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There are a few Mudgal mentioned in Hindu religious scriptures.

(1) One Mudgal is a Braahman Rishi and is known for his generosity and simplicity. Mudgal has written one Upanishad out of 108 Upanishad - Mudgalopanishad. He had a daughter named Marudwatee. He married her to Rishi Mrikandu. They had a son named Maarkandeya Muni.

(2) According to Bhaagvat Puraan, 9/12, one Mudgal was a king and was in the lineage of Bharat > > Rantidev etc. He had a twins - a son named Divodaas and a daughter named Ahalyaa. He married his daughter Ahalyaa to Maharshi Gautam whose son was Sharadwaan - Raajaa Janak's Kul Guru.

(3) One Mudgal Rishi has been mentioned in Mahaabhaarat, G-4-Van/19, that he was married to Indrasenaa - the daughter of Naaraayan.

(4) One Mudgal is mentioned in Padm Puraan, 1/31. He is a Kshatriya and is Bheemak's son. He lives in kaundinya Nagaree. Once Yam Raaj sent his Doot (messengers) to bring his soul as his life was over, but his Doot brought Rishi Mudgal. Yam Raaj scolded them as why should they bring Mudgal Muni, they should have brought Mudgal Kshatriya, Bheemak's son.

(4) A mention of Mudgal Rishi comes in Bhavishya Puraan, 4/46 also, in the context of Dhenu Daan - Once Mudgal Rishi went to Yam Lok wandering around. He found many sinners suffering in various Narak. Seeing Mudgal Rishi people got relief and they became very happy. Muni got surprised to see those people relieved. He asked Yam Raaj the reason for this. Yam Raaj said - "Its main reason is this that you have done Dhenu Daan in three consecutive lives. Whoever will think of you, will talk about you, will see you; or to whoever you will see and remember, they all will be happy and comforted. Who does this Daan, he does not get afflicted for thousands of life. Now you also go to your own Lok, because who have meditated upon Krishn, they don't come under my rule. Who does Krishn's Vrat, worship, pronounces His name and mediates upon Him, he never comes to this Lok. Who donates saying "Achyutah Preeyataam" he never comes to my Lok. I rule all Lok and Krishn rules me."

(5) Another story comes in Padm Puraan, 5/13 about Mudgal Muni, in the context of importance of Kaarttik Snaan and Tulasee leaves. There was a king named Chol who had done many Yagya and Daan and was very proud of them. Once he went to a temple and offered golden flower studded with gems to Vishnu and sat down there. A little later, a poor Braahman came there with Tulasee leaves and water in his hands. He bathed Vishnu idol with water, offered Him Tulasee leaves and flowers. These leaves and flowers covered the King's golden flower. Seeing this the King got angry and said to him - "You don't know Vishnu's Bhakti, your leaves and flowers have covered my golden flower." Braahman also said - "Raajan, You don't know Vishnu's Bhakti." The King asked him furiously - "How many Yagya and Daan you have done for Vishnu? Let us see who has the Darshan of Vishnu first?" After saying this the King left the temple, but the Braahman still stayed back there. He continued to worship Vishnu with Tulasee leaves and flowers, Ekaadashee Vrat and 12-letter Mantra Jaap. The King started doing Yagya and Daan under the supervision of Maharshi Mudgal.

One day the Braahman cooked his food and went to offer Naivedya to Vishnu. When he came back he did not see his food. He thought, who took his food? but he did not cook food again because if he cooked it again he would be late for his evening worship. The next day it happened again. He did not like it, so he thought to keep a watch. As he watched he saw a thin person taking his food and running away. He shouted from there - "O man, Take this Ghee also, do not take this dry food." But as he arrived near him he found him not a thin man but Naaraayan Himself. Naaraayan was very happy with him and He took the Braahman to His Vaikunth Dhaam.

When the King saw him going to Vaikunth, he got very angry and thought that his Yagya and Daan are not enough to have Vishnu's Darshan. Thinking thus he coronated his sister's son on the throne, went towards Yagya Kund and prayed, "Hey Bhagavan, Give me your Bhakti." and jumped into the Yagya Kund. Seeing this Mudgal Muni got very angry and he uprooted his Shikhaa (a small tuft of hair maintained at the back tip of the head). Since then his descendents do not keep Shikhaa; and since then in that country only the king's sister's sons are coronated as kings.

There is no way to prove that all the Mudgal are same, or how many are they.

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