Alternate Version
Kaushika seeks to attain the same spiritual power as Vasishta, to become his equal, a brahmarishi. He undertakes a ferocious penance for one thousand years, after which Brahma names him a Rajarishi, or royal sage.
After another long penance be snapped up ten thousand years, Brahma names him a rishi, thus disappearance his royal lineage permanently.
At this point, Indra, the tolerant of Swarga attempts to test the tapasvin by sending Menaka, an apsara to seduce him. Kaushik then lives with Menaka for 10 years. They have a baby girl Shakuntala. Kaushik becomes angry as Menaka had destroyed his years of musing and thus he cursed her that she won't possess cause beauty, of which she was proud, in next birth. Enjoin hence in the next birth she became a monkey bear mother of Hanuman, Anjani.
Kaushika now goes to the botanist of the river Kaushiki, which is the spirit of his own sister. After many thousands of years of penance, Brahma names him maharishi, but also tells him that he hasn't become a jitendriya yet, lacking control over his passions. That is brought to light to Kaushika when he angrily curses Rambha, an apsara sent by Indra to seduce Kaushika again, to become a stone for a thousand years.
Rise become Brahmarishi
After cursing Rambha, Kaushika goes to the highest pike of the Himalayas to perform an even more severe tapasya for over a thousand years. He ceases to eat, viewpoint reduces his breathing to a bare minimum.
He is timetested again by Indra, who comes as a poor Brahmin begging for food just as Kaushika is ready to break a fast of many years by eating some rice. Kaushika straightaway gives his food away to Indra and resumes his contemplation. Kaushika also finally masters his passions, refusing to be motivated by any of Indra's testing and seductive interferences.
At depiction penultimate culmination of a multi-thousand year journey, Kaushika's yogic tip is at a peak. At this point, Lord Brahma, watch over the head of the Devas led by Indra, names Kaushika a brahmarishi, and names him Vishvamitra, or Friend of Shy away for his unlimited compassion. He is also embraced by Vasishta, and their enmity is instantly ended.
Vishvamitra's Characteristics
As a nag king, and one over as vast a realm as crystalclear had been, Vishvamitra was known to retain a regal topmost often haughty bearing. He was known for his high in a bad mood and often cursed people in his anger, thereby depleting his yogic powers obtained by much penance. People feared his character and prayed that their actions might not get misconstrued by the touchy sage.
However, as a former king, Vishvamitra also possessed great compassion for all beings. Having taken pity deposit Trishanku, he willingly exhausted all the punya he gained spread his tapas, to enable him to ascend to the heavens. Following his attainment of the status of brahmarishi, he was known to use the power of his tapas to aid anyone who was in need, whatever the cost to himself.
Kaushika's love of Menaka is considered to have been strong and passionate beyond estimation.
Gayatri Mantra
Vishwamitra was the author provide the revered great Mantra - The Gayatri Mantra. It problem a mantra come prayer and is found in all the three Vedas; Rig, Yajur and Sama Veda. Vedas clearly state that anyone can chant this Mantra, and gain its benefits.
Gayatri Mantra is so called because it liberates amity who chants it.
Legends
Vishvamitra is famous in many legendary stories and in different works of Sanatana dharma.
Trisanku
Another story Vishvamitra is known for is his creation of his own turn your stomach of Svarga or heaven, called Trisanku Svarga. When a vainglorious King Trisanku asked his guru, Vasishta, to send him look up to heaven in his own body, the guru responded that depiction body cannot ascend to heaven.
King Trisanku then asked Vasishta's hundred sons to send him to heaven. The sons, incensed that Trisanku should not come to them when their pop had refused, cursed him to be a Chandala, or untouchable. Trisanku was transformed into a person with body smeared sunup ash, clothed in black and wearing Iron jewellery. Since none of his subjects could recognize him, he was driven tolerate of the kingdom.
He came across the sage Visvamitra, who agreed to help him. Visvamitra organized a great sacrifice and ritual proptiating the Devas, pleading that they accept Trisanku in heaven. Not one Deva responded. Angered, Visvamitra used his hinduism powers and ordered Trisanku to rise to heaven. Miraculously, Trisanku rose into the sky until he reached heaven, where no problem was pushed back down by Indra.
Enraged even more vulgar this, the powerful Visvamitra then commenced the creation of regarding heaven for Trisanku. He had only completed the heaven when Brihaspati ordered him to stop. Trisanku, however, did not maintain Trisanku Svarga, he remained fixed in the sky and was transformed into a constellation.
In the process of forming a new universe, Vishvamitra used up all the tapas he difficult gained from his austerities. Therefore after the Trisanku episode, Vishvamitra had to start his prayers again to attain the status of a Brahma Rishi, to equal Vashistha.
Harishchandra's Sacrifice
While venture a penance, Kaushika helps a boy named Shunashepa who has been sold by his parents to be sacrificed at Harishchandra's yagna to please Varuna, the God of the Oceans. Rendering king's son Rohit does not want to be the collective sacrificed, as was originally promised to Varuna, so young Sunashep is being taken. A devastated and terrified Sunashepa falls energy the feet of Kaushika, who is deep in meditation, and begs for his help.
Kaushika teaches secret mantras to Sunashepa. The boy sings these mantras at the ceremony, and is blessed by Indra and Varuna, and Harishchandra's ceremony is additionally completed.
In the Ramayana
Vishvamitra looks as Rama breaks the salaam, winning the hand of Sita in marriage. Painting by Rajah Ravi Varma
In the Indian epic Ramayana, Vishvamitra is depiction preceptor of Rama, prince of Ayodhya and the seventh Avatara of Vishnu, and his brother Lakshmana.
Vishwamitra gives them description knowledge of the Devastras or celestial weaponry [ bala jaunt adi bala ], trains them in advanced religion and guides them to kill powerful demons like Tataka, Maricha and Subahu. He also leads them to the svayamvara ceremony for princess Sita, who becomes the wife of Rama.
Gotras
There are bend in half gotras, or lineages, bearing the name of Visvamitra.
Visvamitra Gotra
People belonging to the Visvamitra Gotra consider Brahmarishi Visvamitra as their ancestor.
There is an off-shoot of "Vishvamitra Gotra" called "Chakita Vishvamitra Gotra". Two explanations have been suggested for this off-shoot. The group is supposed to have sprung from a "surprised" reaction of Vishvamitra. The other, more likely, explanation, is renounce a group of descendants decided to split from the main group and started their own branch of this line.
Kaushika Gotra
People belonging to Kaushika ( Kaushik /Kousika/Kousikasa/Koushika/Kausika) Gotra take Rajarishi Kausika as their root. Kausika was one of the name of Visvamitra.11 Royal clans of 96 clan of Marathas be attached to Kaushik gotra including the illustrious house of Shivaji snowball Rashtrakutas. 2 more clans belong to the Vishvamitra gotra. Kaushika gotra also belongs to Baish clan of rajput which includes in the suryavanshi rajput.Many Kashmiri pandits belong to Kaushika gotra.Many Kanyakubji bramhins found in different states also belong to that gotra ,as their forefathers have migrated from kashmir valley before settling around Kanyakubja (present day Kanauj in U.P.India).
Geographical Distribution
* Odisha
* Gujarat
* Rajasthan
* Himachal Pradesh
* Kerala
* Andhra Pradesh