Introduction to Maharshi Kashyap

                Sage Kashyap's identity is found in "Ramayana, Mahabharata, Brahmapurana, Shivapurana and Srimadbhagavata Mahapurana". But the details of him and all other sages are found in 'Vishnu Purana'.

Now come to the identity of sage Kashyap.

                  At the beginning of creation, Brahma created the "sage Angira from the mouth, the Atri from the eye, the Vashistha from the soul, the Marichi from the mind, the Pulast from the ear, the Pulah from the navel, and the Kratu sage from the arm." In the Puranas, these seven sages are called "Saptarshi". Brahma then "created Vrigu Rishi from his skin and Daksharaj from his thumb". Then 'Ardhanarishvara' is manifested from the head of Brahma, when Brahma divides it from the middle, the spontaneous "Manu" (Manu meaning the father of the human race) and the "Shatarupara" originate from the female part. Shatarupa means "hundreds of forms whose (nature)", she is the first woman in the world. Then Brahma ordered all of them to live a worldly life.

               Manu and Shatarupa got married and had three sons named 'Veer, Priyabrata and Uttanpad' and two daughters named 'Akuti and Prasuti'. The hero has a daughter named 'Kamya'. Priyabrata was very energetic, his children were known as 'Kshatriyas', Uttanapada's two wives 'Suniti and Suruchi' gave birth to two sons named 'Dhruv (Dhrubatara) and Uttam'. Akuti is married to a butterfly called 'Ruchi' and Prasuti is married to 'Daksharaj'.

             Dakshraj and Prasuti have 24 daughters and Daksharaj's second wife 'Virni' gave birth to 60 daughters. Of these 64 daughters, Mahadev's wife 'Devi Sati' was the youngest.

               On the other hand, "Sage Pulah's wife Kshma had three sons named Kardam, Avarian and Sahisnu". "Sage Kardam is married to the heroic daughter Kamya" and they have four sons named 'Virat, Kuksha, Samrat and Prabhu'. A son and a daughter were born in the womb of Debhuti, another wife of sage Kardam. His son 'Kapil Muni' (Kapil Muni's ashram is in Gangasagar) and daughter's name is 'Kala'. "Kala was married to Maharshi Marichi and Maharshi Kashyap was their son."

               Maharshi Kashyap married 17 daughters of Daksharaj. These are "Aditi, Diti, Danu, Sursa, Kadru, Krodhabasha, Binta, Sarma, Survi, Kasta, Anista Ila, Muni, Timi, Patangi, Jamini, Tamra" but besides these 17 sages Kashyapa had more wives, his wives in Puranas. The number is not fixed.

1. Aditi - Aditi has 12 sons, they are called twelfth Aditya. These are "Anshuman, Aryaman, Bhaga, Dhata, Tvastha, Mitra, Varuna, Indra, Parjanya, Pusya, Bibasvan (Sun) and Upendra (the dwarf incarnation of Lord Vishnu)." They are known as gods.

2. Diti - Diti's sons are known as 'Daitya', among them "Hiranyakashipu (father of devotee Prahlad and the most powerful villain mentioned in the Puranas) and Hiranyaksha."

3. Danu - Danu's sons are known as 'Danav', among them 'Rambha (Mahisasur's father) and Prarambha'.

4. 'Yaksha and Rakshas' originates from Surasa.

5. The 'Nagas' originated from Kadru.

6. 'Scorpions and other poisonous creatures' are born from

 Krodhabasha.

7. Vinta's two sons are "Garuda (Vishnu Bahan, Pakshiraj, the god of birds and the most powerful creature in the universe) and Arun (the charioteer of the sun god)."

8. From the Kasta originated all the monogamous animals like 'horse, deer'.

9. From Survi comes the origin of bipedal animals like 'cow, buffalo'.

10. From Sarma, 'Shvapada' means all the ferocious animals are born.

11. 'Vegetation' originates from infidelity.

12. All other trees are born from Ila.

13. 'Aquatic animals' originated from Timi.

14. Jamini gives birth to the locust.

15. 'Insects' originate from Patangi.

16. 'Apsaras' are born from Muni.

17. Tamra has 6 daughters. These are "Shuki, Shuchi, Sheni, Vasi, Sugribi and Gridhrika". "From Shuki to Shuk means parrots and owls are born, Aquatic birds originate from Shuchi,  Sheni gives birth to falcon birds, Vasi gives birth to vultures, Gridhrika gives birth to kites, Sugribi gives birth to donkeys and camels."