A maharishi and one of Brahma’s manasaputras. According to Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 65 verse 10, Brahma had six manasaputras – Marichi, Angiras, Atri, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, who were all maharishis. There is another story about Angiras’ birth. Once, during a yajna conducted by Rudra, Brahma was infatuated with the deva women and ejaculated. Brahma dropped it into the sacrificial fire – Agni. From that fire emerged Angiras, Bhrigu, Marichi, among others. Since he had emerged from angara (fire), he was known as Angiras.
Once there was a kingdom named Shurasena, ruled by the king Chitraketu. He had no children and once when Angiras visited him, the king shared his sorrow with him. He blessed that the king would have a son, and on hearing this, both the king and his queen – Kritadyuti were very happy. The other wives, however, weren’t too happy with this, because the king would then focus his attention on her. A son was born to them in due course. The other wives poisoned the child. While the king and the queen were mourning their loss, Angiras arrived there with Narada. Angiras consoled the king and promised to get it back. Angiras evoked the child’s soul and asked it to occupy the body. But the soul disappeared saying that he had many other sets of parents before this and he couldn’t be Chitraketu’s son. Angiras and Narada left. According to Bhagavata Skanda 6 Chapter 14, Chitraketu became a Vishnu devotee, and later, due to Parvati’s curse was born as Vritrasura.
Sudarshan was a vidyadhara and once, while traveling with some women, intoxicated, he came across Angiras and a few other sages. Sudarshan mocked Angiras and Angiras cursed him into becoming a huge snake. He decreed that in Dwaparayuga, he would get back his original form when he was stamped by Krishna. Sudarshan became a snake and started living in the Kalindi river, which was frequented by Krishna later. One night, the snake bit Nanda, who had adopted Krishna. Though the others attacked the snake with fire, it was unharmed. According to Bhagavata Dashamaskanda Chapter 34, Krishna arrived there, stamped the snake and Sudarshan ascended to the heavens after regaining his original form.
According to Ramayana Aranyakanda Sarga 14, Brahma created 16 prajapatis to create the universe. One of them was Angiras. The others were Kardama, Vikreeta, Sesha, Samshraya, Sthaanu, Marichi, Atri, Kratu, Pulastya, Angiras, Prachetas, Pulaha, Daksha, Vivasvan, Arishtanemi, Kashyapa.
Angiras had many wives including Shubha, Smriti, Devasena, Vasudha etc. He had seven sons and eight daughters with Shubha – Brihalkeerthi, Brihaljyothi, Brihalbrahma, Briharmana, Brihatmantra, Brihatdasa, Brihaspati, Bhanumati, Raga, Sinivali, Archishmati, Havishmati, Mahishmati, Mahamati, Kuhu. As per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapters 218-223, in addition to this, he was also the father of several others including Sudhanva, Karthikeya etc.
When the Pandavas lost at dice, Dushasana dragged Draupadi into the assembly and began disrobing her. Before that Draupadi had asked Duryodhana how he could have won her. Draupadi had five husbands and one of them alone did not have the right to put her up as the wager. It was also understood that when kings were in the midst of hunting, drinking, gambling and merriment with women, they were no to be held accountable for what they said. Considering all this, how could Draupadi belong to the Kauravas. Vidura suggested that the elders in the assembly should answer this. He said that any wrongdoing would not go unpunished and cited the example of the fight between Angiras and Prahlad. Virochana was the son of Prahlad. Once Angiras’ son Sudhanva and Virochana fell in love with the same girl. They started arguing as to who was a better person. Both wagered their lives on it and went to Prahlad for a resolution, and asked him who was elder among them. Sudhanva suspected that Prahlad might side with Virochana, so he told Prahlad that he must not lie, or remain silent, failing which Indra would split his head into a hundred pieces with his vajra. Prahlad, in tuen, went to Kashyapa and asked him what lay beyond death for someone who remained silent or lied. Kashyapa replied that he who remained silent while knowing the answer would get a thousand curses, and the one who lied would have to undergo several stages of penance before he became eligible for moksha. On hearing this, Prahlad told Virochana that Sudhanva was the better man, as Angiras was a better man that Prahlad and the same applied to the mothers too. So as per the wager, Virochana’s life belonged to Sudhanva. According to Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 63, Sudhanva was pleased with Prahlad’s integrity and blessed that Virochana would live for a hundred more years.
