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- This article is about the Hindu sage Kashyapa or Kasyapa. See also Mahakasyapa information on the Buddhist monk.
In Hinduism, Kashyapa (Sanskrit - tortoise) is an ancient sage (one of the rishis), father of the Devas, Asuras, Nagas and all of humanity. He is married to Aditi, with whom he is the father of Agni and the Adityas. His second wife, Diti, begot the Daityas. Diti and Aditi were daughters of King Daksha and sisters to Sati, Shiva's consort. Kashyapa received the earth, obtained by Parashurama's conquest of King Kartavirya Arjuna and the rest of the Kshatriyas. The first historical Buddha is also named Kashyapa.
His life
He is the son of Marichi, one of the ten mentally generated sons (Maanasa-putras) of Creator Brahma. The Prajapati Daksha gave his thirteen daughters (Aditi, Diti, Kadru, Danu, etc.) in marriage to Kashyapa. In the family line of Kashyapa, along with him there are two more discoverers of Mantras, namely, his sons Avatsara and Asita. Two sons of Avatsara, namely, Nidhruva and Rebha, are also Mantra-seers. Asita had a son named Shandila, from whom the famous Shandilya family line started. Garuda and Aruna are also the sons of Kashyapa. Kashyapa's penance was being done at the place known in modern times as Mount Abu.
The twelve Adityas are sons of Aditi and Kashyapa.
In the Manvantara period named 'Svarochisha' Kashyapa was one of the seven Sages for that manvantara.
When Parashurama performed a sacrifice 21 times to eradicate all kshatriyas from the world, the chief priest who monitored and conducted the sacrifice was Kashyapa. It was Kashyapa who by the end of those sacrifices caused Parashurama to go far away to the south and settle in the area known as Konkan.
See also
External links
- Digital Dictionary of Buddhism (log in with userID "guest")
Reference
- Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0500510881) by Anna Dhallapiccola
"Kashyapa"