Bhrigu Muni, The Father of Astrology

Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Chapter 10

TEXT 25

maharsinam bhrgur aham
giram asmy ekam aksaram
yajnanam japa-yajno ‘smi
sthavaranam himalayah

SYNONYMS

maharsinam—among the great sages; bhrguh—Bhrgu; aham—I am; giram—of vibrations; asmi—I am; ekam aksaram-pranava; yajnanam—of sacrifices; japa-yajnah—chanting; asmi—I am; sthavaranam—of immovable things; himalayah—the Himalayan mountains

TRANSLATION

Of the great sages I am Bhrgu; of vibrations I am the transcendental om. Of sacrifices I am the chanting of the holy names [japa], and of immovable things I am the Himalayas.

PURPORT

Brahma, the first living creature within the universe, created several sons for the propagation of various kinds of species. The most powerful of his sons is Bhrgu, who is also the greatest sage. Of all the transcendental vibrations, the “om”(omkara) represents the Supreme. Of all the sacrifices, the chanting of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare is the purest representation of Krsna. Sometimes animal sacrifices are recommended, but in the sacrifice of Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, there is no question of violence. It is the simplest and the purest. Whatever is sublime in the worlds is a representation of Krsna. Therefore the Himalayas, the greatest mountains in the world, also represent Him. The mountain named Meru was mentioned in a previous verse, but Meru is sometimes movable, whereas the Himalayas are never movable. Thus the Himalayas are greater than Meru.

Here, Krishna is saying that of the great sages, He is Bhrgu. Bhrgu Muni was one of the seven great sages, the Saptarishis. When Lord Brahma was performing a sacrifice on behalf of Varuna, Bhrgu was born from the sacrificial fire. He became one of many Prajapatis or progenitors of creation. Bhrgu Muni is the father of astrology. He authored the Bhrgu Samhita, the first book of astrological calculations. It is from Bhrgu Muni that this divine science began. Astrologers pray to him for guidance in their readings.