Penance of sage Vishwamitra

Penance of sage Vishwamitra - from Valmiki Ramayana:

Valmiki Ramayana (Bala Kanda 64): Sri Rama hearing about the penance of Vishwamitra: Sri Rama heard the story of sage Vishwamitra from sage Shatananda at Mithila. After telling about various incidents in the life of Vishwamitra, sage Shatananda told about the great penance of Vishwamitra.

Vishwamitra resolving: Sage Vishwamitra resolved: Till I attain Brahmanhood through my tapas, I will continue my tapas for endless years without breathing and without food. Neither will my body decay while performing tapas.

Valmiki Ramayana (Bala Kanda 65): Tapas of Vishwamitra for thousand years: Then Vishwamitra leaving the Himalayas went to the eastern direction and performed severe tapas. Remaining silent for thousand years he performed his unparallel vow which is extremely difficult. The mahamuni became like wood. He was shaken by many barriers but still anger did not enter his heart.

Tapas of Vishwamitra for another thousand years: Indra came to test him. Vishwamitra continued his tapas for another thousand years without breathing. Thereafter due to controlled breath, fumes started to emit from his head. The three worlds became agitated by that heat. The devas and other celestial beings went to pitamaha Brahma requesting him to stop the penance of Vishwamitra by giving sought after boon.

Valmiki Ramayana (Bala Kanda 66): Vishwamitra attains Brahmanhood: Pitamaha Brahma appeared before Vishwamitra with the devas and bestowed Brahmanhood on him along with long life and marud ganas. Vishwamitra said: If I have indeed attained Brahmanhood and long life, let the Omkara, Vasatkara and Vedas give boon (of knowledge) to me, and let Vashistha, the best one in the knowledge in Vedas, also acknowledge my Brahmanhood. Then invoked by the devas, Vashistha appeared and making friendship with Vishwamitra said: "You are a Brahmarshi".

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