Kashyapa is one of the most ancient and prolific of the Saptarishi. His name is traditionally connected with the Sanskrit word for tortoise (kachhapa or kaśyapa), symbolizing the cosmic foundation that supports the world. He is described as a son of the sage Marichi (himself a mind-born son of Brahma) and is therefore counted among the Prajapatis. According to the Puranas, Kashyapa married thirteen (or in some lists more) daughters of Daksha Prajapati. Through Aditi he became the father of the Adityas (including the sun-god Vivasvat and the gods led by Indra); through Diti he fathered the Daityas; through Kadru the Nagas; through Vinata Garuda and Aruna; and through other wives numerous other classes of beings. Thus he is regarded as a universal progenitor.
Kashyapa is associated with several hymns in the Rigveda and is mentioned in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad among the earliest rishis. The Kashmir Valley is traditionally said to derive its name from him (Kashyapa-mira). The Kashyapa gotra is one of the most widely distributed in India, found from Kashmir to Kerala and across many communities. Its typical pravara is Kashyapa–Avatsara–Naidhruva (or slight variations). Because of his role as the father of so many beings, the gotra carries a strong association with creation, diversity, and cosmic order.
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Traditionally connected to the Sanskrit word for tortoise ("kachhapa"), reflected in Puranic stories linking the sage to tortoise imagery. One of the Saptarishi.
No. Gotra and surname are separate systems. Families with many different surnames, across many regions and communities, can share the same gotra, and families with the same surname can belong to different gotras.
Many communities traditionally avoid marriage between people of the same gotra, based on the idea that they share a common patrilineal ancestor. Exact customs vary widely by community and region.