At the beginning of creation, fourteen vowels emanated from the four mouths of Brahmā (Brahma). I or i-kāra (i-kara) is the third of them. It is to be noticed that here the short i (I) and the long i (Ī) have been imagined as one. The colour of i-kāra manifest is blood-red. It has been considered the creator […]

In the beginning of creation, fourteen svaradhvani (swaradvani; vowel-sounds emanated from the four mouths of Brahmā (Brahma). From these fourteen svaradhvani, emerged Manu(s),  rulers of fourteen Manvantaras. I or Ī-kāra (I-kara) is the fourth of them. Manu emanated from this Ī-kāra.  In Vāyupurāṇa, the fourteen vowels have been imagined as gods embodied. The embodiment of Ī-kāra  is conceptualised as a […]

One of the names of Śiva-Mahādeva (Siva-Mahaeva). In Chāndogya Upaniṣad (Chandogya Upanishad), Agni has been mentioned as Ī- kāra (I-kara). In Śaṁkarācārya’s (Sankaracharya) commentary on Chāndogya Upaniṣad , this self-manifestation of Ī-kāra had been discussed, but in later times, Paṇdita Ānandagiri (Pandit Anandagiri), while commenting on Śaṁkara’s annotations, has discussed it in greater details. The Sāmaveda […]

See Yajñāyudha(Yajnayudha).

See Ilāspadatīrtha (Ilaspadatirtha).

See Ilavilā (Ilavila).

King Priyavrata sired a son named Idhnajihva (Idhnajihwa), born of the womb of Varhiṣmatī (Varhishmati), daughter of Prajāpati (Prajapati; Ruler of the people) Viśvakarmā (Viswakarma). Priyavrata appointed Idhnajihva, to be the ruler of Plakṣadvīpa (Plakshadwipa, the island of Plaksha). Idhnajihva divided Plakṣadvīpa in seven varṣas (varsha; a vast plot of land) and distributed them among […]

See Dṛḍhasyu (Dridhasyu).

The gods called ‘Marut’ — sons of Diti, were divided in seven gaṇa 9gana, genus). Īdṛk (Idrik) was the fifth of these seven gaṇas of the gods.

According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), Īḍya (Idya) is one of the sons of Śāvarṇi (Savarni) Manu in Bhaviṣyat (Bhabishyat; future) Manvantara.

Īḍya (Idya) is one of the names of Śiva-Mahādeva (Siva-Mahadeva) described in Śivasahasranāmastotra (Sivasahasranamastotra; The Hymn of Thousand names of Siva). The term īḍya derives from the Sanskrit dhātu (dhatu, root-verb) Īḍ (Id), which means ‘to perform stūti’ (stuti), that is, to chant hymns, to praise . One who is worthy of such praise, or […]

Ījika(Ijika) is an ancient locality in Northern India. The tribe living in this locality is also called Ījika.  

Ijya is one of the names of God Viṣṇu(Vishnu)  mentioned in Viṣṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasranamastotra).  

One of the sages of Kṛṣṇa Yajurveda(Krishna Yajurveda).He was a disciple of Rathītar(Rathitar).

Ikṣalaka (Ikshalaka ) is one of the seer-sages of Kṛṣṇa-Yajurveda (Krishna-Yajurveda). He was the disciple of Rathītara (Rathitara).  

See Ikshula

[See Ikṣulā (Ikshula)]

See Ikshula

[See Ikṣulā (Ikshula)]

Name of a river that has been mentioned along with Vedasmṛtā (Vedasmrita), Vedavatī (Vedavati) and Tridivā (Tridiva) in Jambukhaṇḍavinirmāṇaparva [Jambukhandabinirmanparva; a sub-chapter of Bhīṣmaparva (Bhishmaparva)] of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata). But the source of this river is not given in Mahābhārata. In Vāyupurāna (Vayupurana), river Ikṣulā (Ikshula), along with Trisāmā (Trisama), Ṛtukulyā (Ritukulya), Lāṅgulinī (Langulini), Vaṃśdharā (Vamsadhara), […]

A river that flowed through Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra). It is said in the Ādiparva (Adiparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) that Takṣaka (Takshaka) and Aśvasena (Ashwasen) lived together at the banks of Ikṣumatī (Ikshumati). After Rāmacandra’s (Ramachandra) banishment to the forest,when Daśaratha(Dasharatha) died Vaśiṣṭha (Vasishtha) sent a number of messengers to the kingdom of Kekaya in order to […]

