Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.4830

c9.4830

2) *The name Mārtaṇḍa.* As Aditi was pregnant, Candra went to the hermitage asking for alms. Due to her difficulties of pregnancy Aditi was not in a position to rise up instantly and greet the visitor. Candra thought that it was due to disrespect. So he cursed her. Let the child in your womb die.” At this Aditi became miserable. Kaśyapa saw her crying incessantly and asked for the cause. Aditi told him all that had happened. Kaśyapa blessed her and said that the infant would not die. Thus the child which was lying dead in the womb came to life again. As the ‘aṇḍa’ (egg-embryo) of Vivasvān went mṛta (died) by the curse of Candra, he came to be called Mārtaṇḍa (he who has aṇḍa which has become mṛta). When the child was born he was given the name Vivasvān.