Kardama (Sanskrit: कर्दम, romanized: Kardama) is a character featured in Hindu literature. A son of the creator god Brahma, Kardama is described to be a prajapati,[2] one of the progenitors of creation. After propitiating Vishnu and seeking his counsel for a suitable wife, he marries Devahuti, one of the daughters of the first man, Manu. He becomes the father of nine daughters by her, as well as one son, the sage Kapila.[3][4]
According to the Bhagavata Purana, Brahma is said to have instructed his son Kardama to procreate. Kardama went to the Bindusaras ashrama located at the banks of the river Sarasvati, whereupon he commenced a tapas that lasted ten thousand years to please Vishnu. Propitiated, Vishnu appeared before Kardama, who requested the deity to grant him a wife with whom he could sire children. Vishnu promised him that two days thence, Svayambhu Manu and his wife, Shatarupa, would offer their daughter Devahuti to him for his wife. He further stated that his wife would bear him nine daughters, all of whom would marry sages, and that a portion of himself would be born to him as his son. When the marriage was proposed by the couple, Kardama agreed on the condition that he would become a renunciant after the birth of their children. Following their wedding, Devahuti served her husband with great devotion and non-attachment, to the extent that she became emaciated. When Kardama praised her qualities, she grew emboldened to remind him of his agreement to grant her children, and also asked that he arrange for a suitable dwelling.[5]
Empleando sus poderes adquiridos a través del yoga, Kardama creó una vimana , un palacio aéreo capaz de volar donde quisiera. Con Devahuti viajó por el mundo, visitando varios jardines y lugares celestiales para su placer. Después de regresar a su ashrama, mantuvieron relaciones sexuales durante cien otoños. Se describe que Kardama se dividió en nueve partes mientras depositaba su semilla dentro de ella. Ese mismo día, Devahuti dio a luz a nueve hijas: Kalā, Anasuya , Shraddha, Havirbhu, Gati, Kriya, Khyati, Arundhati y Shanti. Le entristeció la perspectiva de que su marido la abandonara y el hecho de que sus hijas tendrían que buscar maridos dignos para ellas. Cuando le pidió a Kardama que le concediera libertad del miedo y del samsara , él le informó que Vishnu pronto nacería como su hijo y que la deidad la iluminaría a este respecto. [6]
Vishnu nació de la pareja como Kapila, cuyo nacimiento estuvo acompañado de signos auspiciosos y milagros. Nueve grandes sabios y el propio Brahma llegaron para venerar a Kapila. Estos nueve sabios, a saber, Marici , Atri , Angiras , Pulastya , Pulaha , Kratu , Bhrigu , Vashistha y Atharvan , invocaron a Kardama, quien les dio a sus hijas en matrimonio. Dejó a Kapila al cuidado de Devahuti y se despidió, renunciando al mundo. [7]