Different purāṇas (puranas) refer to King Adhisīmakṛṣṇa (Adhisimakrishna) as Adhisāmakṛṣṇa (Adhisamakrishna) or Adhisomakṛṣṇa (Adhisomakrishna), but the most commonly used name was Adhisīmakṛṣṇa. Abhimanyu’s grandson was Pārīkṣita (Parikshita) Janamejaya whose son was known as Śatānīka (Shatanika). According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), Adhisomakṛṣṇa was the son of Śatānīka. However, other Purāṇas record that Śatānīka’s son was Aśvamedhadatta (Ashwamedhadatta).This piece […]

At the outset of yajña (yajna) ceremonies, the priest of Ṛgveda (Rigveda), or ṛtvika (ritwika) used to execute the functions of both the priest and the hotā (hota) or the performer of the yajña. [See Ṛtvika, Hotā] Later, when the rituals of a yajña became more intricate, four priests or ṛtvika of Caturveda (Chaturveda) were appointed separate vedic tasks. […]

There is an Agastya-āśrama (Agastya-ashrama) on Devasaha Parvata (Devasaha Hills) near Gokarṇa (Gokarna) in the region of Pāṇḍya (Pandya). This āśrama was founded by one of Agastya’s disciples, as Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) refers to this āśrama as belonging to a disciple of Agastya – āśramo’gastyaśiṣyasya puṇye devasahe girau. But Agastya himself must have set his foot […]

A site of pilgrimage situated at the foot of the Vindhyas. Here Prajāpati Prāchetas Daksha (Prajapati Prachetas Daksha) prayed to Srī Harī (Srihari) and pleased Him by composing a hymn, titled Haṃsaguhya (Hamsagujhya), in His honour. According to N.L. Dey, the ancient pilgrimage of Aghamarṣana (Aghamarshan) constituted the present locales of Dhara, Kundi and Bedhak […]

While recounting the royal dynasties founded during the Kali era (kaliyuga), Bhāgvatapurāṇa (Bhagavatpurana) mentions that the Śiśunāga (Shishunag) dynasty came to succeed the royal throne of Magadha after the Bṛhadratha (Brihadratha) dynasty. Ajaya was one of the kings of the Śiśunāga dynasty. He was the son of King Darbhaka (Darbhaka) and the father of Nandīvardhana (Nandivardhana).

A sage. His original name is unknown. He was one of Paraśurāma’s (Parashurama) most favourite disciple-companions. At the time of his first meeting with Paraśurāma in his childhood, Akṛtabraṇa (Akritabrana) introduced himself as the son of a hermit named Sānta (Shanta). He declared himself as a miserable friendless, desolate and orphaned, seeking shelter from Paraśurāma. […]

Born in the Vṛṣṇi (Vrishni) clan, Akrūra (Akrura) was one of Kṛṣṇa ‘s (Krishna’s) kinsmen. He has been referred to as a Vṛṣṇi hero in Mahābhārāta (Mahabharata) time and again. In Mahābhārata, several heroes from the Vṛṣṇi clan attended Draupadī’s svayaṃvara (swayamvara) as her suitors. The Pāñcāla (Panchala) prince Dhṛṣtyadyumna (Dhrishtadyumna), while listing the names […]

There are fifty-one alphabets starting from a-kāra (a-kara) to kṣa (ksha)— a-kārādi-kṣa-kārāntaikapañcāśad varṅāḥ.  The Bṛhaspati (Brihaspati) smṛti (smriti) text says that the Creator churned the series of alphabets out of a machine— dhātrākṣarāṇi sṛṣṭāṇi yantrārūḍhānyataḥ purā. These alphabets are of five types, namely lithograph, artistic scripts, scripts written by pen, scripts produced by colour dust, and […]

One of the seven years of Plaṣadwipa (the island of Plaksha).

One of the seven major rivers flowing through Śākadvīpa (Shakadweepa; the land of Shaka).

