Marichi
≈ 3 min read
Names in other languages
No names in other languages are held for this entry yet.
Article bodies are English and are not machine-translated. A name in another language is not a translation of the article.
Marichi ( ) or Mareechi or Marishi is the mind-born son of Brahma, and one of the Saptarishi in Hindu Sanskriti. He is also the father of Kashyapa, and the grandfather of the devas and the asuras. In Jainism, he is referred to as one of the previous reincarnations of the 24th Tirthankara, Mahavira and the grandson of Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara.
Marichi ( ) or Mareechi or Marishi is the mind-born son of Brahma, and one of the Saptarishi in Hindu Sanskriti. He is also the father of Kashyapa, and the grandfather of the devas and the asuras. In Jainism, he is referred to as one of the previous reincarnations of the 24th Tirthankara, Mahavira and the grandson of Rishabhanatha, the first Tirthankara.
Saptarishi
Saptarishi, a Sanskrit dvigu meaning "seven sages" are the seven rishis who are extolled at many places in the Vedas and Hindu literature. The Vedic Samhitas never enumerate these rishis by name, though later Vedic texts such as the Brahmanas and Upanishads do so. While earlier texts do not mention Marichi as one of the seven, references can be found in the epic Mahabharata. In some parts of India, people believe these are seven stars of the Big Dipper named "Vashista", "Marichi", "Pulastya", "Pulaha", "Atri", "Angiras" and "Kratu". There is another star slightly visible within it, known as "Arundhati". He is considered one among the seven great sages, the saptarishis. Marichi, like some of the other sages, followed the path of worldly duties denouncing total renunciation. He had many children, the notable one being sage Kashyapa.
Prajapatis
Before the creation started, Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, needed a few people who can be held responsible for the creation of the remaining Universe. Therefore, he is believed to have created ten Prajapatis (Ruler of the people) from his manas (mind) and nine from his body. Marichi is one of the manasputras of Brahma. The ten Prajapatis are as follows: Marichi Atri Angirasa Pulaha Pulasthya Krathu Vasishta Prachethasa Bhrigu Narada
Life
The life of Marichi is known more by the account of his descendants, notably by the works of sage Kashyapa. Marichi is then married to Kala, and gave birth to Kashyapa (Kashyapa is also sometimes acknowledged as a Prajapati, who has inherited the right of creation from his father).
Jainism
In Jain scriptures, Marichi was the son of Bharata Chakravartin who after many births was born as 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, Mahavira. In his life as Marichi, he became a Jain monk following Rishabhanatha, first tirthankara, but was unable to follow the hard rules of Jain penance. So he took a robe, pedals and an umbrella and founded his own religion, taking Kapila as his first disciple.
See also
Eta Ursae Majoris Mahavira
Notes
References
Text derived from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362689792 under CC BY-SA 4.0; modifications have been made.