Kasyapa Sutras - 1 - Who was Kasyapa Rishi?

[Guest guest]

Namaskars.

Nandaji has introduced Kashyapa Muni, one of the seven rishis of yore and has desired more tales about him be told. I am not good at story telling as our Nandaji and Ramyaji are. However two things come to my mind.

First. Kashyapa’s children from Aditi were known as Devatas and from Diti (a sister of Aditi) as Daityas. Though being brothers, they were always at war with each other. Why? Because Diti was jealous of her sister who was good natured and therefore loved by Kashyapa Muni. Diti was senior in age and wanted to have that attention for herself. Her crude efforts to bring round Kashyapa Muni of course did not succeed. She then successfully vitiated the minds of her children to fight their step brothers and usurp their legitimate kingdom earned by their inherent goodness. In the course of this continuing conflict some times Devatas and sometimes Daityas win. This see-saw game is also going on within each individual between his good and evil qualities with similar result. When Daityas predominate, Indra and other gods plead to Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh for help. With their help they get reinstated. Same is true for an individual too. He has to take Almighty’s help to overcome

his evil tendencies and win Paradise on earth.

Second story relates to Vaman (Dwarf) Avatar of Vishnu. In one of theses conflicts, Daitya King Bali was performing 100 yagyas under the guidance of his Guru Shukracharya to overcome Indra for good. Indra the eldest son of Aditi got frightened and went to his mother for help despite getting assurance from three Gods, Brahma Vishnu and Mahesh that he will be protected when the time comes. Aditi with consent of her husband, Kashyapa Muni, worshipped Vishnu with single minded devotion till He was pleased and told her that He will be born from her womb to fulfill her wishes of protecting Indra’s rule. Accordingly Vishnu was born as Kashyap’s son, but He was dwarf by birth. This little Brahmin boy then left for the place where King Bali’s Yagyas were being performed. It is the obligatory practice at such religious functions to satisfy the needs of any one who is needy and makes a request; and more so if he happens to be a Brahmin boy. When Vishnu in the form of a Vaman reaches

the Yagya site, king’s men did everything possible to satisfy him; but he will not accept anything from them. He wanted that his need be satisfied by king himself. King Bali had completed 99 Yagyas and has to complete the last one to become invincible, but still to satisfy a Brahmin boy; he left his seat and came. When he heard the request of this Vaman boy for small land for his prayers measuring three steps with his tiny feet, he could not help laughing and induced him to take more. But Vaman was adamant that one should not be greedy, implying thereby that king was greedy as he is trying to take some one else’s kingdom even though he has his own intact. King agreed to give what he wanted and started to make the Sankalp for the same as Vamanji insisted on it. At that point Shukracharya sensed something fishy and came to the site. Moment he saw Vaman, he knew that in this form it is Vishnu himself who has come to destroy the effect of these Yagyas. He warned king Bali, but

the king did not deviate from making his Sankalp. This disobedience of his Shishya infuriated the Guru, who cursed him that he (the king) will soon loose his kingdom. Still Sankalp was completed and now it was turn of the Vaman Bhagwan to measure the three steps of the land. And lo! Vamanji started growing to full stature of God Almighty. In one step He measured the world and in the second all the other worlds including paradise, where Indra ruled. He then asked Bali where He should keep His third step to complete his Sankalp. King Bali was grand son of great Daitya devotee Prahalad and was himself a devotee of high order. He immediately offered his head, knowing fully well that this will send him to the under world. Lord Vishnu was greatly pleased and gave him Darshan and praised his great qualities of honoring Sankalp, despite knowing the adverse consequences in his case. He then gave him kingdom of the underworld and promises that in his incarnation in one of the

Manvantras, he will be born as Indra and will rule the paradise.

As our Swamiji says all these stories can be interpreted at three levels-physical, mental and spiritual and can provide great impetus in one’s spiritual growth.

Any one who does not know his ‘gotra’ usually takes ‘Kashyapa’ as his gotra since he (Kashyapa Muni) is father of all, good and bad.

Salutations.

Chetan

 

 

Chetan Merani

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear Nandaji

You said: "Diti's offspring were known as "Daityas" . These were the Asuras or demonical beings, constantly at war with their divine half-brothers."

But, in the book say: "Diti gave birth to all of the other beings of physical creation" Is it the same thing? Are we children of Diti or Aditi?

Thanks a lots

Kalachandra

 

Nanda <chandimaakijai > escreveu:

Dear All,

I met with Swamiji yesterday to discuss our group activities and He suggested that we study the Kasyapa Sutras! Jai Swamiji!

If you have the book "The Guru and the Goddess", then you have the Kasyapa Sutras. This is also the same book that has the "Guru Gita" and the "Lalita Trishati".

So onwards with our Kasyapa Sutras...

Who was Kasyapa?

He was a great Rishi of yore. He was one the Sapta Rishis (or the 7 sages - anyone know the names of the 7 Rishis? - The answer will be revealed in our next episode ) .

Swamiji says in his introduction to these sutras that the Sapta Rishis are "mysterious figures whose spiritual luminescence has fired the Hindu imagination" and further that they are "said to have been born directly from the mind of God". "These seers imparted Sanathan Dharma -- the eternal truth rooted in the divine essence of our being -- to the earliest race of humanity".

Of the seven Rishis, Kasyapa shone so brilliantly that his contemporaries called him the human Sun.

The story goes that Kasyapa had two wives - Aditi and Diti. Aditi gave birth to 12 children (called Adityas - or the offspring of Aditi). They are also known as the Devas or Divine beings.

Diti's offspring were known as "Daityas" . These were the Asuras or demonical beings, constantly at war with their divine half-brothers.

