasions on his name.
TEMPLE |
PLACE |
MELA AND OCCASION |
|---|---|---|
Temple at Pushkar |
Pushkar (Rajashthan) |
On Karthik Purnima |
Jharnashram |
Baruasagar, Jhansi (UP) |
On Sharad Purnima |
Eklingi |
Udaipur (Rajasthan) |
Stone edict of year 1428 |
Ashram at Kullu |
Kullu (Himachal Pradesh) |
On Dussehra |
Shahjadpura Temple |
Agra-Mathura Road (UP) |
|
Shrangverpur Temple |
Allahabad (UP) |
|
Parishna Ped Temple |
Meerut (UP) |
|
Kharela Temple |
Hamirpur (UP) |
|
Agastya Nagar Temple |
Uttarakhand |
A lot of research work has been done on Shringirishi Maharaj and various books are also written on him.
CHIR KALYANI – Written by Mrs. Kanti Trivedi felicitated by UP and MP government.
TAPASWI O TARANGINI – Written by Shri Budhdeo Basu winner of Sahitya Academy Award
MANTRA DRISHTA RISHYA SHRINGA – Published by Maharishi Rishya Shrang Trust Gautambudh Nagar.
Article on Shringirishi – by Shri Chakravarti Rajgopalachari in Swantantra Bharat in 1947.
References:
1. Ramayana written by Valmiki old Indian epic.
2. Ram charit manas by Tulsidas old Indian epic.
3. Information taken from stone edict of 1428 in Eklingi Udaipur (Rajasthan).
4. Chir Kalyani by Mrs. Kanti Trivedi.
5. Tapaswi O Tarangini by Budhdeo Basu 1
