It is believed that Kesarwanies are the descendants of Rishi Kashyap from whom they get their Kashyap gotra. Kesarwanies have their origin from Kashmir, which was founded by Kashyap Rishi. There are many Legends about Kashyap Rishi in Hindu mythology. As per Padma Purana Once, goddess Parvati expressed her desire to know about all the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Lord Mahadeva replied - Lord Brahma had created numerous Prajapatis like Bhrigu, Mariachi, Atri, Daksha, Kardam, Pulastya, Pulaha, Angira and Kratu. Marichi was the father of Kashyap. Sage Kashyap had four wives--Aditi, Diti, Kadru and Vinta

In the Mahabharat, according to Vedvyas, Marichi was the son of Brahma. In time, Mariachi had a son named Kashyap Rishi who then married the daughters of Daksh Prajapati; Diti, Aditi, Vinta and Kadru. In other texts it is said that Daksha Prajapati was born out of the right thumb of Brahma and all the people were his descendants. He had one thousand sons and fifty daughters. He married thirteen of his daughters to Rishi Kashyap.

(It is not clear that Rishi Kashyap was having four, seven or thirteen wives. In different texts, the names of Kashyap's wives are different. Some inconsistency between the texts is common in Hindu mythology.)

The sage Kashyap, through his many wives, fathered many races of celestial beings.

1. Aditi produced the gods (like Indra, Varun, Vivaswan etc.), demi-Gods and man.

   • When Vivaswan got married, he had two sons-- Manu, the father of mankind and Yamraj, the god of death. All the dynasties on the earth descended from Manu's sons.

   • Sage Kashyap commenced the most austere penance--Payovrata to help the deities regain their lost kingdom (heaven) once again. He was accompanied by his wife--Aditi in his penance, which lasted for one thousand years. At last, Lord Vishnu became pleased by their penance and appeared before them. Sage Kashyap narrated the woeful tales of the deities and requested him to make Indra the Lord of all the three worlds. Lord Vishnu promised that he would take incarnation as Vaman. In course of time, Aditi became pregnant and ultimately gave birth to Lord Vaman.

2. Diti brought forth the demons like--Makar, Hayagreeva, Mahabali, Hiranyaksha, Hiranyakashipu Jambha, Maya etc. Makar was a mighty demon, who after deceitfully acquiring the Vedas from Lord Brahma had hidden himself inside an ocean. Lord Brahma requested Vishnu to liberate the sacred Vedas from the possession of Makar.

3. Kadru produced snakes. She gave birth to a thousand snakes who are considered to be ancestors of all snakes. Thus snakes are semi-divine beings.

4. Vinta was the mother of mighty Garuda (vehicle of Vishnu & king of birds) and the sun-god Surya. (Kadru once won a bet with Vinta. As a result, Vinata had to serve Kadru as a maid. Garuda relieved his mother from Kadru's bondage by getting Amrit (nectar) from the heavens. However, in the process, Nagas became his permanent enemies of Garuda.)

5. Surabhi was the mothers of Cows & buffalos

6. Sarmas produced dogs etc. and

7. The Bhagavata Purana states that the Apsaras were born from Kashyap and Muni In the Mahabharata the mother of Apsaras is stated as Pradha.

8. Danu was the mother of all the Danavs.

9. Khasa

10. Khrodha or Khrodhvasha

11. Aristha

12. Era or Ila

13. Tamra

As per Vayu & Varun Puran his wives were Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kashtha, Arishtha, Sursha, Ila, Muni, Krodhvasha, Tamra, Surbhi, Sarma, & Timi.

As stated in Bhagvat Aditi Diti Danu Vishwa, Aristha, Sursa, Surbhi, Vinta, Tamra, Krodhvash, Era, Kadru & Muni were wives of Sage Kashyap.

• As per Bhagvat (9.16.22) Parashuram had given the middle region of his province to Kashyap Rishi.

• He had met to Bhismapitamah when he was lying on arrow bed. (Bhagvat 1.9.8)

• Narad, Parvat, Aaditya, Marudgarh & Rudras were Kashyap's son. (Brhamapuran: 2.27.104; 32.98, 112; 35.92.95; 38.3; 3.1.53; 4.34; 8.1.27; Mathsyapurana: 145, 92; Vayupurana: 1.138; 3.2; 65.53; 84.26.31)

• In Vayupurana (65.115-17) it is said that once, when Daksh was angry because of his daughter, Kashyap had drunk the "Kashy" (a wine) & got the name Kashyap.

