Bhavana Rishi and the Padmasaliyar tradition

Bhavana Rishi and the Padmasaliyar tradition

At the centre of the Padmasaliyar lineage tradition stands Bhavana (Bavana) Rishi. The belief in the 101 gotras arises from regarding him as the ancestor of the community. This chapter sets out that tradition in three categories.

• Purana / Kulapurana
• Living community tradition
• Written evidence
• Yet to be verified

The line of descent

This is the sequence told in the Kulapuranas. The category of each step is marked.

1. Bhrigu Maharishi → Mrikandu → MarkandeyaPurana. Some community websites show the root of the lineage in this way.
2. Bhavana RishiPurana. He is said to have appeared, holding a lotus, from Markandeya’s sacrifice.
3. 101 sons / descendantsPurana. There are different versions (see below).
4. 101 rishi gotrasLiving community tradition. Still used today as a family identity and in arranging marriages.
5. Eight main divisionsYet to be verified. Details below.

Two traditions of one story

The Padmasaliyar community has two traditions, Vaishnava and Shaiva. They explain the origin of the name a little differently.

Differences found in the accounts

Because the Kulapurana was handed down orally over many generations, there are small differences from one source to another. Honest history records them without hiding them.

• Wives: Some accounts say that Bhavana Rishi had two wives, daughters of the Sun (Prasannavati and Bhadravati). Others mention only one wife, Bhadravati.
• The 101: In some places they are the sons of Bhavana Rishi. Elsewhere they are said to be 101 descendants of rishis whom he adopted, he himself having been adopted by Markandeya.
• Name: The names Bhavana Rishi, Bhavanarayana and Vedasiras are also found in some places.

Gotra — a tradition still alive

Although the 101 gotras are a puranic number, gotra is a social practice that is still in use. It serves to order family identity and marriage relations.

The eight main divisions

At a glance