At the commencement of the Kali Yuga, Vishnu
left Venkatadri for Vaikuntam. Brahma was very unhappy with his departure and
asked Narada to persuade Vishnu to return to Venkatadri. Narada then went to
the banks of the River Ganga, where several rishis were performing a
sacrifice. The rishis could not decide as to whom they intended to
dedicate the fruit of their sacrifice. Bhrigu, one of the rishis undertook
to solve the problem by examining the three chief divinities
He first went to Satyalokam, the abode of the
three-headed Brahma (who is also attributed to have four heads) and found him
busily chanting the Vedas with one face, uttering the name of Narayana with
another and looking at Goddess Saraswati with the third. He took no notice of
Bhrigu. Bhrigu resented the want of courtesy on the part of Brahma
Bhrigu then went to Siva's abode (Kailasam).
Here too, he found Siva absorbed in sporting with his consort. Siva even became
indignant at Bhrigu’s intrusion
Finally, Bhrigu went
to Vaikuntam, the abode of Vishnu and found Vishnu and Sri Maha Lakshmi
reclining on Adisesha. Disgusted, Bhrigu kicked Vishnu on the chest, where Sri
Maha Lakshmi was reclining. Vishnu immediately got up, massaged the rishi's
foot and enquired if he had been injured. Pleased with Vishnu’s attention,
Bhrigu returned to the rishis and advised them to dedicate the fruit of
their sacrifice to Vishnu.
Sri
Maha Lakshmi was angry with Bhrigu because he had kicked the spot which was her
favourite resort on the bosom of the Lord. She left Vishnu and went to stay at
Karavirapura (now Kolhapur in the state of Maharashtra). Unable to bear the
solitude, Vishnu left Vaikuntam in search of Sri Maha Lakshmi