Maharshi Dadhichi - –
Heritage Postal Stamps
by Girinath Bharade of Ancient Trails
Maharshi Dadhichi is one of the ancient
saints of Vedic times. The first available text
- Rigveda, describes Dadhichi, the son of
Atharva Angiras, as the saint who taught men
how to kindle fire. It was said that he first
brought fire to the earth.
The Maharshi is also described in the Veda
as having conferred his bones on Indra, to
destroy the demon Vritra. It is said that when
all the weapons of Indra failed to destroy
the demon Vritra, he approached Maharshi
Dadhichi, on the advice of Lord Vishnu, and
requested for the Maharshi‘s bones to
fabricate a weapon to destroy the demon.
The weapon was the legendary Vajra.
The Maharshi readily sacrificed his life for
which he is remembered with deep reverence all over India.
The Rigveda has also described Maharshi Dadhichi as the destroyer of many
superstitions and a leader who showed a new path. The Puranas describe that the
hermitage of Dadhichi was in Naimisharanya which is located in Uttar Pradesh. The
saint was so popular that the people of Gujarat believed that his hermitage was on
the bank of river Sabarmati, while people of Maharashtra believe that it used to be
near Nasik. It is quite possible that Maharshi Dadhichi travelled widely and resided at
several places in the country as he was a social reformer.
In honour of this great ancient saint, India Post issued a stamp on 26th May
1988. The stamp was designed by India Security Press based on material received by
Akhil Bharatiya Dadhichi Brahman Mahasabha, Jaypur. It was printed in a single
colour with a denomination of 60 Paise. First Day cover issued with the stamp depicts
the Maharshi in ascetic form with the holy cow in the background.