Vṛṣṇi (Vrishni) was the son of Sātvata (Satwata) of the Yadu lineage. Yudhājit (Yudhajit) was the youngest son of Vṛṣṇi. Śini (Shini) was elder and Anamitra was the younger of Yudhājit’s two sons. Anamitra had three sons— Nighna (alternatively, Nimna), Śini (Viṣṇupurāṇa or Vishnupurana, however, does not mention a Śini being Anamitra’s son), and Vṛṣṇi […]

Ananta was the renowned son born to Kaśyapa (Kashyapa) and Prajāpati Dakṣa’s (Prajapati Daksha’s) ninth daughter Kadrū (Kadru). Anantadeva’s wife was called Tuṣti (Tushti). In the lower parts of the multitudes of hells lies the universal flame of annihilation or kālāgni (kalagni). Below that resides Anantadeva. Balanced on his head like a grain of mustard […]

Ulmuka is the son of the ruler of the sixth Manu epoch, Cākṣuṣa (Chakshusha). Aṅga was the eldest of the six sons born to Puṣkariṇī (Pushkarini)and  Ulmuka.  

The son born to Tārā (Tara) and Bāli (Bali), the king of apes in Kiṣkindhyā (Kishkindhya). Aṅgada (Angada) was married to the eldest daughter of Mainda, another chief of clan of apes. Aṅgada’s son was named Dhruba. Aṅgada was first introduced in Rāmāyaṇa (Ramayana) as a judicious royal personage, not as Bāli’s or Tārā’s son. […]

Son of the Rāma’s (Rama’s) brother Lakṣmaṇa (Lakshmana), a renowned character in Rāmāyaṇa (Ramayana). Before his death, Rāma instructed Lakṣmaṇa to look for suitable regions so that Rāma could enthrone each of Lakṣmaṇa’s sons as kings of separate states. Eventually, on Bharata’s advice, Rāmachandra crowned Aṅgada (Angada) the king of the Aṅgadīya (Angadiya), a city […]

Aṅgirā (Angira) or Aṇgirasa (Angirasa) is one of the six sons born to Brahmā (Brahma) at the beginning of Creation— marīcyatryaṅgirasau pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ; ṣaḍete brahmaṇaḥ putrā bīryavanto maharṣayaḥ. Numerous tales can be found in Purāṇas (Puranas) about the birth of the great sage Aṅgirā. Apart from describing him as a spiritually conceived son of […]

Aṅgira (Angira) or Aṅgiras (Angiras) is one of the sons born of Cākṣusa (Chakshusa) Manu’s son Ulmūka (Ulmuka) to Puṣkariṇī (Pushkarini).

A great river on the land of Plakṣadvīpa (Plakshadweepa). The water of this river is pure and a bearer of puṇya (punya) [here, piety].

Most of the time Anuvinda has been mentioned in association with another king called called Vinda; and nearly always they have been mentioned as āvantyau (avantyau), meaning either ‘two kings of Avantī (Avanti) kingdom’ or ‘kings of two Avantī kingdoms’ – vindānuvindāvāvantau. As both of them are mentioned as kings of the kingdom of Avantī, scholars […]

When Bhīṣma (Bhishma) gave advice to Yudhiṣthira (Yudhishthira) in the Mokṣadharmaparva (Mokshadharmaparva) included in the Śāntiparva (Santiparva) of the Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), he said that Aupaniṣada (Aupanishada) dharma was the dharma which should be performed in the Sannyāsa Āśrama (Sannyasa Asrama) which was the last Āśrama (Asrama) or stage of the Caturāśrama (Chaturasrama) or four stages […]

Haribaṁśa (Haribamsa) explains the word Ekānaṁśā (Ekanamsa) in the following way- Though Ekānaṁśā (Ekanamsa) was born from a part of Lord Viṣñu (Vishnu), the saviour of his subjects, conceptually and by nature, she was one and all. She was the Māyāśakti (Mayasakti or feminine power) of the Lord- Yogamāyā (Yogamaya)- Viddhi caināmathotpannāthaṁśāddevīṃ prajāpateḥ. Ekānaṁśāṃ yogakanyāṃ […]

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 […]

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.  

