Bhrgu is one of Brahma's sons and one of the seven sages whose names denote exogamous clan "lineages" (gotra) in Hindu mythology.
The others are Kashyapa, Bharadvaja, Vasishtha, Gautama, Atri, and Vishvamitra.
All brahmins are said to be descended from these seven sages, with each family's progenitor's name serving as its gotra name.
These boundaries are still significant in contemporary times, since marriage inside the gotra is prohibited.
The bride takes her husband's gotra as part of her new identity after her marriage.
Bhrgu is most known for putting the three main Hindu gods to the test, with Vishnu emerging as the most powerful of the three.
- Bhrgu initially visits Brahma's home, where the deity fails to show Bhrgu the respect he deserves, and in retaliation, Bhrgu curses Brahma with no devotion.
- He then goes to visit Shiva, who declines to meet with him since he is in the middle of making love to his wife Parvati.
- Bhrgu, in response, punishes Shiva by making him worship the linga, a pillar-shaped emblem with obvious phallic connotations.
- Finally, he pays a visit to Vishnu and, finding him sleeping, kicks him in the chest.
- Vishnu awakens, yet he is unconcerned by the disrespect.
- Instead, he rubs Bhrgu's foot, asks if it's sore, and pledges to keep its mark on his breast, where it appears as the shrivatsa, forever.
Bhrgu declares Vishnu the greatest of all gods because of his generous conduct.
This version of the story is only found in Vaishnava sectarian literature, which is not unexpected.
Prohibitions against marriage may also be found here.
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