Irāvatī(Iravati) is a famous holy river of the Vedic period. In the Vedic era itself, Irāvatī had already been marked as an alternative name of river Paruṣṇ̣ī (Parushni). In Nadī-sūkta(Nadi-sukta; Hymn dedicated to rivers) of Ṛgveda (Rigveda), river Paruṣṇ̣ī is praised along with the other ancient rivers like Gaṅgā (Ganga), Yamunā (Yamuna), Sarasvatī (Sarasvarti), Śutudrī(Sutudri) in […]

Several modern scholars think that there had been a river called Irāvatī (Iravati) in eastern India, too. It was not impossible that some river of eastern India was renamed as Irāvati(Iravati) during the Aryanisation of this region. According to scholars, Rāptī (Rapti) is the changed name of this Irāvati. This flows by Awadh or Ayodhyā […]

Irāvatī (Iravati) was one of the nine daughters sired by Kaśyapa(Kasyapa) Prajāpati (Prajapati; Ruler of the people), and born of the womb of Krodhavaśā (Krodhavasa), daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha). Irāvatī was the wife of Prajāpati Pulaha. In the beginning of creation, Brahmā (Brahma) planned to create a divine being with immense energy and vigour. Aditi, […]

Irāvatī(Iravati) is the daughter of Uttara, who was the son of King Virāta (Virata). In Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana) it is said that Irāvatī was married to Parīkṣhit (Parikshit), grandson of Arjuna.

In Sabhāparva (sabhaparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), in course of the description of Yama’s sabhā (sabha; assembley or court), it is said that one hundred Īri (Iri, used in plural number) have their places in that sabhā. Perhaps they are rājarṣis (kings with the attributes of a sage-seer), each of them bearing the name Īri, born […]

The term ‘Īśa’ (Isa) generally denotes one who authorises, controls or rules, one who is entitled to own, and so on. In this sense, terms like Nareśa (Naresha; lord of men), Sureśa (Suresa, lord of the gods), Kṣitīśa (kshitisa; ruler of the earth), Gaṇeśa (Ganesa; ruler of the people), Śrīśa (Srisa, lord of Sri or […]

In Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), Īśa(Isa) is one of the Sādhya (Sadhya)-gods (gods belonging to the genus called Sadhya). He was sired by Dharma, and born of the womb of Sādhyā (Sadhya).

God Viṣṇu(Vishnu)  is sometimes referred to as Īśa (Isa) — “yastaṁ nato’smi puruṣottamasādyamīśam” — However, here ‘Īśa’ perhaps denotes the Almighty, the Ruler of all the universe and spheres– it is in this sense that Supreme Divinity is attributed to God Viṣṇu, as it is said in Śvetāśvetara Upaniṣad (Swetaswetara Upanishad) and Bhagavadgītā (Bhagavadgita)– *vyākatāvyāktaṁ […]

Īśa (Isa) is one of the Viśvedeva ( Viswedeva; one genus of the Vedic gods).’Viśvedevāḥ’  is the presiding deity of one of the sūktas (sukta; Vedic hymns) of Ṛgveda. The term ‘Viśvedevāḥ’ refers to all deities.The first famous renowned commentator of the Vedic terms, Yāska (Yaska), wrote in his  Nirukta –-‘Viśvedevāḥ’ refers to all deities- […]

According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), Īśānā (Isana) is the name of the tenth kalpa.

See Pañcamukha ( Panchamukha).

Īśnādhyuṣita (Isanadhyushita) is a tīrtha (tirtha; site of pilgrimage) near the river Sarasvatī (Sarasvati). In Vanaparva of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), it is said that there was an ancient Aśvattha (Aswattha)tree on the bank of Sarasvatī. There was an anthill adjacent to its trunk. standing near that anthill, if a śamyā (samya a piece of wood, shaped […]

A sacred tīrtha (tirtha; site of pilgrimage) situated on the bank of the river Narmadā (Narmada). In Padmapurāṇa (Padmapurana) it is described how to go there from Kankhal tīrtha. One may attain Brahmaloka (the heavenly abode of Brahma) by visiting and beholding this pilgrimage-site.  

Uttānapāda(Uttanapada) was the youngest son of Svāyambhuva(Swayambhuba) Manu. In the genealogical line of Dhruva, son of Uttānapāda, Iṣa (Isha) was one of the five sons born of the womb of Svarvīthi (Swarvithi) sired by Vatsara.  

Iṣa(Isha) was one of the sons of Auttami (Son of Uttama)Manu according to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana).

As per Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa(Brahmandapurana) , Sudhāmā (Sudhama)was one of the gaṇa (gana; genus) of gods in Auttama Manvantara . Iṣa (Isha) was a god belonging this Sudhāmā devagaṇa ( devagana; genus of gods).

The lexicon-meaning of Iṣa(Isha) is the month of Āśvina (Aswina) . In Purāṇas (Purana; Mythological Scriptures) The use of the word Iṣa is found more than once to denote the month of Āśvina .

Īśāna (Isana) was one of the boundary mountains of the Paurāṇika (Pauranika, one which is mentioned in the Purāṇa; that is, mythological) Śākadvīpa (Sakadvipa; the island of Saka).

