In Devīpurāṇa (Devipurana), nine major araṇya(s) (aranya; forest) located in Bhāratavarṣa (Bharatavarsha; India) have been mentioned. These nine araṇya(s) are known as great pilgrimage-sites, yielding boons of virtue. These nine forests are — Saindhava, Daṇḍakāraṇya (Dandakaranya), Naimiṣāraṇya (Naimisharanya), Kurujāṅgala (Kurujangal), Upalāvṛta (Upalavrita), Āraṇya (Aranya), Jamvumārga (Jamvumarga), Puṣkara(Pushkara) and Himālaya (Himalaya).

In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), it is said that the discourse on God Nārāyaṇa (Narayana) is the essence of all scriptures. By way of comparison, the has said, it is as if, Āraṇyaka is among the Vedas. To develop the analogy, it is said, as we get navanīta (navanita;buttermilk) from the churning of curd, as we collect […]

Āraṇyaśāstra (Aranyasastra) may generally refer to the Āraṇyaka (Aranyaka) scriptures in the tradition of the Veda and Brāhmaṇa (Brahmana) texts. In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), King Pānḍu (Pandu), being cursed by Sage Kimindaka, decided to follow vairāgya vrata (vairagya vrata, vow and practice of a recluse or ascetic) and go to vānaprastha (vanaprastha; the phase of life when […]

Araṇyasrota(Aranyasrota) is one of the tīrtha(s) ( tirtha; pilgrimage site) on the flow of Gaṅgā (Ganga), in the western region of India. [See Gaṅgā]  

Generally the Punjab region on the bank of pañcanadī is known as Āraṭṭa (Aratta). During the time of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), the cultural significance of this region suffered a decline. So the inhabitants of Āraṭṭa and all those who lived by the five rivers, had been condemned — āraṭṭānāṁ pañcanadan dhigastu. In Mahābhārata , the people […]

Araudra is one of the Sahasranāma (Sahasranama; Thousand Names) of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu).

Aravinda is a parvata-tīrtha (parvata-tirtha; mountain-pilgrimage), belonging to the Ādigadādhara tīrtha  (Adigadadhara tirtha) located in Gayā (Gaya).

Aravindākṣa is one of the names of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu) as described in Viṣṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasranamastotra; The Hymn of the Thousand Names of God Vishnu).

Arbhaka is one of the kings belonging to Śiśunāgavaṁśa (Sisunagavamsa,  the Sisunaga dynasty), who would be ruling in  Kaliyuga (the Era of Kali)–as mentioned in Purāṇa (Purana). He is the son of king Ajātaśatru (Ajatasatru), and father of Udayana. In the southern version of Viṣṇupurāṇa (Vishnupurana), the name is mentioned as Arbhaka, though the name […]

Ārcanāśana (Archanasana) is one of the ṛṣivaṁśa (rishivamsa, hereditory or disciple-wise line of sages)  belonging to the gotra (clan) of Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Atri, as mentioned in the Purāṇas (Puranas; Mythological Scriptures). Through the genealogical or disciple-wise line from Atri, they are also known as Ātreya (Atreya).

Arci (Archi) is the daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha)Prajāpati (Prajapati; Ruler of the people) and the wife of Prajāpati Kṛśāśva (Krisaswa). She gave birth to a son called Dhūmrakeśa (Dhumrakesa), sired by Kṛśāśva.

There is a mountain named Ārcīka (Archika) which is also a site of pilgrimage. In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) it is said that this mountain is the habitational abode of several wise men, sages and gods.

Arcirmālya (Archirmalya) is a gaṇa (gana; sect)of the Vānara(s), as mentioned in Rāmāyaṇa (Ramayana). Vānara(s) belonging to this gaṇa were known to have been sons of Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage)Marīci (Marichi). They are described as very intelligent, powerful and robust. In search of Sītā (Sita), they set out towards the west, being led by Suṣeṇa […]

Arcisana is a matradrṣṭā (mantradrashta; seer of sacred hymns) ṛṣi (rishi; sage or seer). In Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) he is referred to as belonging to Atrivaṃśa (Atrivamsa; the genealogical or disciple-wise order of Sage Atri ).

Arciṣmān (Archishman) is one of the names of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu) as described in Viṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasranamastotra; Hymn of the Thousand Names of God Vishnu).  

