KANVA (KASYAPA) THE FAMOUS SAGE

 

Kanva was a famous sage in ancient India. He is well-known in old stories because he raised a girl named Sakuntala. Kanva was born in the family of Sage Kasyapa, who was the son of Brahma. Because of this, he was sometimes called Kaiyapa. His father was Medhatithi, as mentioned in the Mahabharata. Kanva lived in a hermitage near the river Malini with many students.

Kanvasrama (Kanva’s Hermitage)

According to the Mahabharata, Kanvasrama was located on the northern shore of the river Pravem. Some people believe that Kanvagrama, a village connected to Kanva, was on the banks of the river Chambal, about four miles south of Kota in present-day Rajasthan.

How Kanva Found Sakuntala

A powerful sage named Visvamitra started doing intense meditation. Indra, the king of the gods, became worried about Visvamitra’s growing power and wanted to disturb him. He sent a beautiful celestial woman named Menaka to distract him. Visvamitra and Menaka fell in love, and soon Menaka gave birth to a baby girl. However, they left the child alone in the forest. Birds (called ‘Sakuntas’ in Sanskrit) took care of her, so she was named Sakuntala. One day, Kanva found her in the forest and took her to his hermitage, where he raised her.

The Yaga of Bharata

Bharata, the son of King Dushyanta, performed a special type of fire ritual (Yaga) called ‘Govitata.’ Kanva was the main priest who conducted the ritual. This is mentioned in the Mahabharata.

Kanva and Duryodhana

Once, Kanva told Duryodhana a story about a couple named Matali and Sudharma. They were looking for a good husband for their daughter, Gunakesi. This story appears in the Mahabharata’s Udyoga Parva.

Kanva and Sri Rama

After Lord Rama returned to Ayodhya from his exile, many sages from different regions visited him. Kanva was one of the sages who came from the east. Other sages who visited included Vasistha, Atri, Visvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, Bharadvaja, Sanaka, Sarabhariga, Durvasa, Matanga, Vibhandaka, and Tumburu.

Kanva and the Rgveda

The Rgveda, one of the oldest sacred texts, is divided into ten sections called Mandalas. Different Rishi families wrote different sections. The second Mandala was written by the Bhargava family, the third by the Visvamitra family, the fourth by the family of Vamadeva, the fifth by the Atri family, the sixth by the Bharadvaja family, and the seventh by the Vasistha family. Kanva’s family wrote fifty hymns in the first Mandala and the entire eighth Mandala.

Kanva’s Family

Kanva had a son named Medhatithi, who was also mentioned in the Rgveda. A particular hymn (Sukta twelve of Anuvaka four in the first Mandala) describes him as a sage.

Kanva also had a daughter named Indivaraprabha, born to Menaka. This story is mentioned in the Kathasaritsagara, an ancient collection of stories.

Conclusion

Kanva was a great sage and teacher. He played an important role in raising Sakuntala, conducting rituals for kings, and contributing to the Rgveda. His wisdom and stories continue to be remembered in Indian puranas.