Kandu Maharshi
Kaṇḍu
Kaṇḍu Maharshi is a ṛshi of great tapas, the father of Mārishā by the apsaras Pramlocā, and so the grandfather of Daksha Prajāpati. The Agni Purāṇa calls him the tapasvin Kaṇḍu muni and tells how King Soma gave his daughter Mārishā to the ten Pracetases, and how Daksha was born of her. Other texts tell of his long tapas, of Pramlocā sent by Indra to break it, of his son and the burned forest, and of his tapas at Pushkarakshetra, where Bhagavān Vishṇu appeared to him and declared him a jīvanmukta.
In ancient times, Kandu Maharshi performed intense tapas from his childhood. He established his āśrama on the banks of the Gautamī river. The Purāṇas have no mention of his parents or his lineage. The Gautamī refers to the region of Andhra Pradesh, as there is still a village named after him in the Godāvarī area. A sacred site exists there even today.
Early Life and Family
Kandu Maharshi performed his tapas in complete solitude. His hermitage remained utterly silent and deserted. Even birds and animals did not frequent the area. Throughout the year, it was always spring in his āśrama. He performed an extraordinary tapas. No one knew why he was performing tapas—whether it was for moksha, Indra‘s position, sovereignty, vairāgya, or jñāna. His goal remained hidden.
Indra became anxious and wanted to test him. He decided to send the celestial apsaras named Pramlocā. But Pramlocā hesitated, saying, “I have heard of this muni’s tapas. Many apsaras have tried to disturb tapas and ended up cursed and suffering. Do not send me for this task.” But Indra did not listen. He said, “You are not like Rambhā or others. I grant you special beauty, power, and radiance. I command you—go.”
With the vara of beauty given by Indra, Pramlocā went to the hermitage of Kandu. Because Kandu Maharshi had been in total isolation, as soon as he saw her, his mind melted with desire. They became a couple. A long time passed as they stayed together in union. Pramlocā’s mission was complete—his tapas was broken. But Kandu became deeply attached to her. She, however, knew she must return to Indra’s world, or she would be cursed or punished. Yet she hesitated to leave him, fearing he might punish her if she revealed the truth.
Kandu, through his yogic vision, understood the reality. He realized she had been sent by Indra to disturb his tapas. He told her, “I know the trick that Indra played on me. You are not at fault. Leave this place at once. Otherwise, I will reduce you to ashes. You have given me pleasure all these years, and I have been bound by you. For this, I express my gratitude and forgive you. Now go.”
Pramlocā trembled, fell at his feet, and took leave. She departed via the path of the sky. But when she left, the brilliance of Kandu Maharshi had already passed into her womb. She immediately gave birth to a daughter there itself. According to the Vishṇu Purāṇa, while Kandu Maharshi was with Pramlocā, 900 years, 6 months, and 3 days had passed without his knowledge. When Pramlocā told him this, he became enraged. After obtaining his permission, she returned to svarga. Out of fear of his curse, her perspiration became a child in her womb. The trees accepted and nurtured the child. That daughter was named Mārishā. Mārishā was later married to Pracetas. From Mārishā and Pracetas, Daksha Prajāpati was born.
Per Agni Purāṇa, the ten sons of Prācīnabarhis, all named Pracetas, performed tapas in the waters of the ocean for ten thousand years and received the office of Prajāpati from Bhagavān Vishṇu. When they rose from the ocean, the earth and sky were covered with trees, and with the fire and wind born from their mouths they began to burn the trees. Then King Soma went to them and said: “Withdraw your anger. I know what is to come. Through Pramlocā I caused the excellent maiden Mārishā to be born as the daughter of the tapasvin Kaṇḍu muni. I give her to you. Let her be the wife who increases your line. Daksha, born of her, will increase the people.” The Pracetases accepted her, and to her was born a son, Daksha.
Source: Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 18
Kandu Maharshi also eventually had a son. When the boy was sixteen years old, he died, burned in a forest fire. In anger, Kandu cursed the entire forest, turning it into a desert. No water remained there. According to the Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa of the Rāmāyaṇa, Hanumān and his followers once saw this dry land.
Śrī Rāma after completing the war, returned to Ayodhyā. Among the ṛshis who came to meet him—along with Agastya and Vālmīki—Kandu Maharshi also came from the south, as mentioned in the Uttara Rāmāyaṇa. He is also referred to as Kandhu in some versions.
