Vibhandaka

Vibhandak Rishi (Hindi-विभान्डक ॠषि) was the legendary Indian Hindu saint or Rishi of sage Kashyapa's lineage. His son was Rishyashring Rishi - great saint of the Ramayan era of ancient India.

Vibhandaka
In-universe information
Children	Rishyasringa

Legends

Once when Sage Kashyap was meditating,a man came from his mind.He was Vibhandaka. As soon as he was born,he went to a forest to do penance for self-realization. There in Swarga , Indra was worried that Vibhandaka might usurp his Indrasan, so Indra sent Apsara Urvarshi to break Vibhandaka's penance. As Urvarshi was divine, she realized that Vibhandaka didn't wanted any material gains and it would be impossible to seduce him. So she came to Sage Vibhandaka's ashram and started chanting Vedic mantras clearly and loudly. Vibhandaka, who was meditating, heard the clear pronunciation of Vedic mantras, looked at Urvarshi. She fell at his feet and said, " Only for begetting a son from you(Vibhandaka), I've chanted these mantras. If you won't do the process of bearing son with me, I will end myself (do suicide).Vibhandaka said, " I won't do the process of bearing son with you, because doing the process of bearing son with you would reduce the effect of my penance, but I will not let you die ." So, Vibhandaka dropped his semen and told Urvarshi to impregnate herself. Urvarshi then understood that Vibhandaka won't usurp the Indrasan and Indra had nothing to fear, so her mission was fulfilled . But she didn't want to become pregnant . But there, Vibhandaka's semen was burning the Earth ,so, using her divine powers, Apsara Urvarshi transferred the semen in the ovaries of a deer. The deer soon delivered a BABY WHO HAD A HUMAN FORM, BUT WITH DEER HORNS. This child was 'Rishyashringa' by name, meaning - 'A baby with deer horns'.

Ashram

His ashram was near Bhind town of Madhya Pradesh state, where he undertook great penance and austerities for ultimate realization of God.

According to a story of Vanparv of the Hindu Epic Mahabharat, there was an Ashram of Vibhandak Rishi in the area of Kaushiki Devnadi river. Kaushiki Devnadi river is identified as Kunwari or Kwari river. The name of Bhind town is named after this great saint. An ancient temple of Vibhandak or Bhindi Rishi is still located at Bhind.

According to the classic Parmal Raso, King Prithiviraj Chauhan encamped in the dense forest at the Samadhi Sthal (place for memorial) of Vibhandak Rishi, while going to fight with Chandels in the Battle of Sirsagarh and defeated their commander Malkhan.

It is also stated that Pandavas, during their banishment, visited his Ashram. This place is now the location of the Van Khandeshwar Temple of Lord Shiva built by Prithiviraj Chauhan.

Advaita Mathas

According to the Advaita Vedanta, Adi Sankara established four Maṭhas (Sanskrit: मठ) (monasteries), with the headquarters at Dvārakā in the West, Jagannatha Puri in the East, Sringeri in the South and Badrikashrama in the North.[1] Each math was headed by one of his four main disciples, who each continues the Vedanta Sampradaya.

According to Pandey, these Mathas were not established by Shankara himself, but were originally ashrams established by Vibhāņdaka and his son Ŗșyaśŗnga.[2] Shankara inherited the ashrams at Dvārakā and Sringeri, and shifted the ashram at Śŗngaverapura to Badarikāśrama, and the ashram at Angadeśa to Jagannātha Purī.[3]

Notes

1. Sankara Acarya Biography - Monastic Tradition Archived 8 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine
2. Pandey 2000, pp. 4–5.
3. Pandey 2000, p. 5.

Sources

• Pandey, S.L. (2000), Pre-Sankara Advaita. In: Chattopadhyana (gen.ed.), "History of Science, Philosophy and Culture in Indian Civilization. Volume II Part 2: Advaita Vedanta", Delhi: Centre for Studies in Civilizations