AkHaNDbHaRAtLets get to know the story of the birth of Kapila Muni the Great Rishi Kapila who is the one who has given the Sankhya philosophy or Sankhya Darshana to the world. It all started when Lord Bramha had told his 3 sons, Manu, Kardama & Daksha. He said you should have a progeny, you should have a big family and make sure that the knowledge and lineage is continued. There are some families who are very concerned that the children should have their own children and the family line should continue. So they all agreed and said we would do that.
Rishi Kardama went to the banks of the Saraswati river, he climbed towards penance, towards spiritual practices, so he went there and he was doing Tapas –penance for quite a few yrs. And after doing intense sadhana for all these yrs because of his sincerity and devotion it is said that Lord Narayana appeared before him. He said I am so pleased with your sincere sadhana so you may ask a boon, anything you would like. It is said that Kardama was overjoyed to see him. He fell at Narayana’s feet, he praised him. He said I am so fortunate that you have appeared before me because you are the highest, the Parabramha. Rishis do tapas for 1000s of yrs to realize you, to have your darshan, to experience your presence. Now since you yourself have come to me there is no desire left in the mind. When you attain the highest what else can you ask for. As you know my father has asked to take up the task of procreation, I need to have a family and continue the family lineage. Could you please make sure that I find the perfect woman. When I have proper wife, then I can do my duties, fulfil my duties towards my father .Once that is fulfilled I am free and then I can sacrifice everything to you. I can surrender myself fully to you. Right now I am not in that position as I have promised my father. You are the greatest, you are time itself. And I know that there is nothing in this world that you cannot bestow. It’s a little sad that I have to ask something worldly of you. But along with that I ask you that please bless me with non attachment to the objects of the world. This will allow me to do my duties dispassionately. It is your words that has manifested as the Vedas and the scriptures they prescribe a certain way of life.
I have to go through that , I have to fulfil these duties. So please bless me with that dispassion so that whenever I complete my duties I am free to reach you quickly and I don’t get stuck in between. Its said that Narayana was very happy. And he said yes, I know what’s in your mind, your desires, your wish. And I know you will be successful in this. He said I know you can live in this world doing your karmas, doing your duties, but without being attached to it. Without being affected by the world. You will live in the world like a drop of water on the lotus leaf. If you see water on the lotus leaf doesn’t get stuck. Even though it is all surrounded by water it doesn’t get wet. Drop on the lotus leaf is separate, it just slides off it doesn’t get stuck. Then Narayana said I have already chosen a wife for you. Because I am so pleased with your devotion and love I will .The boon that you have asked me is already in progress, that will happen. In 2 days time Manu the emperor of the world, he will come to you along with his wife Shatarupa. They will come with an intention of giving one of their daugther’s in marriage to you. They have a few daughter’s and one of them is Devahuti. Devahuti is the perfect wife for you. And she will become the Mother of 9 daughter’s. You will have 9 daughters with her and those 9 will marry the Rishis and your father will be very pleased with that. That way you are contributing to the family lineage. But because you are so dear to me, so pure, after them I will be born as your son. And in that birth I will establish the Sankhya Darshana, Sankhya philosophy on this earth. And having said this Narayan disappeared. Kardama was so happy, so he waited there, he had build an ashram there and it was placed in such a way that the Saraswati river was flowing on both sides. It was very beautiful. Also there was a small lake by the side of the ashram which was filled with sweet and clear water, fruit trees, flowers that smell very nice, it was like a holy spot. It had become even more holy because Lord Narayana himself had manifested there. Later this spot was known as Bindusaras. The tears of the eyes of Narayan had fallen there, tears of joy when he saw that his devote/bhakti Karmdama was so devoted to him. The Lord himself shed tears of joy, so those tears fell there. It was a beautiful spot.It so happened that 2 days later Manu came there along with his wife and daughter Devahuti. And they had bought all kinds of gifts. They came to the ashram and the servants presented all the gifts to Kardama. Kardama had just finished his yagya. Said that he himself was glowing like the fire. Was so full of tejas of sattva, the brightness, the spiritual lusture. He had that knowledge as he had darshan of Narayana. Having experienced Narayan his whole being was filled with light and radiance. He welcomed the king, monarch, emperor Manu . At the same time he was very gentle, his eyes was full of compassion. Manu the king, prostrated at the feet of the