Kapila Maharishi
Friday, 23 Jun, 2023. 05:30.
Ancient Rishis of Bharatham
Kapila Maharishi
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Kapila is the name given to different individuals in ancient and medieval texts, of which the best known is the founder of the Samkhya School of Hindu philosophy. Rishi Kapila of Samkhya fame is a Vedic sage, believed to have lived in the 6th or 7th century BCE. He is accredited as the author of the Samkhya-sutra, in which aphoristic sutras bring forth the dualistic philosophy of the school of thought. Kapila also influenced Buddhism in a big way.
Interestingly, several historical figureheads in Hinduism and Jainism, as well as mythical figures, pilgrimage sites and even an ancient breed of cows have been given the name Kapila. The most famous reference is to the great Rishi, with his student Asuri. These two personalities are considered to be the first masters of the Samkhya school.
Beyond the Samkhya theories, Kapila also features in many dialogues of Hindu texts, explaining various other theories such as Ahimsa (non-violence) in the Mahabharata.
Iconography :
The Vaikhanasasagama depicts Kapila in a different way. It places the Rishi as an avaranadevata and allocates the south-east corner of the first avarana to him. His image is kept facing the east and he is shown having eight arms, of which four on the right are in abhaya mudra. The other three carry the Chakra, Khadga and Hala. The remaining left hand rests on the hip in the katyavarlambita pose.
In Vedic Texts :
The Rig Veda describes Kapila as dasanam ekam kapilam. The Sata-jpitaka Series on the Shakhas of the Yajurveda make mention of a Kapila Shakha, situated in the Aryavarta. This implies that a Yajurveda school was named after a Kapila. The term "Kapileya", which means a "clan of Kapila", features in the Aitareya Brahmana. However, it does not talk about the original Kapila.
In the Bhagavata Purana, Kapila relates to his mother the philosophy of yoga and theistic dualism. His Samkhyasutra is also described though Krishna to Uddhava in Book 11 of the Bhagavata Purana, in the passage which is better known as the Uddhava Gita.
The parisista of the Atharva Veda too makes mention of Kapila, Asuri and Panchasikha, in connection with a ritual for whom tarpana is to be offered.
In the Puranas :
Rishi Kapila receives prominent mention in several Puranas as well. The following are some of the most important instances:
Kapila as the Sleeping Vishnu :
In the Brahma Purana, when the evil King Vena abandoned the Vedas and declared that he was the only creator of dharma. He had crossed all the limits of dharma and was eventually destroyed and killed. Then, Kapila advised sages to churn Vena's thigh, from which came out Nishadas. From his right hand emerged Prithu, who made the earth a productive place, all over again. Kapila and the sages then went to Kapilasangama, a holy place where several rivers met.
The Purana also describes Kapila in the context of Sagara's 60,000 sons, who were looking for their Ashwamedha horse. They happened to disturb Vishnu, who was sleeping in the form of Kapila. He woke up and looked at them. The brilliance in his eyes burnt all but four of Sagara's sons to ashes. These four then carried forth the Sagara lineage.
As Vishnu's Reincarnation :
The Narada Purana talks about two Kapilas; one being the incarnation of Brahma and the other, an incarnation of Vishnu. The Bhagavata, Brahmanda, Vishnu, Padma and Skanda Puranas; as also the Valmiki Ramayana; describe Rishi Kapila as an incarnation of Vishnu. According to the Padma and Skanda Puranas, he is Lord Vishnu himself, who descended on earth to disseminate true knowledge. The Bhagavata Purana refers to him as Vedagarbha Vishni. The name Kapila features as one of the Sahasranamas of Vishnu. In his commentary on the Samkhyasutra, Vijnanabhikshu describes Kapila as Vishnu.
As the Son of Kardama :
Book 3 of the Bhagavata Purana says that Kapila was the son of Kardama Prajapati and his wife Devahuti. Kardama was born from Chaya, the very reflection of Brahma. Brahma asked Kardama to procreate and so, the latter went to the banks of River Saraswati and practised penance to appease Vishnu. Vishnu appeared before him and told him that the son of Brahma would arrive there with his wife Shatarupa, in search of a groom for their daughter Devahuti. Vishnu asked Kardama to marry Devahuti and promised him that He Himself would be born as their son.
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