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King Gaadhi's name is not very well known in comparison to his son - Vishwaamitra; but he is a very important King because he had the son Vishwaamitra who in spite of being born in a Kshatriya family became Brahmarshi. This is the only case in Indian history that a Kshatriya had changed his Varn through great penance. Another similar case is of Parashuraam who in spite of being born in a Braahman family became a Kshatriya.

Birth of Gaadhi
According to V-Raamaayan, 1/10/32

Brahmaa had a brainchild named Kush. Kush had four sons named Kushaamb, Kushnaabh, Adhoortrajas, and Vasu. Kushnaabh married Ghritaachee named Apsaraa and had 100 daughters from her. Once Pavan Dev proposed to them to marry him but they politely refused. Pavan Dev got angry at this and disfigured them. There was a Rishi Choolee who had a brainchild son from his maid, a Gandharv woman Urmilaa's daughter Somadaa, named Brahmdatt. He was ruling Kaampilya Nagar. Kushnaabh married his daughters to him. As soon he touched their hands for marriage, they all became all right.

After marrying his daughters to Brahmdatt, Kushnaabh did a Putreshti Yagya to get a son. During the Yagya his father Kush said to him that he would get a son named Gaadhi and through him he would be renowned throughout this world. After that Gaadhi was born to him. He was the king of Kaanyakubj.

According to Vishnu Puraan, 4/7
There was a King named Kush in Chandra Vansh - (Chandramaa > Budh > Pururavaa > Amaavasu >> Jahnu > Kush). Kush had four sons - Kushaamb, Kushnaabh, Adhoortarajaa, and Vasu. Once Kushnaabh did Tap with the desire to get a son like Indra. Seeing his Tap Indra himself became his son and was born as Gaadhi or Kaushik. Gaadhi had a daughter named Satyavatee who was married to Bhrigu Vanshee Muni Richeek. Gaadhi did not want to marry his daughter to an angry old Braahman, so he asked him to bring 1,000 black-eared white horses. Richeek Muni brought them from Ashwateerth from Varun and gave them to Gaadhi, then only Gaadhi could marry his daughter to Muni Richeek.

What happened next? How Vishwaamitra was born to him? To know this read Birth of Jamadagni and Vishwaamitra.

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