It is described in Purāṇa (Purana) that the inhabitants of ancient India was divided in four Varṇas (varna; caste) e.g. Brāhmaṇa (Brahmana), Kṣatriya (Kshatriya), Vaiśya (Vaisya), Śūdra (Sudra). Likewise, the inhabitants of Śālmalīdvīpa (Salmalidwipa; the island of Salmali), mentioned in Purāṇa were also divided in caturvarṇa (chaturvarna; four castes). Iṣandhara(Ishandhara) was one of these four castes, […]

According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), the descendants of Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Parāśara (Parasara) were divided into several communities. Śveta (Sweta; white) Parāśara was one of such communities. Īṣīkahasta (Ishikahasta) is one of the sages  belonging to this community.  

Iṣṭa(Ishta) is one of the names of God Viṣṇu(Vishnu) as mentioned in Viṣṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasranamastotra; the Hymn of Thousand Names of Vishnu).

Devāpi(Devapi) was the eldest son of King Pratīpa (Pratipa), belonging to  Kuruvaṁśa ( Kuruvamsa; the genealogical line of Kuru). He was the elder brother of Śāntanu (Santanu). Iṣṭaka(Ishtaka) was the younger one of the two sons of Devāpi.

In Mahābhārata, several times iṣṭāpūrta or iṣṭāpūrta phala has been mentioned. So is in Rāmāyaṇa. But wherever this term has been used, it is with a sense of disappointment. It is said in the following sense– ‘If you commit this offense, you will not have the virtuous fruit of your iṣṭāpūrta. In Rāmāyaṇa, when Viśvāmitra […]

The inhabitants of Śālmalīdvīpa (Salmalidwipa; the island of Salmali), are said to have been also divided in caturvarṇa (chaturvarna; four castes) like Brāhmaṇa (Brahmana), Kṣatriya (Kshatriya), Vaiśya (Vaisya), and Śūdra (Sudra). Iṣudhara(Ishudhara) was one of these four castes, probably identical to the Śūdra (Sudra) in our varṇa-system . This term, Iṣudhara, is probably referred to as Iṣandhara (Ishandhara) in […]

Devaśrava (Devasrava)was one of the sons of Śūra (Sura), belonging to the Yadu-Vṛṣṇi(Vrishni) vaṁśa (vamsa; clan or genealogical line). He was the younger brother of Vasudeva. Iṣumān(Ishuman) was the younger one of the two sons born of the womb of Kaṁsavatī (Kamsavati), sired by Devaśrava.

The sons born of the womb of Danu, daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha), and sired by Prajāpati(Prajapati;  Ruler of the people) Kaśyapa (kasyapa), are known as Dānava (Danava; a type of demons). Iṣupāda(Ishupada was one of them. From the Aṁśāvataraṇa-parva (Amsavatarana-parva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), it is known that he was born as king Nagnajit in Dvāpara-yuga […]

Īśvara (Iswara) is one of the grandsons of Brahmā (Brahma) and one of the eleven Rudras who were the partial incarnations of Sthāṇu (Sthanu) or Mahādeva (Mahadeva). Īśvara is one of the Rudras who were present during the birth-ceremony of Arjuna, the third Pāṇḍava (Pandava).

The general meaning of Iśvara is ‘lord’, ‘controller’, ‘a powerful king’ or’ highly able. It is used in the sense of the ‘highest’ — as in ‘Kapīśvara’, ‘Sureśvara’, ‘Kośaleśvara’, ‘Munīśvara’, ‘Kamaleśvara’ and the like. This sense is however different from the general uses of the term ‘Iśvara’ . In Indian theology and philosophy , gods […]

Īśvara (Iswara) is one of the Viśvedeva ( Viswedeva; one genus of the Vedic gods).’Viśvedevāḥ’  is the presiding deity of one of the sūktas (sukta; Vedic hymns) of Ṛgveda. The term ‘Viśvedevāḥ’ means all deities.The first famous encyclopedic commentator of the Vedic words, Yāska (Yaska), wrote in his text, Nirukta –-‘Viśvedevāḥ’ refers to all deities- […]

Īśvara (Iswara) is the grandson of Ruru and one of the sons of Vāhu (Vahu).

Īśvara (Iswara) is one of the sons born of the womb of Pauṣṭī (Paushti), fathered by Puru, who was the son of Yayāti (Yayati).

The sons of Krodhā (Krodha), daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha) — are known as the Krodhavaśa (Krodhavasa) Asura (one kind of demons). In the Aṁśāvataraṇaparva (Amsavataranaparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) it is said that one of the Krodhavaśa Asuras was later incarnated as a powerful king named Īśvara (Iswara).

Īśvarī (Iswari)  is one of the eight Yoginīs ( Yogini; a kind of female deity, associate of a major Goddess like Durga or Kali) of the goddess Ugracaṇḍā (Ugrachanda).

In Sanskrit, Itihāsa(Itihasa) does not mean ‘History’ as we generally understand it now. The term ‘itiha‘ is an avyaya in Sanskrit, and means the course of tradition coming down through legacy. The location or position or ‘seat’ of such tradition is called itihāsa (itiha + āsa). In Brahmavarga of Amarakoṣa (Amarakosha), the term aitihya derives […]

Itihāsa(Itihasa) is also one of the Aṣṭottarasahasranāma (Ashtottarasahasranama; Thousand and eight names) of Śiva (Siva). Itihāsa refers to the legends or tradition and events of the ancient times, which chronologically or through certain tracks of legacy, come down to us and become accessible to the future generations. God is the Ruler and Controller of Kāla […]