Indrakīla (Indrakila) was a parvatatīrtha (parvatatirtha, a mountain-based site of pilgrimage) in Bhāratavaṛṣa (Bharatavarsha or India). Kubera was the ruler of this mountain, located near the mountain Gandhamādana (Gandhamadana). Arjuna came here during his exile in forest, and here he had a vision of Indra, king of the gods, disguised as a tapasvī (tapaswi, asectic). […]

Paulamī, wife of Indra, is generally known as Indrāṇi. In the age of Ṛgveda (Rigveda), Indra was the major god to worshipped. From this conception, Indraṇī Śachī was also worshipped as an epitome of good fortune. In several mantra(s) of Ṛgveda, Indrāṇī had been invited to yajña (yajna), along with Varuṇāṇī (Varunani), wife of Varuṇa, […]

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).

Ṛcīka (Richika) was a sage who belonged to the clan of Maharṣi Bhṛgu (Maharshi Bhrigu). In the Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), in one instance it was said that Ṛcīka (Richika) was a son of Bhṛgu (Bhrigu). But according to some Purāṇas (Puranas), he was the son of Maharṣi Ūrva (Maharshi Urva) or Āpluvāna (Apluvana) who belonged to […]

Rikṣa (Riksha) was one of the mountains in ancient India. In the Mahābhārata Purāṇa (Mahabharata Purana), it was mentioned as one of the Kulaparvatas of Bhāratvarṣa (Bharatvarsha). Sometimes Rikṣa (Riksha) parvata or mountain was renamed as Rikṣvāna (Rikshavana) parvata. In the ancient books, the position of Rikṣa (Riksha) or Rikṣvāna (Rikshavana) parvata was very clearly […]

Ṛṣabha (Rishabha) is a particular parvata situated in the north of Meru Parvata.

Ṛṣikulyā (Rishikulya) is a sacred river issued out of Mahendraparvata. However, according to Viṣṇu Purāṇa (Vishnu Purana), it emerges from Śuktimān (Suktiman) parvata. Visting this tīrtha (tirtha, place of pilgrimage) yields the fruit of Upasad yajña (yajna). People of both Aryan and Mleccha (alien, non-Aryan) community drank the holy water of the river. It shows […]

In the Ṛgveda (Rigveda), Ṛiṣti (Rishti) was mentioned as the name of a sharp weapon- Vāśīmantaḥ ṛṣtimanto maṇīṣiṇaḥ. This concept becomes more clear in the line- He throws the lightening like Ṛiṣti (Rishti)- Ārukmairāyudhā nara ṛṣvā, ṛṣtīrasṛkṣata. In this mantra, Sāyanāchārya gives the meaning of the word Ṛiṣti (Rishti) as ‘āyudha’- ṛṣtīrāyudha (rishtirayudha) as an […]

Ṛtuparṇa (Rituparna)  was the king of Ayodhyā(Ayodhya). In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), he was mentioned as the son of Bhaṅgāsura (Bhangasura) or ‘Bhāṅgāsuri (‘Bhangasuri)’. However, in the reading maintained by Haridas Siddhantabagish, Ṛtuparṇa (Rituparna) is called Bhāgasvari (Bhagasvari), that is, the son of Bhagasvara (Bhagasvara). From the reading of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), it may be difficult to determine the […]

Udgītha (Udgitha) was the son of the king Bhūva (Bhuva) [in other opinion, Bhūma (Bhuma)] who belonged to the lineage of Priyavrata. Priyavrata was the eldest son of Swāyaṁbhūva (Swayambhuva) Manu. According to the Bhāgvata Purāṇa (Bhagavata Purana), Ṛṣikulyā (Rishikulya) was the wife of the king Bhūva (Bhuva) .Ṛṣikulyā (Rishikulya) gave birth to Udgītha (Udgitha). […]

Ugrasena was also mentioned as one of the younger brothers of Parīṣita (Parikshita) Janamejaya, the grandson of Abhimanyu. When Janamejaya began the Yajña (Yagya) at Kuruṣetra (Kurukshetra), his two brothers called Ugrasena and Bhīmasena (Bhimasena) took the responsibility to protect the place of the Yajña (Yagya).

Ulmūka (Ulmuka) was a king, a follower of Jarāsandha (Jarasandha). From the additional reading of the 10th Skandha of Bhāgavatapurāṇa, it is known that when Jarāsandha held a seize over Mathurā (Mathura), Ulmūka was posted at the eastern gate of Mathurā, along with his army.

