Kardama's Daughter

Devahūti, the daughter of Manu, the first king, served the sage Kardama as his wife with a devotion beyond measure, and when he was pleased with her he divided himself into nine forms, and she bore nine daughters at once, all lovely in every limb and fragrant as the red lotus.

In time Brahmā came to Kardama's hermitage and told him to give them to the foremost of the sages, each by her nature and her liking, so that through them creation would grow. Kardama did as he was told. Kalā he gave to Marīci, and Anasūyā he gave to Atri, who had been born from the eye of Brahmā.