The Kumaras are four sages (rishis) from the Puranic texts of Hinduism who roam the universe as children, generally named Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatana, and Sanatkumara. They are described as the first mind-born creations and sons of the creator-god Brahma. Born from Brahma's mind, the four Kumaras undertook lifelong vows of celibacy (brahmacharya) against the wishes of their father. They are said to wander throughout the materialistic and spiritualistic universe without any desire but with the purpose of teaching. All four brothers studied Vedas from their childhood, and always travelled together.
The Bhagavata Purana lists the Kumaras among the twelve mahajanas (great devotees or bhaktas) who although being eternally liberated souls from birth, still became attracted to the devotional service of Vishnu from their already enlightened state. They play a significant role in a number of Hindu spiritual traditions, especially those associated with the worship of Vishnu and his avatar Krishna, sometimes even in traditions related to Shiva.
Names The group is known by various names: "Kumaras" (young man or youthful boy), "Chatursana" or "Chatuh Sana" (the four with names starting with Sana) and "Sanakadi" (Sanaka and the others). Individual names usually include Sanaka (ancient), Sanatana (eternal), Sanandana (ever-joyful) and Sanatkumara (ever-young).Bhag-P 3.15.12 Bhagavata Purana "Lord Brahma said: My four sons Sanaka, Sanatana, Sanandana and Sanatkumara, who were born from my mind" Sometimes, Sanatana is replaced by Sanatsujata. A fifth Kumara named Ribhu is sometimes added. Sometimes, the Kumaras are enumerated as six with Sana and Ribhu or Sanatsujata added.
Though in Mahabharata, a total of seven sons are mentioned, namely: 1) Aniruddha, 2) Sana, 3) Sanatsujata, 4) Sanaka, 5) Sanandana, 6) Sanatkumara and 7) Sanatana and further mentions that, "Knowledge comes to these seven rishis, of itself (without being dependent on study or exertion). These seven are wedded to the path of Nivritti (inward contemplation)."The Vedic dharma (religion) is verily twofold, characterized by Pravritti (social action) and Nivritti (inward contemplation), designed to promote order in the world; this twofold dharma has in view the true social welfare and spiritual emancipation of all beings."-Adi Shankaracharaya (A.D. 788–820).
Sanatkumara Sanatkumara in Sanskrit means "eternal youth".Sage Sanatkumara He is the author of the Sanatkumara Samhita, which is part of the Shiva Purana, and has 59 chapters. It is also taken as a part of the Pañcaratra, Vaishnavite devotional texts. He taught Bhishma the mental and spiritual sciences.
In the Bhagavata Purana, Sanatkumara is the first to receive divine knowledge from Sankarshana and passes it through a lineage of sages including Samkhyayana, Pulastya, and Maitreya until it reaches Vidura, a chain that establishes the purana as a bridge between ancient revelation (Shruti) and recorded tradition (Smriti).
The Chandogya Upanishad, Chapter seven, is about Sanatkumara's Instructions on Bhuma-Vidya to celestial sage Narada,Part Seven Chapter I – Dialogue between Narada and Sanatkumara by Swami Nikhilananda.Chapter Three: Sanatkumara's Instructions on Bhuma-Vidya by Swami Krishnananda, The Divine Life Society, Shivananda Ashram, Rishikesh, India. Sanatkumara finds mention across Mahabharata, as a great sage, who dispels doubtsMarkandeya continued.. The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883 –1896), Book 3: Vana Parva: Markandeya-Samasya Parva, Section: CLXXXIV. p. 372 "Markandeya continued, 'On hearing this, the great-mind Munis went instantly to Sanatkumara who was well versed in religion to clear their doubt...Sanatkumara The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883–1896), Book 12: Santi Parva: Mokshadharma Parva: Section: CCLXXX. p. 295."While they were thus conversing with each other there came unto them the great sage Sanatkumara of the righteous soul for the purpose of dispelling their doubts. Worshipped by the prince of Asuras and by the sage Usanas, that foremost of sages sat down on a costly seat.". and the preceptor in all matters affecting Yoga.Narada The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883–1896), Book 2: Sabha Parva: Lokapala Sabhakhayana Parva, section: XI. p. 25 And Daksha, Prachetas, Pulaha, Marichi, the master Kasyapa, Bhrigu, Atri, and Vasistha and Gautama, and also Angiras, and Pulastya, Kraut, Prahlada, and Kardama, these Prajapatis, and Angirasa of the Atharvan Veda, the Valikhilyas, the Marichipas; Intelligence, Space, Knowledge, Air, Heat, Water, Earth, Sound, Touch, Form, Taste, Scent; Nature, and the Modes (of Nature), and the elemental and prime causes of the world,all stay in that mansion beside the lord Brahma. And Agastya of great energy, and Markandeya, of great ascetic power, and Jamadagni and Bharadwaja, and Samvarta, and Chyavana, and exalted Durvasa, and the virtuous Rishyasringa, the illustrious Sanatkumara of great ascetic merit and the preceptor in all matters affecting Yoga..."
Also mentioned is the Tirtha of Kanakhala near Gangadwar or Haridwar, where through extensive tapas, he attained great ascetic powers.Kanakhala The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883–1896), Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section: CXXXV. "Here, O king, before thee is the Kanakhala range, the favourite resort of sages. 'And yonder is the mighty river Ganga. Here, in ancient times, the holy sage Sanatkumara attained ascetic success. O scion of the Ajamidha race, by performing thy ablutions here in this river, thou wilt be freed from all thy sins."
