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Angiraa
Maharshi Angiraa was one of the 10 Maanas Putra (brain child) of Brahmaa Jee - Mareechi,
Atri, Angiraa, Pulastya,
Pulah, Kratu,
Bhrigu, Vashishth,
Daksh and
Naarad. Maharshi Angiraa was married to Shraddhaa, one of nine daughters of
Kardam Rishi, and had three sons from her -
Utathya,
Brihaspati and Samvart. Brihaspati had two wives more - Shubh and
Taaraa.
Bhavishya Puraan, 1/15 says that he was married to Suroopaa also, the
daughter of Mareechi and Sambhooti, and had Brihaspati from her.
Angiraa's Lineage
From his one wife Shraddhaa he had three sons. From his another wife, Shubh,
he had 7 daughters. His yet another wife Taaraa gave birth to 7 sons and one
daughter. Brihaspati and Sudhanvaa
are his sons.
Note
Daksh (son of Prachetaa Gan) married his 2
daughters to Angiraa, Although their names are not given, but maybe these two
women - Shubh and Taaraa, are those 2 daughters of Daksh.
Birth of Brihaspati
From among the three sons, Utathya, Brihaspati and Samvart, Brihaspati has
a strange story of his birth. Angira's wife Shraddhaa, who was another creation
of Brahmaa, was unfaithful to her husband during her pregnancy period and as a
result she gave birth to a stillborn child. However she repented for her mistake
and was able to regain the favor of Angiraa. Angiraa then gave life to the child,
who was then named Brihaspati.
Birth of Bharadwaaj
But Brihaspati had two sons more from his brother Utathya's wife Mamataa -
Kach and
Bharadwaaj, how? Brihaspati had illicit relations with Utathya's wife Mamataa
when she was pregnant with Deerghtamaa.
Although the child asked him not to put another child with him, but Brihaspati did
not listen to him. Mamataa also requested him not to put another child in her womb
as her first existing child was already learned with Ved and Shaastra, but he
wouldn't listen to her also and said - "Let this child be called Bharadwaaj."
and cursed the existing child in the womb, "You have spoken to me at the time
of pleasure that is sought by all the creatures, so you will be in perpetual
darkness." That is why Deerghtamaa was born blind - because Brihaspati's curse.
Brihaspati's child Bharadwaaj was born immediately. Later Mamataa told Brihaspati
that since this child was not of her husband Utathya, he should bring him up, and
both started arguing on this issue. When they could not decide they left the child.
Since he was left like this he was named as Bharadwaaj. Maruts found him and brought
him up. Thus one son of Mamataa (from Brihaspati) was called Bharadwaaj and the other
child (from Utathya) was called Deerghtamaa. "Deergh" means "long"
and "Tamaa" means "darkness", so Deerghtamaa means who will be
living in darkness for long time. He was born blind.
Sudhanvaa
Naarad Jee tells a story to the people sitting there in
MBH, Sabhaa Parv, in Dice court of Duryodhan, about Angiraa's son, named
Sudhanvaa. In fact he just tells the story, but he tells nothing about Sudhanvaa.
This shows that Angiraa had one son more whose name was Sudhanvaa. Who was his
mother is not known and when he was born is also unknown.
Brihaspati, Chandramaa and Budh
As Brihaspati himself had illicit relations with his brother's wife, so he
was also not spared. Taaraa was very beautiful, so Chandramaa was attracted
to her. He kidnapped her and he wouldn't return her to Brihaspati even after
several requests. Chandramaa was mad about her. Chandramaa requested her to
be his partner but Taaraa told him that she was already with Brihaspati's
child, but Chandramaa didn't listen to her and impregnated her with his own
child. Now Taaraa was after Brihaspati Jee that he should bring up the child,
but Brihaspati Jee said - "He is not my child."
Now when the child was born, he was very beautiful. Both Brihaspati and
Chandramaa started fighting over it that "This is mine, this is
mine." Brahmaa Jee had to come to rescue. He asked Taaraa - "Whose
child it is?" Taaraa got embarrassed with this question, so she kept
quiet, then the child in womb spoke - "Why don't you tell the truth?"
Then somehow she told Brahmaa Jee - "It is Chandramaa's child." So
Chandramaa took that shiny child. Brahmaa Jee named him Budh because his Buddhi
(intelligence) was very sharp. Thus Budh is Chandramaa's son. Later Brihaspati
did severe penance for Shiv Jee so he appointed him the Guru of Devtaa and gave
the status of a planet among nine Planets. In Geetaa Krishn says that among the
priests he is Brihaspati.
Interesting family, isn't it?
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