There’s a lot of buzz going on around Kashmir recently, so let us pay a tribute to the Muni whom Kashmir is named after, that being Kashyapa Muni, by listening to the stories and philosophy of the great sage Kashyapa, and knowing about his greatness, as mentioned in the Puranas.

 

Kashyapa, Atri, Vasiṣtha, Viśvāmitra, Gautama, Jamadagni and Bharadvāja are known as the seven sages. – Srimad Bhagavatam 8.13.5

 

All of us, both demons and demigods, have been born of the same Father, Kashyapa, and thus we are Related as Brothers. But now we are exhibiting our personal prowess in dissension. Therefore we request You to settle our dispute and divide the nectar equally among us.

– Srimad Bhagavatam 8.9.7

This verse mentioned in the Bhagavatam is True, because according to the Family Tree of Kashyapa Muni, he and his wives gave birth to many species like Yakshas and Danavas.

This Chapter from Shiva Purana explains the Family of Kashyapa Muni in Great Detail :- https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226592.html

 

 

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: When Kashyapa Muni was thus requested by Aditi, he slightly smiled. “Alas,” he said, “How powerful is the Maya of Lord Viṣṇu, by which the entire world is bound by affection for children!”

Kashyapa Muni continued – “What is this material body, made of five elements? It is different from the Soul. Indeed, the Soul is completely different from the material elements from which the body is made. But because of bodily attachment, one is regarded as a “husband” or “son”. These illusory relationships are caused by misunderstanding.”

My dear Aditi, just engage in surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the master of everything, who can subdue everyone’s enemies, and who sits within everyone’s heart. Only that Supreme Person, the all-pervading Vasudeva, can bestow all auspicious benedictions upon everyone, for He is the spiritual master of the universe.

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is very merciful to the poor, will fulfill all of your desires, for devotional service unto Him is infallible. Any method other than devotional service is useless. That is my opinion.

– Srimad Bhagavatam 8.16.19

So although Kashyapa Muni is the Father of entire Species, and even though he has such a Big Family, he still has no attachment or maya towards any of his family members, as he is free from the clutches of maya, and he only loves the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as we can see by his philosophy.

 

Being situated in a meditational trance, Kashyapa Muni, whose vision is never mistaken, could see that a plenary portion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead had entered within him.

O King, as the wind promotes friction between two pieces of wood and thus gives rise to fire, Kashyapa Muni, whose transcendental position was fully absorbed in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, transferred his potency into the womb of Aditi.

– Srimad Bhagavatam 8.17.22 – 23

Because of Kashyapa’s Love and Devotional Service towards Lord Vishnu, the Supreme Lord himself decided to enter within him and become his child, in the Avatar of Lord Vamana.

The Full Story behind The Vamana Avatar, the Son of Kashyapa and Aditi, is given in this chapter of Bhagavatam :- https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/8/18/

 

I offer My Obeisances unto Maharishi Kashyapa, who is one of the sapta-rishis, who lives near Dhruva, and who, with his extreme devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, managed to beget Lord Vamana as his son, and thus save the entire universe from the Yajna of Bali.

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