Legend
Origin
The four Kumaras are the eldest sons of the creator-god Brahma. When Brahma undertook the task of creating the universe, he first created some beings from different parts of his body to aid him. The Kumaras were the first such beings. They were created from his mind and appeared as infants. Brahma ordered them to aid in the creation, but as manifestations of sattva (purity), and uninterested in worldly life, they refused and instead devoted themselves to God and celibacy, against the wishes of their father. The Bhagavata Purana narrates further that their refusal made Brahma angry and his wrath manifested the deity Shiva. As per a variant, Brahma practised tapas (austerities) and pleased Vishnu, and so the later he appeared in the form of the four infant Kumaras as Brahma's sons. Some texts like the Devi Bhagavata Purana and the Bhavishya Purana narrates the four Kumaras appeared even before the Brahma of the present age (In a cycle of time, some texts say that a Brahma dies and is reborn.)
The four Kumaras learnt the Vedas at the age of four or five. They thus became great jnanis (learned beings), yogis, and Siddhas (the perfect enlightened ones). The Kumaras remained in the form of children due to their spiritual virtues. The age of the sages varies in sacred texts. While five is the most popular, they are also mentioned as being five-year-old boys.Dalal p. 215 They practised the vow of renunciation (sannyasa) and celibacy (brahmacharya) and remained naked. They wander together throughout the materialistic and spiritualistic universe without any desire but with a purpose to teach. They are sometimes included in the list of Siddhars (Tamil practitioners of Siddha).Dalal p. 407
The four Kumaras are said to reside in Janaloka or Janarloka (loka or world of the intellectuals in the present parlance) or in Vishnu's abode of Vaikuntha.Dalal p. 224 They constantly recite the mantra Hari Sharanam (Refuge in Vishnu) or sing Vishnu's praises. These hymns and glories of Vishnu serve as their only food. Another son of Brahma, the sage Narada, who is described as their disciple, extolls their virtues in the Padma Purana. Narada says though they appear as five-year-old children, they are the great ancestors of the world.
They are possessed also of deep knowledge of the Samkhya philosophy. They are preceptors of the scriptures on duty and it is they that introduce the duties of the religion of Nivritti (inward contemplation), and cause them to "flow in the worlds".Vaisampayana continued... The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883 -1896), Book 12: Santi Parva, Part 3, Section: CCCXLI. p. 147 "The puissant Lord who is charged with the creation of all the worlds is called Aniruddha, Sana, Sanatsujata, Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanatkumara, Kapila, and Sanatana numbering the seventh,--these seven Rishis are known as the spiritual sons of Brahman. Their knowledge comes to them of itself (without being dependent on study or exertion). These seven are wedded to the religion of Nivritti. They are the foremost of all persons conversant with Yoga. They are possessed also of deep knowledge of the Sankhya philosophy. They are preceptors of the scriptures on duty and it is they that introduce the duties of the religion of Nivritti and cause them to flow in the worlds.
Discourses The discourses of the four Kumaras are found in the Hindu epic Mahabharata as well as the Bhagavata Purana.
The Shanti Parva book of the Mahabharata describes the discourse given by the four Kumaras to the demon king Vritra and his guru – the sage Shukra. The king and his guru worship the Kumaras and then Shukra asks them to describe the greatness of Vishnu. Sanatkumara starts by describing Vishnu as the creator and destroyer of all beings. He equates Vishnu's body parts with parts of the universe and the elements, for example, the earth is Vishnu's feet and water is his tongue. All gods are described as being Vishnu. Then Sanatkumara categorizes all beings into six colours depending upon the proportion of the three gunas: sattva (pure), rajas (dim) and tamas (dark). From the lowest to the foremost beings, the colours are dark (tamas is high, rajas is mid, sattva is low), tawny (tamas is high, sattva is mid, rajas is low), blue (rajas is high, tamas is mid, sattva is low), red (rajas is high, sattva is mid, tamas is low), yellow (sattva is high, tamas is mid, rajas is low) and white (sattva is high, rajas is mid, tamas is low). The Vishnu Purana mentions non-living things, lower animals and birds, humans, Prajapatis, gods and the Kumaras are respective examples of the above colours. Sanatkumara elaborates further how a Jiva (living entity) journeys from dark to white in his various births, ultimately gaining moksha if he does good deeds, devotion and yoga.Mahabharata Published by Geeta Press in Gorakhpur. Written in Hindi.The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa Santi Parva translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli [published between 1883 and 1896]
The Bhagavata Purana narrates the visit of the four Kumaras to the court of King Prithu, the first sovereign in Hindu mythology and an avatar of Vishnu. The king worships the sages and asked them about the way of emancipation (moksha) that can be followed by all people who are caught in the web of worldly things. Sanatkumara tells the king that Vishnu is the refuge to all and grants liberation of the cycle of births and rebirths. His worship frees one from material desires and lust. One should be freed from material objects, live a simple life of non-violence and devotion of Vishnu and follow the teachings of a good guru and undergo self-realisation. One should realize that all living things are forms of God. Without devotion and knowledge, humans are incomplete. Out of four purusharthas ("goals of life"), only moksha is eternal, while religious duty, wealth and pleasure decay with this life. While all beings are subject to destruction, the soul and God in our bodies are eternal. So it is paramount that one surrenders to Vishnu, said Sanatkumara ending his counsel. Prithu worships the Kumaras again, who blessed him. Click individual verses for explanatory notes