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Vedic Mythology c6.s7: § 57. Kaṇva &c.

Vedic Mythology c6.s7

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§ 57. Kaṇva &c.

c6.s7.1

The name of Kaṇva occurs about sixty times in the RV. as that of an ancient seer and of his descendants, the occurrences in the singular and plural being nearly equally divided. Kaṇva is spoken of as the son of Nṛṣad (10, 31¹¹) and bears the patronymic Nārṣada (1, 117⁸;

c6.s7.2

AV. 4, 19²). He is mentioned in an enumeration of ancient ancestors such as Manu and Aṅgiras (1, 139⁹). The gods gave Agni to Kaṇva and others, who kindled him and were blessed by him (1, 36¹⁰. ¹¹. ¹⁷). Agni helped Kaṇva, as well as Atri, Trasadasyu, and others, in battle (10, 50⁵), and is spoken of as a friend and chief of the Kaṇvas (10, 115⁵). Indra conferred gold and cattle on Kaṇva, Trasadasyu, and others (Vāl. 1¹⁰. 2¹⁰). The Maruts bestowed wealth on Kaṇva along with Turvaśa and Yadu (8, 7¹⁸). The Aśvins are several times said to have helped Kaṇva (1, 47⁵. 112⁵; 8, 5²⁵. 8²⁰). He was blind when succoured by the Aśvins (8, 5²³), who restored his sight (1, 118⁷).

c6.s7.3

Most of the hymns of the eighth book of the RV. are attributed to the family of Kaṇva, and poets there speak of themselves as Kaṇvas. The name as that of a family is therefore historical. But the ancestor whose name was transferred to them in reality¹ never appears in the RV. as that of a contemporary. Roth thinks his origin may have been mythical like that of Aṅgiras²; and Bergaigne is of opinion that the blind Kaṇva represents the sun during the night or, more generally, the hidden Agni or Soma³.

c6.s7.4

¹ Oldenberg, ZDMG. 42, 216—7. — ² PW. s. v. Kaṇva. — ³ BRV. 2, 465. — ⁴ Oldenberg, ZDMG. 42, 217. ¹ KHF. 54 ff.; BRV. 2, 333—8; Perry, JAOS. 11, 181; PVS. 1, 24; GVS. 2, 35. 163 ff.; ZDMG. 42, 211; ORV. 158—60; JAOS. 18, 31—3. —

c6.s7.5

Medhyātithi, a descendant of Kaṇva, being called by the patronymic Kāṇva (8, 2⁴⁰), is mentioned nine times in the RV., occasionally with Kaṇva in enumerations of ancestors (1, 36¹⁰. ¹¹. ¹⁷). The name seems to mean ‘he who has a sacrificial guest (i. e. Agni)’. Priyamedha, whose name occurs four or five times and is found beside that of Kaṇva (8, 5²⁵), belongs to the past, but his descendants often speak of themselves in the plural as Priyamedhas⁴.

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