Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Incarnation of Lord Vishnu as sage Kapil

Once Lord Brahma asked Sage Kardam to beget children so that population on Earth could continue. Kardam did tapasya at the bank of river Saraswati to please Lord Vishnu. Being pleased Lord Vishnu appeared and said, "Soon, king Swyambhuv Manu will come here with his queen. They will want to marry their grown up daughter Devhuti to you. After you marry her, you will have nine daughters from whom generation will continue. You will also have one son. I will Myself incarnate as your son." Saying thus, Lord Vishnu disappeared. Devhuti was the daughter of Manu and Shatrupa.She was very religious and beautiful. She had no materialistic desires that’s why she was interested to marry a sage rather than king.Her parents found Sage Kardam to be most suitable match for devhuti. They visited the ashram of sage. But rishi kardam put a condition that he will remain household only till the child is born. After that he will spent entire life in tapasya. Shatrupa and Devhuti gave their consent to this condition of the sage. Thereafter, Manu married his daughter to the sage Kardam. After marriage, Devhuti began to serve her husband with full dedication. One day impressed with her dedication he granted her a divine vision. At that moment she expressed her desire to have children. Kardam then resolved to fulfill the desire of his wife. At appropriate time, Devhuti gave birth to nine beautiful daughters.With this the resolution of Kardam was completed.He assured his wife: that very soon the Lord will appear as your son. Thus, Devhuti began worshipping the Lord. At appropriate time, the Lord appeared as her son Kapil. Meanwhile, Brahma also came there with nine Prajapatis, Kardam married his daughters to those nine Prajapatis. Kalaa was married to Marich, Anusuya to Atri, Shraddha to Angira; Havirbhu to Pulastya, Gati to Pulah, Kriya to Kratu, Khyati To Brighu and Arundhati was married to sage Vashishtha.When Kapil grew up, then Kardam propitiated his son Kapil because Kapil was Vishnu. Sage Kapil said to sage Kardam, "I have descended in order to explain Sankhya yoga. This knowledge was lost in the course of time. Therefore, I will impart this knowledge again. I will impart the same knowledge to my mother so that she can attain liberation". Taking leave from Kapil, sage Kardam left the house and became a sanyasi. When Kardam had left, then Kapil stayed with his mother Devhuti. One day Devhuti remembered words of Lord Brahma. Brahma had already told her that Vishnu would incarnate as her son to impart her knowledge. Devhuti asked Kapil to give her Divine knowledge. Accordingly, sage Kapil explained to her Sankhya philosophy. After several years, Devhuti attained salvation and that place is now known as Siddhipad. She shed her body, which became a holy river named Gyanvapi. After passing on this knowledge to Devahuti ,Kapila like his father left Bindu Sarovar.