4

This story comes in Aitareya Brahmana

the Risis, called the "middle ones" (Gritsamada, Visvamitra, Vaniadeva, Atri, Bharadvfija, Vasistha, see Asv. Grihya Sutras, 3, 4), hold once a sacrificial session on the Sarasvati. Amongst them there sat Kavasa.

These (Risis) reproached him (that he had come among them) saying : " Thou art the son of a slave girl, we shall neither eat nor drink with thee." Having become angry, he ran to the Sarasvati, and obtained her favour by moans of this hymn (pra devatrd braUmane).

She followed him. These Risis then thought that he was guiltless. Turning to him, they said, "Risi ! adoration be to thee, do us no harm ! thou art the most excellent among us, for she (Sarasvati) follows thee."

They made him the manager of the sacrifice, and thus appeased his wrath. This is the importance of Kavasa, and he it was who made that hymn known.


The mother is known as a slave girl, is the Father of Sage Kavasa mentioned? Who was the father of Sage Kavasa?

1
  • 1
    This link explains how Kavasha Rishi was a Nishada,(his father was a Brahmin).But I could not find his name.So this is a comment.
    – Amethyst
    Jul 30, 2021 at 16:58

1 Answer 1

1
+50

As per Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary, sage kavaṣa's father was Ilūsha:

≫ kavaṣa kaváṣa mf(ī́)n. opened (as the legs) AitBr • m. a shield L • (or kavaṣa ailūṣa) N. of a Ṛishi (son of Ilūsha by a slave girl, and author of several hymns in the tenth Maṇḍala of the Ṛig-veda • when the Ṛishis were performing a sacrifice on the banks of the Sarasvatī he was expelled as an impostor and as unworthy to drink of the water, being the son of a slave • it was only when the gods had shown him special favour that he was readmitted to their society) RV. vii, 18, 12 AitBr. ii, 19 • N. of a Muni BhP • N. of the author of a Dharma-śāstra

You must log in to answer this question.