Arciṣmanta (Archishmanta)  is a community of the forefathers, like Varhiṣada (Varhishada), Kravyāda (Kravyada) and so on — arciṣmanto varhiṣadaḥ kravyādaḥ pitarastatha.

Arciṣmatī (Archishmati) was one of the daughters of Sāraṇa (Sarana), son of Vasudeva.

Arciṣmatī (Archishmati) was the daughter born of the womb of Subhā, wife of Aṅgira who was the third son of God Brahmā. Arciṣmatī was one whose glow made things visible even in night. In fact, Arciṣmatī is the manifestation of the full moon, which lights up so many things in nature. . Nīlakaṇṭha ṭhe commentator […]

Arcita (Archita) is one of the names of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu) as described in Viṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasranamastotra; Hymn of the Thousand Names of God Vishnu).  

Ardana is one of the Aṣṭottara Sahasranāma (Ashtottara Sahasranama; Thousand and Eight Names) of God Śiva (Siva).The term ‘Ardana’ has come from the dhātu(dhatu; verb-root) ‘ard‘ — that means, to strike, to torture. One who strikes and tortures those who are evilodoers and sinners, and assumes a destructive form to destroy them, is known as […]

Ardhacandratīrtha (Ardhachandratirtha)is a tīrtha(tirtha; site of pilgrimage) located in Mathurā (Mathura). Having a bath in this site, one may yield great fruits of virtue.

In the beginning of the thirty third kalpa, when Mahādeva (Mahadeva) emerged, four sons were born out of his body. Ardhamuṇḍa(Ardhamunda) was one of them.

According to scholars, the symbolic concept of Ardhanārīśvara lies in germinal form, in the Yama-Yamī Saṃāda of Veda. In Vṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad Parama Puruṣa was not capable of any kind of pleasure, being all alone, so he divided his soul into male and female, here also lies the seed of the Ardhanārīśvara concept. Again, in Śverāśvetara […]

The vaṃśa (vamsa; genealogical or disciple-wise order) of Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Ardhapaṇya (Ardhapanya) is one of the ṛṣivaṃśa(s) belonging to the pravara (clan) of Maharṣi Atri. Ardhapaṇya was one of the clan-founders of Atrivaṃśa.

Ardhavāhu (Ardhavahu) was one of the seven sons of Ūrjjā (Urjja), sired by Vaśiṣṭha (Vasistha).

The name of a nakṣatra (nakshatra; star).

In the genealogical line of Yadu, Ārdraka(Ardraka) is the son of Punarvvasu, and father of Dhṛti (Dhriti). Ārdraka is referred to as Āhuka (Ahuka), according to Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana). [See Āhuka]

[See Udaṇka]

Arha is one of the Sahasranāma (Sahasranama; Thousand Names) of God Viṣṇu(Vishnu).

According to Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana), in Kaliyuga, a man called Arhat ruled in the regions called Koṅka (Konka), Veṅka (Venka) and the like. In Purāṇa, Arhat is described as an unrighteous and evil-minded king. In Bhāgavatapurāṇa it is described that in Satyayuga Rajarṣi (Rajarshi; a king with the attributes of a sage) Ṛṣabhadeva rejected Caturāśrama (Chaturasrma; […]

Ari is a ṛṣi (rishi; sage). The vaṃśa(vamsa; genealogical or disciple-wise order) of Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Ari as one of the ṛṣivaṃśa(s) belonging to the vaṃśa-pravara (vamsa-pravara; clan) of Maharṣi Aṇgirā (Angira). He was one of the vaṃśa-pravardhaka (one who increases the order) belonging to the pravara of Maharṣi Aṇgirā.

In  Sāvarṇi (Savarni) Manvantara of the future, gods will be classified into several gaṇa(s) (gana; genus). Amitābha is one of those gaṇa(s), and Ariha is a god belonging to this gaṇa.

Ariha is the son of king Avācīna (Avachina) belonging to Puruvaṃśa(Puruvamsa; the Puru dynasty). He was born of the womb of Maryādā(Maryada), the princes of Vidarbha. King Ariha married the princess of Aṅga (Anga). A son called Mahābhauma, sired by Ariha was born of the womb of the princess of Aṅga.  

