“The Sage of Kurukṣhetra: Legacy of Ṛiṣhi Mudgal”
By Cdr Alok Mohan
**ॐ अश्नन्तु यज्ञं सम् विदधन्तु तर्पयन्तु चोत्तमम् ।
शरद्विद्यया दग्धव्ये यज्ञे परितः सुष्ठु भूयात् ॥
Transliteration:
“Oṃ aśnantu yajñaṃ sam vidadhantu tarpayantu cottamam |
śarad-vidyayā dagdhavye yajñe paritaḥ suṣṭhu bhūyāt ||”
English translation:
“Oṃ — May they (the participants) consume the sacrifice, distribute it, and duly satiate it.
By autumnal knowledge, in a fire prepared (in the Yajña), may all around be properly burnt — may that Yajña prosper.”
Note: This is not a verse explicitly from ancient scriptures about Rishi Mudgal, but chosen as emblematic of Vedic sacrifice (yajña) and knowledge (vidyā), two themes central to Ṛṣi Mudgal’s life and teaching.
Introduction
Rishi Mudgal was an ancient Vedic sage born in the illustrious Angira clan. He is revered as the seer (ṛiṣhi) of the 102nd Sūkta of the Tenth Maṇḍala of the Ṛigveda. His father was also named Mudgal and his mother was Bhagirathi. His wife is mentioned in various traditions as Jābālā, Indrasenā, or Mudgalānī. In the Mahābhārata, he is also referred to as Chandra Sena. References to him appear frequently across Vedic texts, and his life and teachings are celebrated in later works such as the Bṛhaddevatā and several Purāṇas. Tradition also holds that he was a minister in the court of Rāma, and he is identified as the foremost among the five disciples of Mahariṣi Śākalya, the seer of the Śākalya Saṃhitā, the principal recension of the Ṛgveda. Together with his five brothers, he brought fame to the land of Pañchāla.
Sage Mudgal is credited with the authorship of the Mudgal Purāṇa, which emphasizes devotion and ritual worship. He lived in Kurukṣhetra, the sacred pilgrimage center of Pañchāla, and was renowned as a great donor, a religious and truthful soul, a dedicated ascetic, and a steadfast devotee of Lord Viṣṇu. He embodied the highest ideals of dharma through his reverence for gods, guests, cows, Brahmins, and saints. His lifestyle was marked by simplicity and austerity. He and his family lived by śiloccavṛtti, collecting a modest amount of grain every fortnight—one drona, equal to about thirty-four kilograms. From this humble subsistence, he performed regular sacrifices such as the darśa-pūrṇamāsa yajñas on new moon and full moon days, as well as seasonal offerings like the āgrayaṇa-yajña.
In one celebrated episode, Sage Mudgal performed a great yajña to please Lord Viṣhṇu. Deeply moved by his devotion, Viṣhṇu appeared before him seated upon Garuḍa. Overjoyed, Mudgal declared that his life had been fulfilled, his wife blessed, and his penance rewarded. Pleased with his sincerity, Viṣhṇu offered him a boon. Mudgal asked only for two things: that his devotion remain pure and unshaken, and that he might daily perform havan with cow’s milk for the satisfaction of Agni and the pleasure of the Lord. Viṣṇu granted these requests, ordering Viśhvakarmā to create a sacred lake and commanding the celestial cow Surabhī to fill it with milk each morning and evening. This divine arrangement continued throughout Mudgal’s lifetime.
At the close of his earthly journey, Viṣṇu assured the sage that he would be freed from all worldly bonds and would ascend to the supreme abode. Even today, the sacred lake known as Kshirsagar stands as a living testimony to his devotion, venerated as a pilgrimage site of Sanātana Dharma and as a symbol of the everlasting glory (suyash) of Maharṣi Mudgal.
