'female beetle') is a rishi in Hinduism, described to be a great devotee of Shiva,[1] the Hindu destroyer deity.

Undeterred, Bhringi assumed the form of a female beetle (Bhṛṅgī) and attempted to fly between the two.

Infuriated, Parvati cursed the sage to become physically weak, which caused him to collapse, unable to support his body.

[3][4] According to local variations of this legend, Shiva and Parvati united to assume the form of a composite deity called Ardhanarishvara.

When Bhringi attempted to bore a hole through them to circumambulate only the deity's half of Shiva, Parvati cursed him, depriving him of his flesh and blood, the symbolic feminine aspect of men.