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BY: SUN STAFF
The Battles of Indra and Associates Sep 12, 2014 — CANADA (SUN) — A study of the famous Rishis and Munis of Vedic literature.
Kutsa Rishi is one of the last Saptarishis we will cover in this series. He is mentioned many times in the Rig Veda, in various contexts. He is often associated with Lord Indra, both as a close friend and as a look-alike. In one Rigvedic hymn, Kutsa is mentioned as Arjuneya, the son of Arjun. Elsewhere, Kutsa is invoked together with Indra, as Indra-Kutsa. The Rishi is also known for his sweetness.
Rig Veda 4.16.10 there is mention of a conversation between Sage Vamadeva and Indra which illustrates how Kutsa and Indra were not only intimate friends, but were also 'look-alikes' -- so much so that at one point, Indrani herself could not tell them apart.
Rishi Kutsai was the son of a Rajarishi named Ruru. Indra helped Ruru by decimating his enemies, and he invited Kutsa to Indraloka to celebrate the victory. Once, Kutsa fell into a deep well, and Indra came running to save his friend. This pastime is mentioned in Rig Veda10.40.6.
In Rig Veda106.6 there is a suktam consisting of seven mantras. Although Kutsa Rishi discovered this suktam, he named it in conjunction with his guru, Angirasa, as the Kutsa Angeerasa. In Panini's Ashtadhyayi, he is mentioned as an old acharya. He is described as worshipping Agni in different forms, addressing him with different names.
One of Kutsa's enemies is Shushna, who he defeats with Indra's help. Indra removed the Sun disc for Kutsa, who is also referred to as Indra's charioteer. In one hymn 'the Kutsas' are mentioned in plural as a family of singers, in a song praising Indra. The Naighantuka states that Kutsa is a synonym of Indra's vajra.
In some sastric references, Kutsa is defeated by Indra, along with Ayu and Atithigva. In Rig Veda 1.53, the three of them are delivered by Indra to the young king Turvayana.
Kutsa is mentioned not only in the There are several hymns found in Rig Veda Mandala 1 which are attributed to Kutsa Angirasa, and another hymn in the eighth Mandala (10.105) is attributed to Durmitra or Sumitra Kautsa, a descendant of Kutsa Rishi.
In the Rudram of Yajurveda, 65 out of 82 suktams are attributed to Kutsa. It is also stated that Kutsa Maharishi explained the allegories of the first laws of celestial bodies. In a chapter of the Raghuvamsa, Kalidasa invokes Sage Kutsa; he is acknowledged as having blessed the Raghus -- the dynasty to which the crown jewel, Lord Rama belongs.
(Kutsa Rishi, to be continued…)
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