Ṛṣi Mudgal is a sage, revered in the Hindu tradition, whose life is narrated in Vedic, Purāṇic, and epic sources. He is associated with generous charity, deep devotion (bhakti), austere conduct (tapasya), ritual purity, and a model of dharma. Various traditions present him as both a seer of Vedic hymns, composer of Purāṇic works, a royal figure, and a teacher. His life stories emphasize moral integrity, self‐control, hospitality, devotion to deities (especially Viṣṇu and Gaṇapati), and the harmony of ritual with inner purity.
Biographical Sketch
Ṛiṣhi Mudgal, also known as Mudgala, was born into the distinguished lineage of the Angira clan, a family of ancient Vedic seers. His father was also named Mudgal and his mother was Bhagirathi. Traditional accounts tell us that Mudgal had five brothers, and together they gave renown to the land of Pañcāla, which became associated with their lineage. His spouse is variously named in different sources: Jābālā, Indrasenā, Nalayani, or Mudgalāṇī. Their family is linked with celebrated figures such as Divodāsa, Vadhryasva, and Ahalyā. Such genealogical connections highlight Mudgal’s importance not only as an individual sage but as a pivotal figure in Vedic and epic traditions, where dynastic and spiritual heritages are deeply intertwined.
In the Vedic corpus, Mudgal is remembered as a seer (dṛṣṭā) of a hymn of the Ṛgveda—the 102nd Sūkta of the Tenth Maṇḍala. This authorship signifies his direct participation in the earliest stratum of Hindu sacred revelation. He is further identified as the foremost disciple of Maharṣi Śākalya, the great authority of the Śākalya Saṃhitā, one of the principal recensions of the Ṛgveda. Thus, Mudgal stands not only as a recipient of divine vision but also as a transmitter and interpreter of Vedic tradition. Such recognition places him among the central preservers of sacred knowledge during the formative centuries of Vedic religion.
Apart from his role as a Vedic sage, Mudgal’s presence extends into epic and Purāṇic literature. In certain narratives, he is described as a minister in the court of Lord Rāma, while in other strands of tradition he is remembered as a king who renounced royal life to pursue the ascetic path of a ṛṣi. These variations reflect the archetype of the rājarṣi—a royal sage who combines political authority with spiritual insight. His residence in the holy land of Kurukṣetra, one of the foremost pilgrimage centers of ancient India, further associates his life with a geography sanctified in both epic and ritual traditions.
Mudgal’s life was marked by ascetic discipline, ritual exactitude, and an unwavering devotion to dharma. He and his family lived through a simple and austere practice known as śiloccavṛtti—subsisting on modest gleanings of grain collected every fortnight. From this humble provision, he regularly conducted sacrifices, especially the darśa-pūrṇamāsa rites performed on new moon and full moon days, as well as seasonal agra-yajñas. Once, in an act of supreme devotion, Mudgal undertook a great yajña to please Lord Viṣṇu. His sincerity and selflessness moved the deity to appear before him, granting him the boon of unbroken devotion and the ability to offer daily oblations with cow’s milk. By divine command, the celestial cow Surabhi filled a lake with milk each day, which came to be known as Kṣīrasāgara. This episode emphasizes the confluence of ritual, devotion, and divine grace in his life.
Mudgal is also associated with the authorship of the Mudgal Purāṇa and the Mudgala Upaniṣad. The Purāṇa especially exalts Lord Gaṇapati, providing rituals, hymns, and forms of worship that remain influential in Ganeśa devotion. His legacy also continues through the Maudgalya gotra, which identifies his descendants among Brahmin communities. Thus, Mudgal’s life emerges as a tapestry woven from Vedic revelation, Purāṇic devotion, epic narrative, and social memory, situating him at the intersection of historical lineage and spiritual archetype.