There is more information about Kasyapa and Aditi in the introduction to the book - "The Guru and the Goddess".

It will be great if you could spare some time to read the introductory pages of this book and share your insights. Please share any stories that you may have read about Kasyapa/Aditi, and any questions/thoughts you have on this magnificent book. As always, we will ask Swamiji and get His input for our questions.

Jai Kasyapa Muni!

Nanda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Namaste Chetan,

 

I had heard this story before from Swamiji, but it was nice to

revisit it. I especially like the fact that King Bali honored his

sankapla regardless of its consequences to him and that one can use

Kasyapa goptra when one doesn't know one's own.

 

Jai Maa,

Gauri

 

Jai Maa,, Chetan Merani

<cvmerani wrote:

>

> Namaskars.

> Nandaji has introduced Kashyapa Muni, one of the seven rishis of

yore and has desired more tales about him be told. I am not good at

story telling as our Nandaji and Ramyaji are. However two things come

to my mind.

> First. Kashyapa's children from Aditi were known as Devatas and

from Diti (a sister of Aditi) as Daityas. Though being brothers, they

were always at war with each other. Why? Because Diti was jealous of

her sister who was good natured and therefore loved by Kashyapa Muni.

Diti was senior in age and wanted to have that attention for herself.

Her crude efforts to bring round Kashyapa Muni of course did not

succeed. She then successfully vitiated the minds of her children to

fight their step brothers and usurp their legitimate kingdom earned

by their inherent goodness. In the course of this continuing conflict

some times Devatas and sometimes Daityas win. This see-saw game is

also going on within each individual between his good and evil

qualities with similar result. When Daityas predominate, Indra and

other gods plead to Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh for help. With their

help they get reinstated. Same is true for an individual too. He has

to take Almighty's help to overcome

> his evil tendencies and win Paradise on earth.

> Second story relates to Vaman (Dwarf) Avatar of Vishnu. In one of

theses conflicts, Daitya King Bali was performing 100 yagyas under

the guidance of his Guru Shukracharya to overcome Indra for good.

Indra the eldest son of Aditi got frightened and went to his mother

for help despite getting assurance from three Gods, Brahma Vishnu and

Mahesh that he will be protected when the time comes. Aditi with

consent of her husband, Kashyapa Muni, worshipped Vishnu with single

minded devotion till He was pleased and told her that He will be born

from her womb to fulfill her wishes of protecting Indra's rule.

Accordingly Vishnu was born as Kashyap's son, but He was dwarf by

birth. This little Brahmin boy then left for the place where King Bali

's Yagyas were being performed. It is the obligatory practice at such

religious functions to satisfy the needs of any one who is needy and

makes a request; and more so if he happens to be a Brahmin boy. When

Vishnu in the form of a Vaman reaches

> the Yagya site, king's men did everything possible to satisfy him;

but he will not accept anything from them. He wanted that his need be

satisfied by king himself. King Bali had completed 99 Yagyas and has

to complete the last one to become invincible, but still to satisfy a

Brahmin boy; he left his seat and came. When he heard the request of

this Vaman boy for small land for his prayers measuring three steps

with his tiny feet, he could not help laughing and induced him to

take more. But Vaman was adamant that one should not be greedy,

implying thereby that king was greedy as he is trying to take some

one else's kingdom even though he has his own intact. King agreed to

give what he wanted and started to make the Sankalp for the same as

Vamanji insisted on it. At that point Shukracharya sensed something

fishy and came to the site. Moment he saw Vaman, he knew that in this

form it is Vishnu himself who has come to destroy the effect of these

Yagyas. He warned king Bali, but

> the king did not deviate from making his Sankalp. This

disobedience of his Shishya infuriated the Guru, who cursed him that

he (the king) will soon loose his kingdom. Still Sankalp was

completed and now it was turn of the Vaman Bhagwan to measure the

three steps of the land. And lo! Vamanji started growing to full

stature of God Almighty. In one step He measured the world and in the

second all the other worlds including paradise, where Indra ruled. He

then asked Bali where He should keep His third step to complete his

Sankalp. King Bali was grand son of great Daitya devotee Prahalad and

was himself a devotee of high order. He immediately offered his head,

knowing fully well that this will send him to the under world. Lord

Vishnu was greatly pleased and gave him Darshan and praised his great

qualities of honoring Sankalp, despite knowing the adverse

consequences in his case. He then gave him kingdom of the underworld

and promises that in his incarnation in one of the

> Manvantras, he will be born as Indra and will rule the paradise.

> As our Swamiji says all these stories can be interpreted at three

levels-physical, mental and spiritual and can provide great impetus

in one's spiritual growth.

> Any one who does not know his `gotra?usually takes `Kashyapa?as

his gotra since he (Kashyapa Muni) is father of all, good and bad.

> Salutations.

> Chetan

>

>

> Chetan Merani

>

>

>

> Messenger with Voice. Make PC-to-Phone Calls to the US (and

30+ countries) for 2?min or less.

>

[Guest guest]

After reading the introduction, I was a bit confused. Was Kasyapa a

God? Since his wife Aditi gave birth to the first twelve Gods, I

wondered if Kasyapa and Aditi were themselves Gods.

 

Thank you,

Karen []

 

, Nanda <chandimaakijai wrote:

>

> Dear All,

> I met with Swamiji yesterday to discuss our group activities and He

suggested that we study the Kasyapa Sutras! Jai Swamiji!

 

> It will be great if you could spare some time to read the introductory

pages of this book and share your insights. Please share any stories

that you may have read about Kasyapa/Aditi, and any questions/thoughts

you have on this magnificent book. As always, we will ask Swamiji and

get His input for our questions.