The names of nineteen Bhrigus are given in the "Matsya Purana," who are said to be composers of hymns; Bhrigu himself being one of the narrators of the Mahabharata. Professor Roth [**] speaks of the Bhrigus as a class of mythological beings, who belonged to the aerial or middle class of gods. They were the discoverers of fire, and then brought it to men. He adds that the race has a connection with history, as one of the chief Brahmanical families bears the name, and allusions are made to the fact in the hymns of the Rig-Veda.

In the Ramayana there are not many references to Bhrigu; he is there called a Maharishi; and Rama is induced to slay a female demon by the remembrance that Vishnu slew Brigu's wife when she aspired to Indra's throne. He is the saint whom the childless wives of Sagar worshipped in order to obtain a son; and he gave to one lady one, to the other sixty thousand. Parasurama was one of his most illustrious descendants.

2. PULASTYA.

Pulastya, another of Brahma's mind-born sons, is reverenced because it was through him that the Puranas were made known to men. The reason of his being regarded as the Revealer of Scripture is taught in the "Vishnu Purana," [**] where the narrator Parasara, in answer to a question of his disciple Maitreya, says: "You recall to my mind what was of old narrated by my father's father, Vasishtha. I had heard that my father had been devoured by a Rakshas, employed by Visvamitra: violent anger seized me, and I commenced a sacrifice for the destruction of the Rakshasas; hundreds of them were reduced to ashes by the rite, when, as they were about to be entirely extirpated, my grandfather Vasishtha thus spake to me: 'Enough, my child; let thy wrath be appeased; the Rakshasas are not culpable: thy father's death was the work of destiny.'"

Parasara ceased from his sacrifice, and his grandfather was pleased; then Pulastya coming said to him: "Since, in the violence of animosity, you have listened to the words of your progenitor, and exercised clemency, you shall become learned in every science. Since you have forborne, even though incensed, to destroy my posterity, I will bestow on you another boon; you shall become the author of a summary of the Puranas, shall know the true nature of the deities, and your understanding through my favour shall be perfect and free from doubts." Parasara relates the Purana as told him formerly "by Vasishtha and the wise Pulastya."

Pulastya married Prithi, a daughter of Daksha, by whom he had a son, the sage Agastya; the Bhagavata

calls his wife Havisbhu, whose sons were Agastya and Visravas, the father of Kuvera, Ravana, and other Rakshasas.