Teachings: Themes and Ethical Precepts
The teachings of Ṛṣi Mudgal are not found in a single treatise but are embodied in the stories and traditions that surround his name. Foremost among these is his unwavering devotion (bhakti). Mudgal exemplified a devotional attitude free from desire for worldly gain. His only prayer to Lord Viṣṇu was that his faith remain steadfast and pure. This illustrates the principle that true worship lies not in external display but in inner constancy of love and surrender. His life demonstrates that divine favor is not attained through grandeur but through sincerity and humility.
Alongside devotion, Mudgal embodied tapasya or self-discipline. He restrained his senses, lived in simplicity, and accepted a life of austerity. By gathering a meager measure of grain every fortnight and using it solely for sacrificial offerings, he taught that spiritual discipline is not dependent on abundance but on self-restraint and right intention. His life demonstrates that control of the body and mind is a prerequisite for true religious accomplishment. This principle resonates with the broader Vedic understanding that sacrifice is as much inward as outward.
Charity (dāna) was another hallmark of Mudgal’s life. Despite limited means, he gave generously to gods, guests, Brahmins, and the needy. The story of Sage Durvāsa visiting his hermitage illustrates this ethic: though Durvāsa consumed all of his food repeatedly, Mudgal offered it without resentment, maintaining his hospitality with joy. Such narratives underscore his conviction that service to guests (atithi satkāra) is itself service to the divine. In his practice, generosity was not contingent upon wealth but was an expression of the inner abundance of compassion.
Mudgal also upheld satya, or truthfulness, as a cardinal value. He is often described as a satyavākta, one who speaks truth. For him, truth was inseparable from dharma. His straightforwardness, coupled with humility, ensured that his ritual practices were not empty forms but genuine acts of reverence. By uniting honesty of speech with sincerity of heart, he illustrated that ethical integrity is the foundation of spiritual life.
The centrality of ritual (yajña and homa) in Mudgal’s teaching cannot be overlooked. His dedication to fortnightly sacrifices, his insistence on purity in offerings, and his daily practice of havan with cow’s milk reflect the conviction that ritual, when performed with devotion, harmonizes the cosmic and the personal. For Mudgal, yajña was not mere formality but a medium of communion with the divine, a channel through which love and discipline were made manifest.
Lastly, Mudgal’s teachings emphasize the inseparability of inner purity from external observance. While he scrupulously performed rituals, he always placed greater importance on humility, devotion, and service. This balance between ritual precision and inner sincerity remains one of his most enduring legacies. His example shows that liberation (mokṣa) is not the fruit of ritual alone but arises when ritual is infused with truth, generosity, discipline, and devotion.
Through these precepts, Ṛiṣhi Mudgal stands as a spiritual exemplar whose life continues to guide aspirants toward an integrated path of discipline, worship, service, and love of God.
Philosophical / Spiritual Significance
While there is no single philosophical treatise from him that survives (beyond those attributed texts like Mudgala Purāṇa and Mudgala Upaniṣad), his life illustrates several doctrines or spiritual insights:
Unity of Dharma: For Mudgal, dharma is not only ritual observance but includes inner virtues—truth, compassion, service.
Devotional Theism (Viṣṇu‐centered and Gaṇeśa‐centered worship): His relationship with Viṣṇu as personal Lord appears in several stories; also his Purāṇa gives prominence to Lord Gaṇapati. Suggests that devotion to personal deities is central in his outlook. (Epooja Store)
Sacrifice of Self or Renunciation: Although he had a royal background, he gave up worldly royal trappings; he undertook ascetic practices, austerities, penance.
Living Example as Teaching: Rather than abstract doctrines, his life stories serve as ethical examples—that is, learning by living; how to treat guests, how to respond when one is wronged, how to maintain equanimity.
Mokṣa / Liberation: The tradition holds that after death he would come, free from all bondage, to the supreme abode of the Lord. The boons granted by the deity include spiritual release. (Rootshunt)
Lineage & Transmission: Through discipleship (e.g. disciples of Śākalya), through gotra, through Purāṇic and genealogical lore, he becomes a node in preserving Vedic tradition. He is both transmitter and exemplar.