Among the kings of Puruvaṃśa (Puruvamsa; the Puru dynasty), another Ariha’s name has been mentioned. He came some generations after the first Ariha, son of Avācīna (Avachina). This second Ariha was the son of Devātithi (Devatithi). He was born of the womb of Maryādā (Maryada), princess of Videha. Sudevā (Sudeva), the princess of Aṅga (Anga) […]

Arija was the son of Tvaṣṭā (Twashta), in the genealogical line of Priyavrata, son of Svāyambhuva (Svayambhuva)Manu. He had a son called Raja.

Arijit was one of the sons sired by Kṛṣṇa (Krishna), and born of the womb of Bhadrā (Bhadra).

Arimardana was one of the five sons of Rājarṣi (Rajarshi; a king with the virtues of a sage) Kuru.

Arimardana was one of the sons born of the womb of Gāndinī (Gandini), and sired by Śvaphalka (Swaphalka), belonging to Yadu-Vṛṣṇivaṃśa (Yadu-Vrishni vamsa; the Yadu-Vrishni clan). He was the younger brother of Akrūra(Akrura).

When in the second Manvantara, Svārociṣa (Svarochisha) Manu was the ruler of the Manvantara, the gods were divided into several gaṇa(s) (gana; genus). Pārāvata (Paravata) was one of these gaṇa(s). Arimardana was one of the gods belonging to this gaṇa.

A ṛṣi (rishi, sage) called Arimejaya acted as Adhvaryu — the Yajurvedic priest in some Sarpayajña (Sarpayajna; a ritual sacrifice of snakes). Panchavimsa Brahmana 25.15

Arimejaya was one of the sons born of the womb of Gāndinī (Gandini), and sired by Śvaphalka (Swaphalka), belonging to Yadu-Vṛṣṇivaṃśa (Yadu-Vrishni vamsa; the Yadu-Vrishni clan). He was the younger brother of Akrūra(Akrura). Dhṛtarāṣṭra(Dhritarashtra) feared that he would be joining the Pāṇḍava (Pandava) in the Kurukṣetra(Kurukshetra) war, after the slaying of Abhimanyu.

Arinjaya was the last king of Vṛhadratha vaṃśa. In Purāṇa, it is described that the kings of Vṛhadratha dynasty reigned for a long time. The last king of Vṛhadratha dynasty, Arinjaya also ruled for fifty years.

Ariṣṭā (Arishta) is the daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha) Prajāpati (Prajapati; ruler of the people) and the wife of Kaśyapa (Kasyapa) Prajāpati. She was skilled in the art of music. The Kinnara(s) and Gandharva(s) (both are distinguished orders of demi-god-like beings), sired by Kaśyapa, were born out of her womb. Eight distinguished Apsarā(s) were also born of […]

In the additional reading of the Southern recension of Mahābhārata, there are some ślokas regarding the vālyalīlā (valyalila; childhood play) of Kṛṣṇa. In one of these verses, we get the name of Ariṣṭa. Assuming the form of a bull, he came to kill Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa slew him in order to to good to all the […]

Ariṣṭa (Arishta) was one of the nine sons of Vaivasvata Manu.

Mitra is one of the twin gods, Mitrāvaruṇa (Mitravaruna). Revatī (Revati) was the wife of Mitra. Ariṣṭa (Arishta) was one of the three sons born of the womb of Revatī, and sired by Mitra.

According to Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), Ariṣṭa (Arishta) is the son of the elephant called Mṛga (Mriga), and brother of the elephant named Capala (Chapala).

Ariṣṭa (Arishta) is one of the sons born of the womb of Danu, daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha), and sired by Kaśyapa (Kasyapa)Prajāpati (Prajapati; Ruler of the people). Ariṣṭa was one of those Dānava(s)(Danava; demon) who renounced malevolence and resorted to the path of human virtues.

Ariṣṭa (Arishta) was a valiant Asura-warrior. He was one of the warrior-generals of Vali, king of demons. When Vali launched an attack against Svargaloka (the abode of heaven), there broke out a battle between the gods and the demons. Ariṣṭa participated in that war.

Ariṣṭa(Arishta) was the son of Vali, the demon-king. It is known that he participated in tārakamaya yuddha (tarakamaya yuddha; a mythical star-war).