Marichi (मरीचिः)

Marichi (Samskrit : )

THE GREAT sage, belonged to the group V of the 'seven great sages' (saptarishi). He was born of Brahma's mind in the same manner as the four kumaras. However, unlike the kumaras, who chose the path of renunciation, Marichi followed the path of worldly duties.

He is acknowledged to have sired numerous offspring. One of them was Sage Kashyapa, to whom a large number of Hindus trace their ancestry. The scriptures proclaim Marichi to have been an incarnation of Mahavishnu's sustaining energy. By his austerities and right livelihood he reached such an exalted state that he officiated as a priest in the sacrifice performed by Brahma at Pushkar, in present-day Rajasthan. The Brahma Purana, consisting of ten thousand shlokas (stanzas), was given to Marichi by Brahma. His name also figures prominently in the Vedas.

Held in high regard, Marichi visited Bhishma when he lay on a bed of arrows on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. He was responsible for advising Dhruva when the young boy was practising austerities.

Dharmavrata pleading with Marichi to revoke the curse.