Kashyapa Rishi is one of the prominent Rishis of the Vedic period. As per history, Kashyapa Rishi occupied an important place in ancient India. He occupies an important place in Vedas, Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas and other Hindu scriptures. He is also the progenitor of may orders of creation including demongs, demigods, birds, animals, reptiles and other celestial beings. He is also considered to be mantra drastas (visionaries of Vedic hymns).
Kashyapa Rishi is part of the group of seven Rishis or Sapta Rishis. They are mentioned in the context of gotra – organization of family lineages. The word Kashyapa also means tortoise.
Kashyapa is also identified as a star in the sky. In the sky, in the northern constellation of Ursa Major (the Dipper, the Great Bear, the Saptarishi mandala) is identified as Kashyapa.
Kashyapa has sung the hymn in praise of Soma in Rig Veda (9.114.2).
In some texts, Kashyapa Rishi is referred to as Aristanemi, though in most of the literature, Aristanemi appears as the son of Kashyapa Rishi. There are also references which hold that Kashyapa Rishi was the son of Marichi. Marichi is one of the mind born sons of Brahma.
As per most scriptures, Kashyapa Rishi was the son of Marichi and Kala. Kashyapa Rishi had 21 wives. He married the thirteen daughters of Daksha.
As per Hindu cosmogony, each manvantara (a period of time equal to 308, 571, 430 years) is presided over by a group of Sapta Rishis (Seven sages). There are fourteen such manvantaras which together form a kalpa. Kashyapa Rishi is one among the seven presiding Rishis of the seventh manvantara, called the Vaivasvata Manvantara, which is currently in progress. The present kalpa is known as Sveta Varaha Kalpa.
Kashyapa Rishi is considered to be the father of all demons, devas (demigods) and living beings including humans. He is said to have installed Varuna as the God of waters in the western region, where he himself also resides. His sons are said to have first multiplied in the eastern region.
Wives of Kashyapa Rishi – His Sons And Daughters
- Aditi – Twelve Adityas, namely Vishnu, Indra, Vivasvat, Mitra, Varuna, Pusan, Tvastr, Bhaga, Aryaman, Dhatr, Vidhatr or Savitr and Amsha.
- Diti – Daityas or demons – Hiranyaksha, Hiranyakashipu, Ivala and others.
- Dhanu – Danavas or demons – Vritra.
- Vinata – Aruna and Garuda (birds).
- Kadru – Nagas like Vasuki
- Surabhi – buffaloes, cattle and eleven Rudras
- Krodhavasa (snakes, Uraghas and goblins)
- Arista (gandharvas – celestial musicians)
- Muni (apsaras, celestial maidens and water nymphs)
- Ira or Ila (vegetables and trees)
- Tamra (hawks, moths, vultures, parrots and other birds)
- Surasa or Simhika (demons like Namuchi and Vatapi)
- Timi (water creatures).
Kashyapa was also the progenitor of two sons Vatsara and Asita. It is also said that he married Askikni (daughter of Virana) through him be begot Sage Narada. Kashyapa was also father of Vivasvat or Savitr) through his wife Aditi.
It is said that after defeating the Kshatriyas 21 times, Parashurama gifted all the countries and lands he had captured to Kashyapa Rishi.
As per Gopatha Brahmana (1.2.8), Kashyapa is said to have stood on one foot for a thousand years in the forest, to have supported the immortal waters on his dead for a thousand years and to have then heated himself for 48,000 Brahma years on top of the waters. His tapa was very intense.
Kashyapa Rishi prescribed a putreshti or son desiring rite, for Malini, the wife of King Priyavrata (Devi Bhagavata Purana 9.46.8).
There is also another Kashyapa Rishi in Hindu scriptures who was a renowned acharya of Ayurveda, also known as Kashyapa Marichi.