• He was invited in Yudhishtir's Yaghya. (Bhagvat 10.74.9)

• He had gone to Symantpanchak to meet lord Krishna. (Bhagvat 10.84.4)

• Kashyap Rishi was expert in treating the snake bite. When Takshak was going to bite the King Pariskhit, he met him on the way. Takshak convinced Kashyap Rishi to go back. (Bhagavat 12.6.11)

• He had learned Moolsanhita from Romharshan, pupil of Vedvayasa.

• Kashyap is one of seven sage of svarochish Era. (Mathsyapurana 9.8)

• Kashyap Rishi had visited a great holy place Shuklthirth situated at bank of Narmada. (Mathsyapurana 192.10)

In his holy book Shatpath Brahmin Granth Muni Yaskacharya has quoted that there was a Kashyap Rishi who studied Vedas deeply. In Vedas there is a rule that a man or woman can only extend their life up to 400 years and not more. In this connection Yajurveda mantra 3/62 refers. So when Kashyap Rishi became of hundred years he prayed God that he is busy in study of Vedas therefore his age may be extended up to two hundred years. But reaching on two hundred years he again requested to extend further hundred years because the Rishi had been experiencing unlimited peace and merriment while studying Vedas and going the deepest in every mantra. And O! When he reached at the age of three hundred years he prayed God that he (Rishi) is leaving Body. Because the knowledge of the Vedas are eternal and unlimited.

It is said that King Dhushyanth was refused to accept Shakuntla, as the curse of Sage Durvasa had obliterated all memories of her in his mind and she had no ring to remind him of their wedding. Seeing her daughter filled with anguish, Menaka took her to sage Kashyap's ashram and left her in his care. Shakunthala gave birth to a son in the ashram and named him Sarvathamanan. King Dhushyanth, who on request from Indra, had engaged himself in a battle against the Asuras, visited the sage Kashyap's ashram on his return. He was ecstatic to see Shakunthala and his son (due to resurgence of memory about his lady love), and took them back with him to his palace. Sarvathamanan later on ruled the kingdom as the popular emperor Bharatha.

Yet in another legend, Vayupuran (52.16) & Srimad Bhagvat (Skandh 12:11.41) Soot Jee told to Saunak Jee; "to regulate the behavior of people, Bhagvaan Soorya, in the form of Kaal, go around with His 6 Gan all round the 12 months (Chaitra, Vaishaakh, Jyestha, Aashad etc. 12 months). Among them Rishi pray Soorya with Soorya-related Ved Mantra, Gandharv sing praise, Apsaraa dance, Naag act as rope for His chariot, Yaksh decorate chariot, and powerful Raakshas push it forward from back. Anshu Soorya, Kashyap Rishi, Taarkshya Yaksh, Vidyuchchhatru Raakshas, Mahaashankh Naag, Urvashee Apsaraa, Ritsen Gandharv are accompany Soorya Bhagvaan in Agahan Maas."

As per legends & also according to the Kalhana's (contemporary of King Jayasimha of Kashmir of the 12th century) Rajtarangini, regarded as one of the most ancient and famous historical texts of the sub-continent, The whole of the valley (Kashmir valley of today) was under water, It was a big lake "Satisar" named after Shiva's consort Sati. The people living on the banks of the lake were threatened by an invincible monster - Jalodbhave. . It was on the Kashyap rishi's pleading with Vishnu that gods and goddess came to help to kill the monster. Goddess Sharika who is revered in Kashmir, assumed the form of a dove and brought a small 'hill' (The Hari Parbat or Sharika Devi's Parbat) in its beak and crushed the monster with that 'hill'. It was after that, Kashyap Rishi drained the water through number of rivers and rivulets and what emerged was a valley of enchanting beauty, whom the saint named "Kashyap Murh" or Kashyap Mar. As time passed, the nomenclature changed and finally the `Paradise on Earth' came to be known as Kashmir. All Kashmiries are believed to be the descendants of Rishis and Munis, such as Dattatreya, Bhardwaj and Kashyap

In those days when Kashyap Rishi drained the Kashmir valley of water, Bhrigu Rishi came that way on a visit to The Himalayas & the Holy Amarnath cave and lingam were discovered by him. The ice Lingam of Amarnath Cave was first discovered before the 12th century by a Muslim shepherd named Buta Malik, while looking for a missing goat. Later it became Shiva's abode and a center of pilgrimage.