Vibhandaka


Vibhandak Rishi was the legendary Indian Hindu saint or Rishi of sage Kashyapa's lineage. His son was Shringi Rishi - great saint of the Ramayan era of ancient India.

Ashram

His ashram was near Bhind town of Madhya Pradesh state, where he undertook great penance and austerities for ultimate realization of God.
According to a story of Vanparv of the Hindu Epic Mahabharat, there was an Ashram of Vibhandak Rishi in the area of Kaushiki Devnadi river. Kaushiki Devnadi river is identified as Kunwari or Kwari river. The name of Bhind town is named after this great saint. An ancient temple of Vibhandak or Bhindi Rishi is still located at Bhind.
According to the classic Parmal Raso, King Prithiviraj Chauhan encamped in the dense forest at the Samadhi Sthal of Vibhandak Rishi, while going to fight with Chandels in the Battle of Sirsagarh and defeated their commander Malkhan.
It is also stated that Pandavas, during their banishment, visited his Ashram. This place is now the location of the Van Khandeshwar Temple of Lord Shiva built by Prithiviraj Chauhan.

Advaita Mathas

According to the Advaita Vedanta, Adi Sankara established four , with the headquarters at Dvārakā in the West, Jagannatha Puri in the East, Sringeri in the South and Badrikashrama in the North. Each math was headed by one of his four main disciples, who each continues the Vedanta Sampradaya.
According to Pandey, these Mathas were not established by Shankara himself, but were originally ashrams established by Vibhāņdaka and his son Ŗșyaśŗnga. Shankara inherited the ashrams at Dvārakā and Sringeri, and shifted the ashram at Śŗngaverapura to Badarikāśrama, and the ashram at Angadeśa to Jagannātha Purī.