Aurva

Aurva (or Aurava) is a fierce sage descending in order from Vishnu, Brahma, Bhrigu, Chyavana, Apnuvana. He was born during a bloody feud between the Kshatriyas and the descendants of Bhrigu. He was also the grandson of Vatsa, after whom the Srivatsa gotra is named. His son was Ṛchika (Ruchika), and Ṛchika's son was Jamadagni.[1][2]

There is an interesting episode regarding the birth and naming of Aurava. According to the Mahabharata there was a king named Kritavirya who was very liberal to his priests, who belonged to the race of Bhrigu. As such they became very rich due to his generosity. After the death of the king, his descendants fell into poverty. They begged for help from the Bhrigus, who at that time were very rich; but the Bhrigus refused to help the kings, saying that wealth which is once given to a Brahmin cannot be taken back. To protect their wealth they buried their gold in a secret place. Coming to know about this the Kshatriya kings invaded the ashrams of the Bhrigus and killed all the Bhrigus, not sparing even children that were growing in the wombs of their mothers. Although the Bhrigus were also descended from a warrior class, they could not stop the kings from slaughtering them. One woman concealed her just-born son in her thighs to protect the baby from being slaughtered. The Kshatriyas who came to know about this rushed towards the lady to kill the baby. The baby fell down from her thighs with such a radiance that all the persecutors were blinded instantly. Since the child was produced from the uru (thigh) of a woman he was called Aurava/Aurva.[1]

References

1. Encyclopaedic Dictionary of Puranas. 1. Sarup & Sons. 2001. p. 129. ISBN 9788176252263. Retrieved 2020-01-15.
2. Gopal, Madan (1990). K.S. Gautam (ed.). India Through the Ages. Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. p. 73.