The Daughters of Kardam

As described in the article “Devahuti and Kardam” the sage Kardam married his nine daughters to various sages as instructed by Brahma. Brahma then told the sages to be fruitful and to multiply so that the earth would be populated. Some of the most powerful deities, sages and kings in Hindu mythology have descended from the daughters of Kardam and Devahuti.

Kala was married to sage Marichi. They had two children, a son Kashyap and a daughter Purnima. Kashyap was responsible for the procreation of several races including those of the Devas and Asuras, as shall be seen later. Purnima had two sons Viraja and Vishvaga and a daughter Devakulya. Today we know Devakulya as the River Ganga.

Anasuya was married to sage Atri. Anasuya and Atri performed severed penances and compelled the Trinity of Supreme Gods, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, to appear before them. They expressed the desire that each of the three Supreme Gods be born as their children. Their wishes were granted and Dattatreya, Durvasa and Soma were born from the womb of Anasuya. Dattatreya, a deity much worshipped in many parts of India, was an incarnation of Vishnu. Durvasa, a hot-tempered sage who more often than not got himself into trouble, was an incarnation of Shiva. Soma, the founder of the Lunar Dynasty, was an incarnation of Brahma.

Shraddha was married to Angiras and they had four daughters, Sinivali, Kuhu, Raka and Anumati, and two sons Utathya and Brihaspati. Brihaspati became the preceptor of the Devas.

Havirbhu married the sage Pulastya and gave birth to two very famous sages, Agastya and Vishrava. From his first wife Vishrava sired, Kuber, who became the treasurer of the Devas. His second wife was the Asura, Kaikasi, whose story has been narrated in “Vishrava, Kaikasi and Ravana”. She was the mother of the most evil force ever to tread the earth, Ravana, and his siblings, Kumbhakaran, Vibhishana and Soorpankha.

Gati was married to sage Pulaha. They had three sons, Karmashreshtha, Varivan and Sahishnu, who became sages of renown. Kriya was married to sage Kratu. They produced sixty thousand sons who are collectively known as the Valakhilyas. Arundhati married sage Vashishta and produced seven sons who became great sages themselves. Their names were Chitraketu, Surochi, Viraja, Mitra, Ulbana, Vasubhridyana and Dyuman. Vashishta also had children from his other wife. Shanti married sage Atharva and gave birth to a son Ashvashira.

The ninth daughter Khyati was married to sage Bhrigu. They had two sons, Dhata and Vidhata, and a daughter Shri. Dhata and Vidhata married Ayati and Niyati, the daughters of sage Meru. To Dhata and Ayati was born Mrikanda, who sired the renowned sage Markandeya. To Vidhata and Niyati was born Prana who sired Vedashira. Vedashira’s son was the famous Shukracharya, the preceptor of the Asuras.

This completes the genealogy of the daughters of Kardam and Devahuti.

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