Kardama
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Kardama () is a character featured in Hindu literature. A son of the creator god
Brahma Brahma (, ) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the triple deity, trinity of Para Brahman, supreme divinity that includes Vishnu and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 212– ...
, Kardama is described to be a
prajapati Prajapati (, ) is a Vedas, Vedic deity of Hinduism. He is later identified with Brahma, the creator god. Prajapati is a form of the creator-god Brahma, but the name is also the name of many different gods, in many Hindu scriptures, ranging f ...
, one of the progenitors of creation. After propitiating
Vishnu Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...
and seeking his counsel for a suitable wife, he marries Devahuti, one of the daughters of the first man, Manu. He becomes the father of nine daughters by her, as well as one son, the sage Kapila.


Legend

According to the
Bhagavata Purana The ''Bhagavata Purana'' (; ), also known as the ''Srimad Bhagavatam (Śrīmad Bhāgavatam)'', ''Srimad Bhagavata Mahapurana'' () or simply ''Bhagavata (Bhāgavata)'', is one of Hinduism's eighteen major Puranas (''Mahapuranas'') and one ...
, Brahma is said to have instructed his son Kardama to procreate. Kardama went to the Bindusaras ashrama located at the banks of the river
Sarasvati Saraswati (, ), also spelled as Sarasvati, is one of the principal Devi, goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the goddess of knowledge, education, learning, arts, speech, poetry, music, purification, language and culture. Together with the godde ...
, whereupon he commenced a
tapas Tapas () are appetisers or snacks in Spanish cuisine. They can be combined to make a full meal and are served cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as , which are battered, fried baby squid; or , spicy potatoes). In some bars ...
that lasted ten thousand years to please Vishnu. Propitiated, Vishnu appeared before Kardama, who requested the deity to grant him a wife with whom he could sire children. Vishnu promised him that two days thence, Svayambhu Manu and his wife,
Shatarupa Shatarupa () is the daughter of the creator deity, Brahma. According to '' Brahma Purana'', Shatarupa is regarded as the first woman to be created by Brahma, marrying Manu, the first man. Their descendants are called ''manushya'', the Sanskri ...
, would offer their daughter Devahuti to him for his wife. He further stated that his wife would bear him nine daughters, all of whom would marry sages, and that a portion of himself would be born to him as his son. When the marriage was proposed by the couple, Kardama agreed on the condition that he would become a renunciant after the birth of their children. Following their wedding, Devahuti served her husband with great devotion and non-attachment, to the extent that she became emaciated. When Kardama praised her qualities, she grew emboldened to remind him of his agreement to grant her children, and also asked that he arrange for a suitable dwelling. Employing his powers accrued through yoga, Kardama created a
vimana Vimāna are mythological flying palaces or chariots described in Hindu texts and Sanskrit epics. The "Pushpaka Vimana" of Ravana (who took it from Kubera; Rama returned it to Kubera) is the most quoted example of a vimana. Vimanas are also menti ...
, an aerial palace capable of flying wherever he willed it. With Devahuti, he travelled the world, visiting a number of gardens and heavenly sites for their pleasure. After they returned to his ashrama, they engaged in intercourse for a hundred autumns. Kardama is described to have divided himself into nine parts as he deposited his seed within her. On the very same day, Devahuti gave birth to nine daughters: Kalā, Anasuya, Shraddha, Havirbhu, Gati, Kriya, Khyati, Arundhati, and Shanti. She grew saddened by the prospect of her husband leaving her and the fact that her daughters would have to seek worthy husbands for themselves. When she requested Kardama to grant her freedom from fear and samsara, he informed her that Vishnu would soon be born as her son, and that the deity would enlighten her in this regard. Vishnu was born to the couple as Kapila, whose birth was accompanied by auspicious signs and miracles. Nine great sages and Brahma himself arrived to venerate Kapila. These nine sages, namely, Marici,
Atri Atri or Attri is a Vedic sage, who is credited with composing numerous shlokas to Agni, Indra, and other Vedic deities of Hinduism. Atri is one of the Saptarishi (seven great Vedic sages) in the Hindu tradition, and the one most mentioned in ...
,
Angiras Angiras ( (stem), , , nominative singular , , , rendered Angirā in Hindi) was a Vedic rishi (sage) of Hinduism. He is described in the ''Rigveda'' as a teacher of divine knowledge, a mediator between men and gods, as well as stated in othe ...
,
Pulastya Pulastya (Sanskrit: पुलस्त्य) is one of the ten Prajapati, and one of the mind-born sons of Brahma in Hinduism. He is also one of the Saptarishi (Seven great sages) in the first age of Manu, the Manvantara.< ...
, Pulaha,
Kratu Kratu () is described as one of the manasaputras, the mind-born children of the creator deity, Brahma, in Hinduism. He is also a rishi, who appears in two different ages. He is considered to be one among the seven great sages of the age of the ...
,
Bhrigu Bhrigu (, ) is a rishi in Hindu tradition. He is one of the seven great sages, the Saptarshis, and one of the many Prajapatis (the facilitators of creation) created by Brahma. He was the first compiler of predictive astrology and also the aut ...
,
Vashistha Vasishtha (, ) is one of the oldest and revered Vedic rishis or sages, and one of the Saptarishis (seven great Rishis). Vasishtha is credited as the chief author of Mandala 7 of the ''Rigveda''. Vasishtha and his family are mentioned in Rigv ...
, and
Atharvan Atharvan ( , nominative singular: अथर्वा ) is a legendary Vedic sage (rishi) of Hinduism, who along with Angiras, is supposed to have authored (" heard") the Atharvaveda. He is also said to have first instituted the fire-sacrific ...
, called upon Kardama, who gave his daughters in marriage to them. He left Kapila in the care of Devahuti and took their leave, renouncing the world.{{Cite book , last1=Black , first1=Brian , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z7a1CwAAQBAJ&dq=Devah%C5%ABti+daughters&pg=PA143 , title=Dialogue in Early South Asian Religions: Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain Traditions , last2=Patton , first2=Laurie , date=2016-03-09 , publisher=Routledge , isbn=978-1-317-15142-5 , pages=143 , language=en


References

Characters in the Bhagavata Purana Prajapatis