Kardama: The Sage and Devahuti
A divine marriage and promise
The sage Kardama performs severe penance at Lake Bindu Sarovar. Lord Vishnu appears and promises that He Himself will be born as Kardama's son. The princess Devahuti becomes his devoted wife, and together they await the arrival of Lord Kapila.
The Sage at the Sacred Lake
Not all of Skanda 3 is filled with cosmic battles and demon slaying. The narrative now shifts to a tender story of devotion, marriage, and divine promise - the story of Kardama Muni and Devahuti.
Kardama was one of the Prajapatis - the progenitors created by Brahma to populate the universe. Unlike some who immediately set about their creative duties, Kardama chose a different path. Before engaging in worldly activity, he wanted to perfect his spiritual realization.
He retired to the banks of Bindu Sarovar - a sacred lake in what is now Gujarat - and began performing severe tapas (austerities). For ten thousand years by the demigods' calculation, Kardama stood in meditation, his mind fixed on Lord Vishnu.
"O Lord, grant me the vision of Your divine form. Let me see that face which devotees yearn for, that smile which dispels all darkness, that glance which liberates."
The description of Kardama's tapas reveals the standard of practice expected of serious seekers in that age:
| Austerity | Description |
|---|---|
| Physical stillness | Standing in one place for thousands of years |
| Mental control | Mind fixed single-pointedly on the Lord |
| Sense restraint | No distraction from heat, cold, hunger, or thirst |
| Devotional focus | Heart filled with love for Vishnu |
The Divine Vision
At last, Lord Vishnu appeared before Kardama. The sage beheld the four-armed form of the Lord - holding conch, discus, mace, and lotus - riding upon Garuda. The very vision he had yearned for through ten thousand years of practice now stood before him.
Kardama fell prostrate in devotion. But what he said next surprised even the Lord:
"O Lord, I have seen You. My spiritual desire is fulfilled. But one duty remains. Brahma ordered me to help populate the creation. I must marry and have children. Yet my heart yearns only for liberation. How can I reconcile these two paths?"