About Kapila Shashti
August- September; every 60 years during the Hindu month of Bhadrapada
According to Hindu astronomers, Kapila Shashti takes place about every 60 years, when several astronomical events coincide during theday.
There is a myth that explains why Kapila Shashti
occurs so rarely. It is said that when the sage Narada,
who had always been celibate,decided he wanted to
have female companionship, he asked the god Krishna, who had 16,008 wives, if he could marry one of
them. Krishnaasked only that Narada choose a wife
who was not in anyone else's company. Since all of them were busy enjoying the company of others,Narada
went to bathe in the Ganges River. When he walked out of the river, he discovered that he had been
transformed into a woman. He(now "she") married a
hermit and had 60 sons, which left her so exhausted
that she begged Vishnu to return her to a man. This
Krishna granted, but after Narada was a man again, the sons wailed for their mother to feed them. To quiet the turmoil Vishnu granted each sondominion over one
year. Each year of the cycle is named after one of Narada's sons. Thus, the cycle is 60 years long. The last day
of thecycle is Kapila Shashti, the day when Krishna
turned Narada back into a man.
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