Ancient Wisdom Series
Kashyapa
Cosmic Progenitor
- Revered as the universal father — a Prajapati (lord of creation) responsible for populating the world with gods, demons, humans, animals, birds, serpents, and more
- His name comes from 'Kashyapa,' meaning 'vision' or 'seer'
- Appears in Rigveda, Mahabharata, and Puranas as a key figure in the cosmic genealogy
- Many lineages (gotras) in Hindu society trace their roots back to him
Family Lineage / Gotra
father
Marichi
One of Brahma's ten mind-born sons (Manasaputra)
firstWife
Aditi
Mother of the Adityas (Devas or gods)
secondWife
Diti
Mother of the Daityas (Asuras or demons)
thirdWife
Danu
Mother of the Danavas
fourthWife
Kadru
Mother of serpents (Nāgas)
fifthWife
Vinata
Mother of Garuda and Aruna (sun's charioteer)
Rishi Kashyapa is the father of the cosmos, making him the grand-ancestor of divine, demonic, and earthly species
Key Texts
Rigveda
Several hymns attributed to Kashyapa and his descendants
Puranic References
Mentioned extensively in Vishnu Purana, Bhagavata Purana, Ramayana, and Mahabharata
Interesting Stories
The Birth of the Devas and Asuras
Kashyapa married Aditi and Diti, among others
From Aditi were born the Devas (gods) like Indra, Varuna, and Surya
From Diti came the Asuras (demons) like Hiranyakashipu and Hiranyaksha
This establishes the divine duality — good and evil both come from the same source
The Garuda-Aruna Saga
Kashyapa's wife Vinata laid two eggs: Garuda (eagle mount of Vishnu) and Aruna (charioteer of the Sun)
Garuda would later play a key role in stealing amrita (nectar of immortality) from the gods to free his mother from servitude
Father of the Nāgas
From Kadru, Kashyapa fathered the Nāgas, the serpent beings of power and mystery (like Vasuki and Shesha)
Nāgas appear across Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, representing kundalini energy, cosmic balance, and spiritual power
Contributions and Discoveries
The most prolific progenitor in Indian mythology
Credited with teaching about yajnas (sacrificial rituals) and the cycle of karma and rebirth
Considered the founder of many gotras (priestly lineages)
Through his wives, Kashyapa literally seeded the world's diversity
Spiritual Symbolism
Represents creation through balance, accepting both light (gods) and shadow (demons)
Embodies the concept of unity in multiplicity — all beings emerge from the same cosmic consciousness
A symbol of divine neutrality, standing beyond judgment
Why is he 6th on the list?
He comes after Atri to expand from spiritual essence into divine manifestation
As the cosmic father, his stories form the mythological DNA of many characters in the Ramayana and Mahabharata
His placement here reflects the evolution from divine insight to the creation of the living universe
Lineage & Timeline
Satya Yuga
~2.16 million years
The first and most virtuous age where dharma stood on all four legs. Many Rishis including Vashishtha and Vishwamitra lived during this time.