Ikṣumatī (Ikshumati)  A river flowing across Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra). In Ādiparva (Adiparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), it is said that Takṣaka and Aśvasena lived on the bank of this river. After the exile of Rāmacandra (Ramachandra) followed by the death of Daśaratha (Dasaratha), Vaśiṣṭha(Vasistha) sent several ambassadors to the kingdom of Kekaya, in order to call Bharata […]

The children of Vaivasvata Manu were the founders of the distinguished royal families of ancient India.Just as the major line of Sūryavaṃśa (Suryavamsa; the Solar dynasty) emerged from Ikṣvāku, from Ila-Sudyumna or Ilā, the other son of Vaivasvata Manu. In Mahābhārata- Rāmāyaṇa or Purāṇa, the account of Ila or Ilā has been described in details, […]

In the beginning of Creation, Bhagavān (Bhagavan; the Divine One) Rudra-Śiva (Rudra-Siva) in the form of Nīlalohita (Nilalohita), emerged from the wrath of Brahmā (Brahma). Ilā(Ila) was one of the eleven wives of God Rudra. Actually, Ilā here is the embodiment of the Earth-goddess. The dictionary meaning of Ilā is Pṛthivī (Prithivi; Prithivi; the earth). […]

Ilā (Ila) is the daughter of Vāyu (Vayu). She was married to Dhruva, son of King Uttānapāda (Uttanapada). Ilā gave birth to a son son called Utkala and a daughter, sired by Dhruva.

According to Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana), Ilā (Ila), one of the wives of Kaśyapa (Kasyapa), was a daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha). She was the mother of of all trees, plants and creepers. Here Pṛthivī (Prithivi; the mother Earth) — mother of all the vegetative world, has been imagined in the form of Ilā.

Ilā (Ila) is a sacred river-based pilgrimage-site mentioned in Vanaparva of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata). It is located on the bank of the river Godāvarī (Godavari). The Pāṇḍavas (Pandavas) once took birth at this river-site.

Ilā (Ila) was one of the wives of Vasudeva, belonging to Vṛṣṇivaṁśa (Vrishnivamsa; the clan of Vrishni). She gave birth to sons , namely ,Uruvalka and others, sired by Vasudeva.

Ilābarta (Ilabarta) was one of the sons of Rājarṣi (Rajarshi) Ṛiṣabha (Rishabha) who belonged to the dynasty of Priyobrata, the eldest son of Swāyambhuba (Sayambhuba) Manu.  

Ilāvarta(Ilavarta) was one of the sons of rājarṣi (rajarshi; a king with the attributes of a seer) Ṛṣabha (Rishabha), belonging to the genealogical line of Priyavrata, whowas the eldest son of Svāyambhuva (Svayambhuba) Manu.

Ilavilā (Ilavila) , or Iḍaviḍā (Idavida) in some Purāṇa (Purana; Mythological Scriptures) was the daughter of king Tṛṇavindu (Trinavindu), in the genealogical line of Nābhāga (nabhaga), son of Vaivasvata Manu. She got married to Maharṣi(Maharshi; Great Sage) Pulastya, son of Maharṣi Viśravā (Visrava). She was the mother of Kuvera, the presiding deity of the riches. […]

Ilāvṛtavarṣa is a varṣa of Jamvudvīpa. In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) and Purāṇa (Purana), Ilāvṛtavarṣa has been referred to as the middle part of Jamvudvīpa. Arjuna, at the time of his conquest, crossed Harivarṣa and Hiraṇyavarṣa to come to Ilāvṛtavarṣa. At the farthest north of Ilāvṛtavarṣa, there is Airāvatavarṣa and at the south of it, there is […]

According to the description of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), Īlina(Ilina) was the son of king Taṁsu (Tamsu), belonging to Puruvaṁśa (Puruvamsa; the genealogical line of Puru). Īlina was born of the womb of Kālindī (Kalindi), Taṁsu’s wife. Īlina’s wife was Rathantarī (Rathantari). Īlina and Rathantarī had five sons: Duṣyanta(Dushyanta) was the eldest among them. The other four […]

See Īlina

According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), Ilinā (Ilina) was the wife of King Rantināra (Rantinara), belonging to the genealogical line of Puru. She was the daughter of Yama.

See  Ilavilā.