Rishi , he praised and honoured the king as he was the emperor of the whole country/region. They spoke to each other about the welfare of the kingdom, the happiness of the people. Kardama was also praising the king that your doing such a good job people are happy under your rule. And I am so honoured that someone like you has come to my ashram. It is said that the king is the image of Narayana. One of the forms of Narayana. In the scriptures they say the king and doctor has to be honoured as Narayana. The uninvited guest is also considered as a form of God. He praises the king, you are set to be the sun, moon and the fire, in your prowess your like the sun, your sweetness it resembles that of the moon and your power is so great that it is like agni. After quietly listening very humbly then the king he shared, the reason why I have come here is to ask you to receive my daughter’s hand in marriage. You are a great Rishi and as a King, a Kshatriya to protect great souls like you, help you propagate your teachings and guide the people. In that way we protect each other. I protect you, take care of your needs and by sharing your knowledge and wisdom and taking care of my kingdom. I have a wish and request you to fulfil the same. Of my 5 children there are 2 sons; Kutanapada and Priyavrata. And I also have 3 daughters Devahuti, Prasuti and Akuti. As a father it is my duty to make sure that specially my daugthers marry a person who is fit because. After they get married their husband will have to protect them and take care of them.
Among these 3 daughters, my daughter Devahuti has heard about you and your glory from Rishi Narada and she could not forget you anymore. She has set her heart on you and she wants you to be her husband. It so happened that even Lord Narayan came and approached me with this request. Rishi Kardama said that even I have been thinking of marriage I had made a promise to my father to continue our lineage. Your daughter has chosen me as her husband and I am very happy to accept her as my wife. She is very beautiful and full of good virtues but there is something that I need to tell you before I accept her. I would like to be honest about this. I will follow the Grihastha Ashram only until she becomes the mother of my children. After that it is my innate wish to do sadhana . Even the scriptures they say, going through all the stages of life Bramhacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha finally one has to become a Sanyasi and renounce everything. If you and your daughter are ok with this we can go ahead with this. So they agreed and gave their daughter in marriage to Rishi Kardama. The couple lived happily. She served him with all her love when he was doing his sadhana days, months and yrs passed. She was so happy and cheerful that she took full pleasure in just taking care of her husband and being with him there. One day Kardama looked at her and told her that you have taken such good care of me. Even though you are a princess by birth and lived through all luxuries and comfort, not once have you looked unhappy living this simple life with me in the ashram. You have been serving me so devotedly. I can only give you the knowledge, and knowledge can only give you the vision of Narayana himself which is the highest. Having seen the lord all these pleasures of the senses are so transitory so minor and it is our good fortune that we have risen above them. So let me give you this knowledge and help you to realize this. She said I know what you said is true and because of your sadhana you have been able to experience Narayana and see him yourself. But I am also a woman and I have a duty and a natural instinct to experience motherhood. She said you that I have this desire and still you want me to express it. Rishi Kardama with his yogic powers created a Vimana –a flying vehicle a floating palace with beautiful garden, lakes & flowers he created right outside the ashram. He requested her to enter this lake Bindusara and after bathing in it you can join me in this flying palace. When she went into the water in a few moments she realized that she regained her physical strength and beauty. Her body became strong, healthy and radiant again. He said this lake has been created by Naryana so it has the power to grant the desire to anyone who bathes in it. It is said that they entered the flying palace and spend many many yrs there. They were having beautiful clothes and they travelled around in this flying palace, spend several yrs there and even lost track of time and a 100yrs passed like this. She became the mother of 9 daughters. And one day Kardama realized that 9 daughters have been born and it was time to go back to the ashram. The time will come soon that her husband will leave her and so he will go the forest to do his penance and dedicate your life to Narayana. Then she came up to him and said, I know that you had told my father long ago this reality, but how will I manage being separated from you, I am not so dispassionate as you. How can I get rid of the fear of this samsara it frightens me. I will have to be all by myself with these children, they grow up I have to find suitable husbands for them, but then they will have a life of their own and I will be here all by myself.