Comparison with Other Sages & Context
To appreciate Mudgal’s place, some comparative observations:
Mahābhārata / Bhagavata Purāṇa Context: The family and lineage of Mudgal are tied to “Pañcāla” region, which has major importance in epics. His descendants, his wife’s reincarnation, etc., are woven into the epic’s mythic history. (Wikipedia)
Vedic Seers vs Later Textual Purāṇas: Mudgal spans both Vedic seer tradition (as composer/recipient of Rigvedic hymn) and later Purāṇic literature (stories, Purāṇa identifying traits, relations with deities). This dual presence shows how sages are both historical/mythic and symbolic.
Rajarṣi Status: Like Vasiṣṭha, Viśvāmitra etc., Mudgal is described in some traditions as originally a king (Kṣatriya), who through tapasya and devotion became a ṛṣi/ṛṣṭa seer / brahminised sage. This transformation motif is common in Hindu tradition.
Critical Assessment & Uncertainties
When reconstructing Mudgal’s life and teachings, certain issues arise which scholars (and tradition) note:
Historical vs Mythic: Many stories (miracles, direct darśana of Viṣṇu, lakes with milk, cows filling lakes) are hagiographic. These serve moral and devotional purposes rather than being verifiable historical events.
Conflicting Lineages / Names: Different sources give different names for his wives (Indrasena / Nalayani / Jābālā / Mudgalāṇī), children, etc. Also, the claim that his wife’s later birth was Draupadī is part of later popular myth. (Rootshunt)
Textual Attributions: The Mudgala Upaniṣad is attributed to him; but in some scholarship, as with many minor Upaniṣads and Purāṇas, authorship is uncertain or symbolic. Dating is often not precise. The Mudgal Purāṇa likewise may have accretions.
Overlap with Other Rishis / Traditions: Some traditions may conflate Mudgal with others, or the stories may have been adapted. The stories of hospitality and service to guests are widespread in Rishi lore; discerning unique features of Mudgal vs common ideals is a challenge.
Teachings in Practice: Implications
From his life, several practical lessons emerge:
Ethical hospitality and generosity: Treating guests, even when resources are scant; giving without expecting return.
Ritual as expression of inner devotion: Regular yajña and rituals not as mechanical, but as expressions of love, discipline, devotion.
Simplicity: Using minimal resources, living modestly even while maintaining religious discipline.
Equanimity in adversity: Not showing anger or displeasure when tested (as in the Durvāsa story).
Integrating family and social responsibility with spiritual goals: Though an ascetic/tapasvin, roles of husband, teacher, ancestor, lineage are maintained.
Devotion to deities; belief in personal darśana and boons: For practitioners of bhakti, the stories offer model of how devotional worship may bring fulfilling experiences.
Conclusions
Ṛiṣhi Mudgal represents a rich exemplar of Vedic and Purāṇic virtue: a life combining royal responsibilities, strict ritual discipline, self‐control, devotion, generosity, and moral integrity. While many of the narratives about him are mythic or devotional in tone, the ethical and spiritual teachings they embody resonate across Hindu tradition—particularly the primacy of inner devotion, of humility, of truthful speech, and the importance of service. He functions not only as a historical or mythic figure but as a spiritual archetype: of the renouncer‐king, the devotee, the hermit, and the teacher.
Suggestions for Further Research
A philological study of Mudgala Upaniṣad and Mudgal Purāṇa to establish date, structure, unique teachings relative to other Upaniṣads / Purāṇas.
Comparative study of Mudgal’s portrayal in different regional traditions (North India, Panchala region, etc.)
Examination of how his legacy (Maudgalya gotra, etc.) functions socially: the role of genealogical memory in Brahmin gotra structure.
Study of rituals attributed to him (the fortnightly yajñas, etc.) to see how and where they survive in living tradition.
References:-
Hamare Poorvaj By Dr L D Mohan