A sage. His parents Vishwanara and Shuchishmati lived on the banks of the Narmada. They were childless and Shuchishmati asked her husband to find a way to get a son. Vishwanara went to Kashi and prayed to Shiva, who blessed that a son would soon be born to the couple. This was Grihapati. When he was 9, Narada said that he would have a fear of fire. Grihapati prayed to Shiva and learned Agni skills. It was because of this that the shivalinga he set up at Kashi is known as Agnishwara.