In the Bhāgavata Purāṇa (Bhagavata Purana), Uṇmāda (Unmada) was mentioned as the gaṇa (gana or clan) of the evil gods. In ancient India, the exorcising of the evil spirits or Bhūta (Bhuta) was a part of any kind of holy rituals. After the death of the demon woman, Pūtnā (Putna), Mother Jaśomatī (Jasomati) tried to […]

According to the Bhāgbata Purāṅa (Bhagbata Purana), Upadānavī (Upadanavi) was one of the four daughters of the demon king Vaiśwanara (Vaiswanara). She was married to the Daityarāja (Daityaraja or Demon King) Hirāṅāṣa (Hiranakshya).

Devaka was the son of Āhuka (Ahuka) who belonged to the Vṛṣṇi (Vrishni) lineage. Upadevā (Upadeva) was one of the daughters of Devaka (According to the Matsya Purāṇa [Purana], she was called, Upadevī [Upadevi]). She was the wife of Vasudeva. Upadevā (Upadeva) gave birth to ten sons of Vasudeva (according to the other information, she […]

Devaka was the son of Āhuka (Ahuka) of the Bṛṣi (Brishni) dynasty. Upadeva was one of the sons of Devaka.

Upadeva was the son of Ugrasenā (Ugrasena). He was fathered by Akrura.

Upadeva was one of the sons of Rudrasāvarṇi (Rudrasavarni) who was the Manu of the twelfth Manwantara.

Upaguru was the son of the King Satyaratha in the lineage of Nimi, the son of Iṣvāku (Ikskhku) . Upaguru was also the father of a son called Upagupta.

Upavarhiṇa (Upavarhina) is one of the seven varṣaparvata(s) (varshaparvata) of Krauñcadvīpa (Kraunchadwipa).  

Uruṣaya (Urukkhaya) was one of the kings of the Iṣvāku (Ikkhvaku) dynasty who reigned in the Kaliyuga. He was the son of the King Vṛhadvala (Vrihadvala). Uruṣaya (Urukkhaya) had a son called Vatsyadroha. But according to the Bhāgvata Purāṇa (Bhagvata Purana), Vṛhadraṇa (Vrihadrana) was the son of Vṛhadvala (Vrihadvala). Vṛhadraṇa (Vrihadrana) had a son called […]

Uśīnara (Usinara) was one of the people belonging to the Vṛṣṇi (Vrishni) dynasty who attended the Swayamvara Sabhā (Sabha) of Droupadī (Droupadi). This Uśīnara (Usinara) was also assimilated with the people of the Yadu dynasty in reference to the people of the Anu dynasty. In the Bhāgavata Purāṇa, it was told that Uśīnara (Usinara) was […]

Ilā (Ila), the wife of Rājarṣi (Rajarshi) Dhruva, was the daughter of Vāyu (Vayu). Utkala was born out of the womb of Ilā (Ila) and his father was Rājarṣi (Rajarshi) Dhruva. From his childhood, he was quiet and unattached. In his early age, he succeeded to know Brahmā (Brahma). He realised that all the earthly […]

Utkala- 4 was a demon. He was one of the army chiefs of Bṛtrāsura(Britrasura). Utkala fought on behalf of Bṛtrāsura(Britrasura) in the war between Indra and Bṛtrāsura(Britrasura). But at the end of the war, when the defeat of Bṛtrāsura(Britrasura) was almost certain, Utkala and the other army chiefs left the battle ground.

We also get to know about a daitya or demon called Utkala among the army chiefs of Daitya Raj or demon king, Bali. Bali attacked the heaven and there was a dangerous war between the gods and the demons. Utkala participated in this war.

According to the Bhāgavata Purāṇa (Bhagavata Purana), Utsarga was one of the sons of Revatī (Revati)and Mitra was his father.

According to many Purāṇas (Puranas), the king or Manu of the Third Manwantara was Uttama. He was the son of Priyavrata. Priyavrata was the son of Swāyaṁbhūva (Swayambhuva) Manu. According to the Bhāgvata Purāṇa (Bhagavata Purana), Pavana, Sṛṇjaya (Srinjaya), Yajṇahotra (Yajyahotra) etc. were the sons of Uttama Manu. Accrding to the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (Vishnu Purana), […]