Introduction
Kratu is one of the ten mind-born sons of Brahma, a Prajapati and one of the seven sages of the first Manvantara. His name means "sacrifice", "power" or "intelligence". In the Puranas he is the father of the Valakhilyas, a group of tiny sages.
The Prajapatis, "lords of creatures", are the progenitors of living beings in Hindu tradition. The Bhagavata Purana names ten sons of Brahma, born from his mind (the Manasaputras): Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrigu, Vasishtha, Daksha and Narada.
Family
The Valakhilyas
The Valakhilyas are described as sixty thousand sages, each the size of a thumb, who are pure and ascetic, and who travel around the sun's chariot in front of Surya. In the Vishnu Purana, they are the sons of Kratu and his wife Sannati (or Kriya, a daughter of Daksha in the Bhagavata Purana).
In the Mahabharata, the Valakhilyas performed a sacrifice for a son of great power, after Indra had mocked them. From the sacrifice was born Garuda.
Vedic meaning
The word kratu is important in the Rigveda, where it denotes mental power, will and skill, especially of the gods.
Saptarishi
Kratu is listed among the seven sages of the first age, along with Marichi, Atri, Angiras, Pulastya, Pulaha and Vasishtha.