Kapila Sage
இந்தப் பக்கத்தை தமிழில் வாசிக்க: கபில முனிவர்
Kapila Sage (Kapila Rishi) was a sage cited in Mahabharata and in other Puranas. Kapila was son of Sage Kardama, and was also known as Chakradhanus.
Refer: Kapila.
Birth
Kapila was born to Kardama Prajapati and Devahuti, who was daughter of Svayambhu Manu in the lineage of Brahma. Svayambhu Manu had two sons: Priyavrata and Uttanapada, and three daughters: Aakuti, Devahuti and Prastuti. Svayambhu Manu married off their daughters to Ruchi, Kardama and Daksha prajapatis. Aakuti gave birth to son Yajna, Devahuti to son Kapila and Prastuti to a large number of daughters. The eighth Kaandam of Devi Bhagavata says that Devahuti had nine daughters and one son: Kapila (Bhagavatam III Skanda).
Other Names
Kapila was also known as Chakradhanus (Verse 17th of Chapter 109 of the Mahabharath udyoga parva).
Mythology
The Vishnu Purana says that Kapila was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
Stories
Wisdom to Mother
When Sage Kardama passed away, grieved Devahuti asked her son Kapila for wisdom. Kapila preached Devahuti the path of devotion and she became liberated. (Bhagavata, The Third Skanda)
Burning King Sagara's Sons
King Sagara, son of Surya (The Sun), had two wives: Keshini and Sumathi. Keshini had a son named Asamanja and Sumathi had sixty thousand sons. King Sagara performed a horse expedition (Ashwamedha yajna). The horse was led by Amshuman, son of Asamanja and grandson of Sagara. When Amshuman approached the banks of river Indus, Indra appeared as a demon and captured the horse and concealed it in the paatal lok (subterranean realms of the universe). All the sixty thousand sons of Sagara and his grandsons dug up and stirred up the earth in search of the horse. Realizing the earth’s distress, the Devas appealed to Vishnu. Vishnu said that they will meet up Kapila who was my incarnation.
The sons and grandsons of Sagara, who dug up the earth, reached the paatal lok, saw Kapila there performing the penance and their horse grazing near. When they tried to attack Kapila thinking he captured it, Kapila gasped the sound of hum. It generated fire and burnt completely all the sons of Sagara.
Legends of Kapila
- Kapila was guru to the King of Sindh. (Bhagavatham, Fifth Kaandam)
- Kapila was among the sages who visited Bhishma when he was lying on the bed of arrows (Mahabharata Shanti Parva Chapter 47)
- Kapila and sage Kovu engaged in a debate on what was superior amongst marital life and yoga life (Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, Chapter 268).
- The Mahabharata mentions Kapila possessing the power of Fire (Aranyaparva Chapter 107)
- Kapila was a Sankhya Vedic sage and Worshipper of Lord Shiva (Anushasana Parva of Mahabharata, Chapter 18)
- Krishna says in the Gita that I am Kapila among the rishis.
Reference
- Puranic Encyclopedia - Vettam Mani
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