Rishi Gritsamada

Gritsamada is the Rigvedic seer to whom the second book (Mandala 2) is chiefly attributed. That book has 43 hymns, mostly to Agni and Indra, and it is one of the "family books" (Mandalas 2 to 7) that make up the older core of the Rigveda. The tradition names its author as Gritsamada, son of Shunahotra.

Texts do not agree on his line. The Brihaddevata, an early index of the Rigveda's deities and stories, calls him the son of Shunahotra [Brihaddevata, on Rigveda 2]. Shunahotra is an Angirasa, and a later reading holds that Gritsamada was born an Angirasa and was taken into the Bhrigu family by Shunaka Bhargava. The Mahabharata gives another line: Vitahavya, a king who became a Brahmana through Bhrigu's word, had a son Gritsamada, and Shaunaka comes many generations after [Mahabharata, Anushasana Parva, section 30 in Ganguli]. The Vishnu Purana makes Gritsamada a son of Suhotra and says Shaunaka, who set out the duties of the four castes, was his son. Wilson notes that the Vayu, Bhagavata and Brahma Puranas also make Shunaka his son [Vishnu Purana 4.8]. In every account the line ends in the Bhrigu family, which is where the Shaunaka gotra places him.

1. The hymns of Mandala 2: The book opens with hymns to Agni (2.1 to 2.10) and then turns to Indra (2.11 to 2.22). The Brihaddevata assigns all of them to Gritsamada.
2. Mistaken for Indra: The Brihaddevata says his austerities made him look like Indra. The Daityas Dhuni and Chumuri, taking him for Indra, attacked him. He answered by praising Indra's deeds in the hymn "He who, just born" (2.12), and Indra struck the Daityas down [Brihaddevata, chapters 66 to 69].
3. Indra's boon: Indra offered a boon. Gritsamada asked for safety of body, eloquent speech, sons and wealth, and Indra's continued presence. Indra took him to his own abode and gave him the name Gritsamada because his praise had pleased him [Brihaddevata, chapters 70 to 78].
4. The "lord of hosts" verse: Rigveda 2.23.1 calls on Brahmanaspati as "leader of the hosts" (ganapati). In later practice the verse is also recited in worship of Ganesha. The verse itself is addressed to Brahmanaspati.

• The sacrifice, where the Mandala 2 hymns were recited
• Indra's abode, where the Brihaddevata story ends