A. Royden D'souza

Kardama Prajāpati was one of the mind-born sons (mānasaputra) of Brahmā, the Creator, born from his shadow (chāyā), intellect, or thought — depending on the Purāṇic version.

In the cosmology of the Purāṇas, Kapila (Sanskrit: कपिल, “the Tawny One”) is no ordinary sage — he is often considered the fifth incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu, born to restore tattva-jñāna, or the true knowledge of reality.

The Ikṣvāku dynasty, descending from the first Manu, Vaivasvata Manu, was known as the Sūryavaṃśa—the Solar Dynasty—because its kings traced their lineage to Vivasvān, the Sun-god.