Once Angiras burned with the power of his meditation and the whole world became alight. The world started ignoring Agni since he wasn’t required. Agni was miffed and hid in the forests. Then the world started missing him. Angiras consoled himand agreed to be his first son according to Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 217.
After killing Vritra, Indra hid in a lotus, and during that time, the devas made Nahusha the new Indra. Agastya cursed him and sent him to earth as a snake. Indra returned soon after and in the group that welcomed him, there was Angiras. Angiras chanted mantras from the Adharva veda. According to Mahabharata Udyogaparva Chapter 18 verses 5-7, Indra was pleased and blessed Angiras that he would become famous as Adharvangiras.
Once during the Mahabharata war, Drona started using his weapons blindly. Angiras and other sages approached him and said that he’d been using divine weapons to kill humans indiscriminately and that he was nearing his end. They also told him to lay down his weapons. But according to Mahabharata Dronaparva Chapter 190 verse 34-40, Drona paid no heed and continued fighting.
Once Yudhishtira asked Bhishma about the significance of theerthas. Bhishma told him about the time that Angiras had described the same to Gautama. According to Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 25 verses 7-71 Angiras had described Pushkara, Prabhasa, Naimisha, Sagarodaka, Indramarga, Devika, Swarnabindu, Hiranyabindu, and Indratoya among others.
As per Devibhagavata Skanda 7, Daksha married off two of his daughters to Angiras.
According to Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 92 verse 6, Angiras once rescued Surya.
As per Mahabharata Aranyaparva Chapter 142 verse 6, when the Pandavas were living in exile, Angiras was meditating in Alakananda, in the Gandhamadana range.
According to Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 94 verse 20, when the sages had stolen Agastya’s lotuses, Angiras had revealed certain things about them.
As per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 106 verses 11-16, Angiras once preached about upavasas.
According to Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 127 verse 8, Angiras once spoke about the secrets of Dharma.
As per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 153 verse 8, Angiras is known to have drunk the ocean dry once.
According to Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 153 verse 3, his thirst was not satiated with the ocean. So he created more water forms and drank them too.
As per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 153 verse 8, once Angiras cursed Agni for not respecting him. from then on, Agni also started giving out smoke.
According to Mahabharata Ashwamedhikaparva Chapter 4 verse 22, Angiras performed many yajnas for the king Avikshit.
As per Mahabharata Udyogaparva Chapter 18 verses 5-7, Indra once gave a boon to Angiras.
According to Vishnupurana Ansh 1 Chapter 11, Angiras blessed Dhruva while he was deep in meditation.
As per Agnipurana Chapter 20, Angiras had four children with Smriti – Sinivali, Raga, Kuhu, Anumati.
According to Rigveda Mandala 1 Anuvaka 7 Sukta 31, Angiras was the first rishi among the agnidevas. He had a son named Hiranyastupa who was also a rishi.
As per Rigveda Mandala 1 Anuvaka 10 Sukta 51, Angiras prayed for a son who would equal Indra. Indra himself didn’t want anyone equaling him and therefore chose to be born as Angiras’ son himself.
According to Rigveda Mandala 1 Anuvaka 11 Sukta 62, Indra, as per Angiras’ advice, asked a deva girl called Sarama to find where exactly cows were hidden. Though she disagreed at first, when Indra promised to feed her baby himself, Sarama agreed.
As per Rigveda Mandala 1 Anuvaka 16 Sukta 10, Ribhus and Sudhanva are Angiras’ children. Kutsa also belongs to Angiras’ vansh.
Though Angiras was Brahma’s son in Swayambhumanvanthara, he was born to Agni in Vaivasvatamanvanthara.
According to Mundakopanishad, Vayu once to go into hiding because he did something Angiras didn’t like. The same document also notes that Angiras imparted knowledge to the sage Shaunaka.