Then a very interesting thing happened. I know you are on the right path doing all your sadhana you will get liberated, but what about me. I am still grieving over these worldly things that I may loose. I am still caught up in this Maya. Rishi Kardama took her in his arms and said don’t cry, don’t worry and don’t think of yourself badly, you are not unfortunate. Actually you are most fortunate among all the women because Lord Narayana told me that he himself will be born as our son. So you will be giving body to the lord of universe himself. From today set your mind on him, think only of the Lord pray to him, remember him in all the things you do and realizing your devotion he will be born as your son. And in that way he will glorify both our names. Because we will be the one who has given birth to an avatara. You don’t have to worry about your liberation because he himself will teach you the Bramha Vidya which will free you from all these attachments, fears and worries and this jungle of Maya. He will teach you the highest knowledge and through you many more people will get liberated. Devahuti worshipped Narayana and kept thinking about him day and night and before much time had passed it is said that the lord entered her womb and the heavens were rejoicing as they knew the lord will take birth for the good of creation and the fortunate Devahuti will become the Mother of Narayana.
It is said that one day Bramha the creator Kardama’s father he came, and with him came Marichi and the other Rishi’s. Bramha knew that Narayana would be born through them as their son and he also knew the purpose of this birth because Narayana has declared that he would take birth to teach the highest knowledge to the world. And Bramha praised his son, stating that you have been such a perfect son to me. You have followed my commands and duties. These 9 daughters you have will help us to propagate the race our lineage. And those 9 daughters were married to the Rishi’s Bramha told Devahuti, you have nothing to fear. When he is born he will explain the Bramha Vidya the highest knowledge, the knowledge of the consciousness to you. And through you because of his teachings the people in the world will overcome ignorance –avidya which Is the main cause of suffering in this world. His name will be Kapila Muni or Rishi Kapila and he will establish the great Sankhya Darshana /Sankhya Yoga all over the world. Comforting her speaking these words brahma and the Rishi’s they left.
Kardama bowed down to the Lord and expressed gratitude to how the Lord is taking care of them. He also bowed down to the Lord in the womb of his wife. You are the purusha, beyond all the tattvas, the time itself, you are the 3 Gunas and beyond them. You yourself hold this entire universe inside of you and I bow down to you the Kapila Vasudeva, the Lord of Lords, the one who is free from Maya. And because of you I am also free from this Maya this attachment to the samsara. As I had expressed to you my wish to take up sanyasa and to dedicate the rest of my life contemplating you, praying you. And it is said that finally Narayana who was inside the womb of Devahuti then spoke, that I had once promised you Kardama that I would be born as your son. So how could I not fulfil it. And this avtara of mine is only for those in the world who want to be free from this bondage of samsara, the world’s desires, cravings and aversions. I will help those people by speaking the truth about myself about the consciousness. The knowledge of the Bramhan has been forgotten by many so I want to revive it and give it back to mankind to save those who are ready to be saved. And he told Kardama, you don’t have to feel bad, you have made a wise decision, you have my permission to go as a sanyasi. He said surrender all your desires to me and you become free. You will see me in your heart and you will very soon come to me. And as per my mother I know she is afraid of this world and she is very scared to be alone after you go. But you don’t worry, I will teach my mother the knowledge of the self. I will guide her to realize her true nature and thus free her from this worry, fear and attachment to this world. Rishi Kardama did pradakshina to his wife and then he left to the forest. And the rest if the days he spend in the forest thinking about nothing but the bramhan. Contemplating the universal consciousness. He was free from all feelings of attachement and he even went beyond the 3 Gunas. He was free from all the opposites. And as his mind became more and more tranquil, when the time came for the body to drop he reached the feet of the Lord Narayana. And the story continues that Rishi Kapila was born and he was staying with his mother teaching her the highest knowledge The daughters of Kardama were married to those Rishi’s :