Kandu’s Tapas at Pushkarakshetra
From there, Kandu Maharshi went to Pushkarakshetra on the banks of the Gomati river, where Bhṛgu and other ṛshis had performed tapas. There, he meditated deeply on Brahman with great concentration. Nārāyaṇa appeared before him and asked what vara he desired.
Kandu replied, “O Supreme Being! You are the architect of the universe, Śambhu, Vṛshākapi, Śaṅkara, and Uśanas. You are the embodiment of Satya, Japa, and Tapas. You are Āditya, Oṅkāra, and the life-force itself. You are the personification of the Ṛg Veda, Sāma Veda, and Atharva Veda. You are the Supreme Ātman. You dwell in ten fingers’ space, and you are the origin of both mortal and immortal sound. All worlds are born from you. You pervade the five elements.”
Kandu further praised him, saying, “You dwell in nine parts of svarga and the sky, and in four parts on Earth—specifically in the Purushottama Kshetra. In the ether, in the elements, in the twenty-four tattvas, you are present.”
Pleased with this, Vishṇu asked Kandu to request a vara. Kandu said, “O Mahātmā! Grant me moksha from this vast, difficult, and sorrowful saṁsāra, this endless ocean of worldly life. Bestow moksha upon me. I need nothing else.”
Vishṇu responded, “So be it! You have already conquered your internal enemies. Moksha is already within your grasp. You are only asking this as a formality. Seeing the intensity of your tapas, I appeared to grant you a vara. Since you seek only moksha and nothing else, you are already liberated. You are a jīvanmukta.”
This is recorded in the Brahma Purāna.
The Meaning of Brahmapāra Japa
Kandu, during his tapas, performed Brahmapāra Japa. What does that mean? Brahmapāra Japa is the contemplation of the Supreme Brahman that transcends even the cosmos created by Brahmā.
In the Gāyatrī mantra, the fourth pāda is परो रजसि सावदोम् (Paro Rajasi Sāvadoṃ). This refers to that reality which is beyond Rajas (activity). It represents the pure, transcendental tattva. Reciting this is the core of Brahmapāra upāsana. Commentators have elaborated on this. Reciting the fourth pāda of the Gāyatrī is considered Brahmapāra Japa.
All is caused by the Supreme Being. He is the doer, the deed, the process, and the result. He is the enjoyer. Like a thread in pearls, he pervades all. He is Bhagavān Vishṇu, the Father, the universal being. He is immutable, eternal, and unborn. Though he pervades everything, he remains unattached. He is Brahman, the imperishable, the Purshottama. Through his grace, all attachments and defects are destroyed.
This is described in the Brahma Purāṇa (Kandu Upākhyāna, Chapter 178). By this stotra, Kandu attained the supreme abode. Mahāvishṇu declared, “My devotees, whether of any varṇa, or even women, can attain the highest siddhi.”
By one’s vision and practice, moksha comes. But it affects only the person who practices it. Those who chant this mantra receive Bhagavān Vishṇu’s grace and attain the supreme state. It is not Satva or Rajas—it is beyond all guṇas. It is Parorajasi.
People desire many things. For example, they desire the welfare of all beings. But for such desires, ordinary yajñas are not sufficient. Only by offering actions to the Supreme Being do they attain infinite fruit. All actions must be offered to Bhagavān Vishṇu—that is the conclusion of the Upanishads.
Per Bhāgavata Purāṇa
Maitreya Maharshi tells Vidura how Śrī Hari appeared to the ten Pracetas, the sons of Prācīnabarhis, after their tapas, and blessed them. He told them: “O princes! To the apsarā Pramlocā, from Kaṇḍu Maharshi, a lotus-eyed little girl was born. But she left the child in the forest, and the trees received the infant.” When the infant cried with hunger, Candra, the master of the healing plants, in his compassion placed in her mouth his index finger, which flows with amṛta. Śrī Hari told the Pracetas to marry that maiden, whose dharma and nature were equal to theirs, and promised them a son who would not be less than Brahmā in his qualities and would fill the three worlds with his progeny.
When the Pracetas came out of the waters and, seeing the earth covered with trees, began to burn them with the fire and wind from their mouths, Brahmā calmed them, and the trees that remained offered them their daughter. At Brahmā’s command the Pracetas married her; her name was Mārishā. In her Daksha, the son of Brahmā, was born again.
Source: Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 4, Chapter 30
Sources
- Vishṇu Purāṇa
- Rāmāyaṇa, Kishkindhā Kāṇḍa
- Uttara Rāmāyaṇa
- Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 178
- Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 18
- Bhāgavata Purāṇa, Skandha 4, Chapter 30