• Bhṛgu Maharshi, one of the Navabrahmas (the nine sons of Lord Brahma) and the first among them, is considered the progenitor of the Padmashali lineage.
• Bhṛgu Maharshi’s wife was Khyati Devi. They had two sons, Dhata and Vidhata, and a daughter named Srimati Mahalakshmi.
• Dhata and Vidhata were married to the daughters of Meru Maharshi, named Ayi and Niyati, respectively.
• Dhata and Ayi had a son named Pranudu, while Vidhata and Niyati had a son named Mrikandu.
• Mrikandu married Marudhvati, the daughter of Mudgala Maharshi.
• Despite being childless for many years, they performed penance to Lord Shiva. When Lord Shiva appeared before them, he asked if they wished for a short-lived but virtuous son, or a long-lived but less virtuous son. They prayed for a virtuous son.
• With Lord Shiva’s blessings, Mrikandu and Marudhvati were blessed with a son, who was named Markandeya.
• Markandeya, though short-lived, overcame death by meditating on Lord Shiva by the banks of the Godavari River. As a result, he was blessed with immortality and became known as Mrityunjaya.
• Markandeya Maharshi married Dhoomravati, the daughter of Agnideva. They were blessed with a son named Bhavanarushi, also known as Vedashirnudu, Bhavanamuni, and Bhavanarayudu.
• Bhavanarushi’s birth marked the beginning of the weaving tradition. His father, Markandeya, taught him the responsibilities related to fabric production.
• Following his father’s instructions, Bhavanarushi went to Vaikuntha, where he had the darshan of Lord Vishnu, worshipped Him, and received the essential threads for fabric weaving from the divine navel of Lord Vishnu. Both Brahma and Lord Shiva helped him acquire the necessary materials.
• With Lord Vishnu’s blessings, Bhavanarushi produced exquisite fabrics and first offered them to Lord Vishnu. He also offered them to Srimati Mahalakshmi and received the nectar of immortality.
• Lord Vishnu blessed Bhavanarushi, declaring that his descendants would be known as Padmashalis, devotees of Vishnu, following the sacred traditions, and performing rituals with devotion. They would uphold the highest moral standards, wear sacred marks, follow the Vedic way of life, and practice selfless service.
• Bhavanarushi married Bhadravati, the daughter of the Sun God, and lived a luxurious life in the city of Manipur.
• After many years, Bhavanarushi and his wife had no children. Upon praying to Lord Vishnu, they were blessed with a lotus with one hundred petals. Each petal represented a discipline to control the senses and observe the Ekadashi vow.
• With Lord Vishnu’s grace, Bhavanarushi and his wife observed the vow, and as a result, one hundred sons were born to them, gaining immense fame in the current age.
• Since they were born from the lotus petals, they became known as Padmavamsa and were called Markandeyas in honor of their ancestor Markandeya.
• At the request of Lord Vishnu, Bhavanarushi created fine fabrics in Manipur, making the Padmashali family a well-respected and revered community.
• The forest sage, seeing their prosperity, arranged marriages for his one hundred daughters, thus expanding the Padmashali lineage.
• Just as the Pandavas are referred to as Pandavas, the Kauravas as Kauravas, and the Raghus as Raghus, the descendants of Markandeya are called Markandeyas.
• Bhavanarushi passed on his knowledge of fabric weaving and his kingdom to his sons and, along with his wife Bhadravati, went to the Himalayas to perform further penance.
• Bhavanarushi, a prominent figure in the Padmashali lineage, became not only a revered sage but also a worshipped figure for his skill in fabric weaving.
• The Padmashali community has been recognized throughout history for their participation in auspicious events, receiving the best offerings from all castes, as noted in the Brahmanda Purana.
• Srimati Mahalakshmi, regarded as the deity of the Padmashali community, continues to be honored through the tradition of offering gifts, such as Madhuparka, during the marriage celebrations of Lord Vishnu, a practice still followed today.
• The Padmashali community, descendants of the Brahma Manasa Putras (the sons born of Lord Brahma’s mind), is revered as Brahmins, continuing the ancient traditions of fabric weaving and devotion.
