Also known as Garga, Trijada. A famous sage who was a son of Vishwamitra as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 4 verse 55. He gradually became the guru of the Gudavas and wrote the famous Gargasmriti. As per Ramayana, he was also known as Trijada.

He had many children. It was when he was living with his devoted wife and their children in the forest that he heard of Rama and Lakshmana going into exile. Many brahmins reached the court and the brothers gave them all alms. Gargya’s wife was the one who informed him of this and asked him to go to the palace. Gargya reached there and conveyed his needs to Rama. Rama pointed at a herd of cattle grazing on the Yamuna banks and asked Gargya to throw a stick at them. Gargya did so and Rama gave him all the cattle that were grazing before the place the stick fell. Gargya thus became wealthy as per Ramayana Ayodhyakanda Sarga 32.

As per Gargya’s philosophy, people should be courteous to guests, be vegetarian, not hurt brahmins and animals, and conduct yajnas with cleanliness and devotion.

Vyasa taught the vedas to Vedamitra, Saubhari, Shakalya. Shakalya taught his part to Vatsyayana, Maulgalya, Shali, Adishira, Gokhali, Yatukarna. Yatukarna taught the Nirukta part to Bashkala, Krauncha, Vaitala, Veeraja. Bashkala combined all the parts into the Balakhilyashakha and taught it to Balayini, Gargya, Samsara. From Vyasa to Samsara were the Rigveda Acharyas as per Bhagavata Dwadashaskanda.

Gargya shone in Indra’s court as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 7 verse 18.