Bhargava

Bhargava (Devanagari: भार्गव) is a surname of Brahmins. That is, those who are descendants of Muni bhR^igu (Bhrigu). "भृगोः अपत्यानि पुमांसः भार्गवाः", which means that "the progeny of Bhrigu are Bhargavas".

The Lineage

(Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 66) The illustrious Bhrigu was born from Brahman. The learned Sukra is Bhrigu’s son. The planet Sukra (Planet Venus) is named after him. He became the spiritual guide of both the Daityas (enemies of Gods) and the Devas (Gods). Bhrigu begot another excellent son. This was Chyavana. Arushi, the daughter of Manu, became the wife of Chyavana. And, on her was begotten Aurva of great reputation. Aurva begot Richika. And Richika begot Jamadagni. The high-souled Jamadagni had four sons. The youngest of them all was Rama (Parasurama).

Normally the occupation of Brahmins in India were that of teaching, priesthood, officiating of sacrifices, performing of penaces etc. But some of them were warriors. They also taught the science of warfare. The Bhrigus or Bhargavas were one among the warrior class of Bhrahmins. Their main weapon was battle-axe which in Sanskrit was known as "Parasu". Hence Bhargava Rama was popular in the name Parasu-Rama.

Parasurama got his name Parasu since his favourate weaon was axe or parusu in sanskrit.His original name is Bhargava Rama

Bhargava is also the first name of many indians especially from the south India (Mostly brahmins)

The conflict between Bhargavas and Kshatriyas

The Bhargavas headed by Parasu Rama was a threat to the Kshatriya Kings who ruled in India during Treta and Dwapara Yuga. The arrival of this warrior class Bhargavas to India, were some where around the transition period of Treta Yuga and Dwapara Yuga.

They have attacked and annihilated the existing Kshatria rulers of India, as many as 21 times, probably spanning a time period of a 1000 years. The rulers of central India were the major victims of this massacre. The first victim of Parasurama was a ruler of central India, of Haiheya tribe, called Kartavirya Arjuna. The Bhargavas and Kshatriyas were hostile to each other for this many years until they started living in harmony.

Evidence of the conflict spanning generations

Reflections of Aurva, the Grand-Grantfather of Parasurama ----> (Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 182) While lying unborn, I heard the doleful cries of my mother and other women of the Bhrigu race who were then being exterminated by the Kshatriyas. When those Kshatriyas began to exterminate the Bhrigus together with unborn children of their race, it was then that wrath filled my soul. My mother and the other women of our race, each in an advanced state of pregnancy, and my father, while terribly alarmed, found not in all the worlds a single protector. Then when the Bhrigu women found not a single protector, my mother held me in one of her thighs.

(Mahabharata, Book 13, Chapter 153) The mighty Kshatriya Talajangala was destroyed by a single Brahmana. viz., Aurva. (Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 2) In the interval between the Treta and Dwapara Yugas, Rama (the son of Jamadagni) great among all who have borne arms, urged by impatience of wrongs, repeatedly smote the noble race of Kshatriyas. And when that fiery meteor, by his own valour, annihilated the entire tribe of the Kshatriyas, he formed at Samanta-panchaka five lakes of blood.

(Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 64) The son of Jamadagni (Parasurama), after twenty-one times making the earth bereft of Kshatriyas wended to that best of mountains Mahendra and there began his ascetic penances. "Mahendra Mountains are in central India, the northern end of the Eastern Ghats of India, situated in the western part of Orissa." (Mahabharata, Book 1, Chapter 104) In olden days, Rama, the son of Jamadagni, in anger at the death of his father, slew with his battle axe the king of the Haihayas. " Haiheya was a central Indian kingdom in Madhya Pradesh of India, on the banks of Narmada river. Its capital was Mahishmati, the modern day town named Maheswar." (Mahabharata, Book 3, Chapter 85) One proceeds to Surparaka, where Jamadagni’s son (Parasurama) had formerly dwelt. "Surparaka also is in central India with the modern name Sopar."

(Mahabharata, Book 3, Chapter 115) Akritavrana (a disciple of Parasurama) said, ‘With pleasure shall I recite that excellent history, of the godlike deeds of Rama, the son of Jamadagni, who traced his origin to Bhrigu’s race. I shall also relate the achievements of the great ruler of the Haihaya tribe. That king, Arjuna by name, the mighty lord of the Haihaya tribe was killed by Rama. By the favour of Dattatreya he had a celestial car made of gold. (Mahabharata, Book 3, Chapter 117) Rama, the leader, thrice smote down all the Kashatriya followers of Kartavirya’s sons. And seven times did that powerful lord exterminate the military tribes of the earth.

Notable people with surname Bhargava

*Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya- 16th century Indian Hindu Emperor
*Vijay K Bhargava- Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UBC
*Manjul Bhargava- Renowned Professor of Mathematics at Princeton
*Vikrant Bhargava - Co-founder, Partygaming
*Gopi Chand Bhargava, first Chief Minister of Punjab
*Anju Bhargava - an award winning Community Builder
*Girdhari Lal Bhargava, Senior BJP politician and MP from Jaipur
*Prashant Bhargava, filmmaker and designer
*Mukat Behari Lal Bhargava, member of the Constituent Assembly of India

Links

[http://bhargavasamajglobal.com/ Akhil Bhartiya Bhargava Sabha]