Ilvala was a Daitya (demon) of deceitful nature. In Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana), there is a detailed description of his genealogy. Hlāda (Hlada) was the son of Hiraṇyakaśipu (Hiranyakasipu). Ilvala and his brother Vātāpi, sired by Hlāda were born of the womb of Dhamanī (Dhamani). So according to the description of Bhāgavatapurṇa, Ilvala was the grandson of […]

Indirā (Indira) is a holy river. According to Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great sage) Lomaśa (Lomasa) brought this river down from heaven to the earth, using the influence of his tapasyā (tapasya; ascetic practices).

Indīvara (Indivara) was the son of Nalanābha (nalanabha), a Vidyādhara (Vidyadhara, a kind of celestial being or demi-god). In ancient times, Indīvara expressed his desire to study Āyurveda (Ayurveda, the science of longeivity)  from Sage Brahmamitra. The sage was reluctant to teach him, so Indīvara earned this knowledge  secretly. When the truth got disclosed, Brahmamitra […]

The figure and characteristics of Indra  as depicted in Mahābhārata-Rāmāyaṇa-Purāṇa is completely different from that of his acts and manners as described in  old Veda and Brāhmaṇa treaties. Indra in/of Veda  the greatest warrior, he is slaughter of Vṛtra, Namuci, Śuṣṇa, Cumuri, Dhuni, Śambara, Pripru, Vala, Arbuda, Kuyava — killing these dangerous demons/Asuras he is […]

See Indranadi.

Indradamana was an ancient rājarṣi(rajarshi; a noble king with the attributes of a sage-seer) belonging to the vaṁśa (heditary or disciple-wise line) of sage Atri. In Śāntiparva (Santiparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), it is mentioned that by virtue of donating riches to Brāhmaṇas , he attained the grace of residing in svarga (swarga; heaven) without any […]

Indradatta is one of the Kinnaras (a kind of half-human and half-divine mythical creatres) with human faces, sired by Prajāpati (Prajapati; Ruler of the people) Vikrānta (Vikranta).

Indradvīpa(Indradwipa; the island called Indra) is one of the nine divisions of Bhāratavarṣa (Bharatavarsha; India). The Paurāṇika (Pauranika; mentioned in Puranas) river Nalinī(Nalini) falls into the sea near this Indradvīpa. Scholars opine that Indradvīpa mentioned in the Purāṇas refer to the modern Indonesia or Vietnam. Many think the the modern Andaman island is the ancient […]

An ancient rājarṣi (rajarshi; seer-king , a king with the attributes of a seer or sage) mentioned in Mahābhārata (Mahabharata). Indradyumna was one of those ancient kings, who, after death, achieved places of distinction in the sabhā (sabha; court or assembley-hall) of Yama.

A king, contemporary of Kṛṣṇa (Krishna). It is mentioned in Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) that once in a battle, Kṛṣṇa killed this king Indradyumna.  

A tapasvī(tapaswi, ascetic) Brāhmaṇa(Brahmana) liviing in Dvaitavana (Dwaitavana, the Dawaita forest). When, during their exile, the Pāṇḍavas(Pandava) were staying in Dvaitavana, Indradyumna, along with other sages, came to visit Yudhuiṣṭhira (Yudhisthira).

Indradyumna was the king of Pāṇḍyadeśa (Pandyadesa; the land of Pandya) in South India.According to Bhāgavatapurāṇa, Indradyumna was a great devotee of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu). One day he was worshipping Viṣṇu, when Sage Agastya, with his disciples, arrived at his place. Since the king was busy in worshipping his Deity, he was not aware of […]

In the genealogic al line of Agnīdhra (Agnidhra), son of Priyavrata, Bharata was the son of Ṛṣabha (Rishabha). This Bharata’s descendant was Tejaj (according to Vāyupurāṇa, Taijasa), who sired a son called Indradyumna. King Parameṣṭhī (Paramesthi) was the son of Indrayumna.

Indradyumna was a king belonging to Sūryavaṁśa (Suryavamsa) ,in Satyayuga. According to Skanda Purāṇa (Purana), Indradyumna was the fifth-generation descendant of Brahmā (Brahma). Āsīt kṛtayuge viprā indradyumno mahānṛpaḥ. Suryavaṁśe sa dharmātmā sraṣṭuḥ pañcamapuruṣaḥ. Avantī (Avanti) in the land of Mālava (Malava) was the capital of Indradyumna. The name of this Viṣṇu (Vishnu) devotee king is […]