Ten sons were born of the womb of Naḍvalā (Nadvala), and sired by Cākṣuṣa (Chakshusha)Manu. The youngest among these sons was Abhimanyu.

When Adrikā (Adrika), the celestial nymph, having been cursed or imprecated took birth at Añjana (Anjana) mountains in the form of a female cat, she became the wife of Keśarī (Kesari), the chief of the vanara (vanara; the monkey people). A piśāca (pishacha) or a ghoul named Adri was born of Adrikā, sired by Niṛṛti (Nirwiti). He is […]

One of the apsarās (apsaras) born of Prajāpati Kaśyapa (Prajapati Kashyapa) to Dakṣa’s (Daksha’s) daughter Muni. It is known that when King Uparicara (Uparichara) Vasu used to reside in the divine seven storied abode given to him by Indra, Adrikā, the apsarā, used to live there with him. One day, while King Uparicaravasu (Amāvasu or […]

Agnaukaraṇa (agnaukarana) is a process described in the Smṛti (Smriti) scriptures. Agnaukaraṇa is the process of offering cooked rice and sacred ghee as oblations to the holy fire (Agni) at funerals performed on special occasions or at monthly funeral rites. The idea is basically this: while, from among the items required for a funeral rite, […]

Agnitīrtha (Agnitirtha) is a holy place of pilgrimage located on the banks of the Godavari river (also known as Gautamī Gaṅgā; Gautami Ganga). This place is also famous as Yamatīrtha (Yamatirtha). [See. Yamatīrtha – 3]

According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), Aikṣvāki (Aikshwaki) is the wife of Jantu, belonging to Jyāmogha (Jyamogha) dynasty. She gave birth to a son called Sātvata (Satwata), fathered by Jantu. In Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana) and Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), Aikṣvākī is the wife of Purudvaha belonging to Jyāmogha dynasty. Satva is the son of Purudvaha and Aikṣvākī. In Liṅgapurāṇa(Lingapurana) it […]

Akapi is one of the seven sages existing at the time of the fourth epoch, known as Tāmasa manvantara (Tamasa manwantara). The name Akapi can be found only in Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana) and in connection with another sage named Kapi of the same sect. The names of the seven sages present during the Tāmasa manvantara recorded in […]

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 […]

The wife of Āpastamba (Apastamba), a sage renowned in Purāṇas (Puranas). Akṣasūtrā (Akshsutra), a devoted wife, gave birth to a son named Karki.

It has been mentioned in Purāṇas (Puranas) that in the first stage of creating the populace of the Earth, Dakṣa (Daksha) was born out of the right thumb of Prajāpati Brahmā (Prajapati Brahma)  — *aṅguṣṭhād brahmaṇo jajñe dakṣaḥ kila śubhavrataḥ. *dakṣo’ṅguṣṭhat svayambhūvaḥ. Brahmāpurāṇa (Brahmapurana) mentions that Dakṣa’s wife was created out of the left thumb […]

A sacred pilgrimage-site located on the bank of the river Gautamī Gangā (Gautami Ganga) or Godavarī (Godavari). Āpastamva (Apastamva) was a wise and great ṛṣi (rishi;sage), and this sacred site has been named after his name.

Aruṇā (Aruna)and Varuṇā(Varuna), two sacred rivers have merged into Gautamī Gaṅgā (Gautami Ganga). The place of this assimilation of the flows is known as Aruṇā-Varuṇāsaṅgama (Aruna-Varunasangama; the place of union of the two rivers), but Padmapurāṇa (Padmapurana)says that initially Godāvarī flowed in between Aruṇā and Varuṇā — aruṇā-varuṇayormadhye yatra godāvarī nadī. Basically, this Gautamī Gaṅgā […]

Aśvatīrtha (Aswatirtha) is a sacred site of pilgrimage located on the bank of Godāvarī (Godavari). The two Aśvinikumāra(s) emerged in this place.

Ātreyatīrtha(Atreyatirtha) is a sacred site of pilgrimage located upon the northern bank of the river Godāvarī (Godavari). This is also known as ‘Anvindra’ which means Anu+Indra, that is, ‘to follow Indra’. Sage Ātreya(Atreya) and his son, under the power of illusion, once prayed to God Brahmā(Brahma), to achieve wealth and power like that of Indra. […]

Avantī was the capital of Indradyumna, king of Mālava (Malava). This is called the best city on earth. The sacred river Śiprā (Sipra) flows across the place. Śrī Hari (Sri Hari) resides here as Govindasvāmī (Govindaswami). In Purāṇa(Purana; Mythological Scriptures), we get a long description of Avantī (Avanti). The inhabitants of this beautiful, rich and […]

The primary meaning of the term Avatāra is derived from avataraṇa, that is, to come down. God comes down to earth, assuming a different form, from his celestial abode — this is the avatāra or avataraṇa (incarnation) of God. The huge gap between the worldly abode of mankind and the distant antarīkṣaloka seems to be […]

Avighnatīrtha (Avighnatirtha) is a sacred site of pilgrimage located towards the north of Gautamī Gaṅgā (Gautami Ganga) or Godāvarī (Godavari). Once the gods started performing a yajña(yajna; a  ritual involving fire-sacrifice ) on the north bank of Gautamī Gaṅgā, but the yajña was not successful due to hazards created by the primary god Ganeśa (Ganesa). […]

In Padmapurāṇa (Padmapurana), the glory of Ekādaśīvrata (Ekadasivrata) is hailed as far greater than all other vrata(s), and major yajña (yajna) performances.The greatness of visiting pilgrimages, donation, and other vratas – are highly praised – until there comes the issue of greatness of fasting on the Ekādaśī tithi — tāvadgarjanti tīrthāni dānāni niyamāni ca yāvannopoṣayejunturvāsaraṃ […]

(Ekavira) is a river issued out of Sahyādri (Sahyadri; the mountain called Sahyadri in South India).

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.

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 […]

Ṛṇamocanatīrtha (Rinamochanatirtha)is a sacred site of pilgrimage on the bank of Gautamī Gaṅgā (Gautami Ganga)or Godāvarī (Godavari). The two sons of king Kākṣīvān(Kakshivan) did not get married, and therefore, they were unable to procreate and maintain the genealogical line. For this, their forefathers got angry with them, and God Brahmā (Brahma) advised them to visit […]

Ṛṣisatra (Rishisatra) is a tīrtha (tirtha; site of pilgrimage ) by the river Godāvarī. The Saptarṣi (Saptarshi; legendary seven sages) performed a yajña (yajna; a holy fire-sacrifice) at this place. According to Purāṇa (Purana; Mythological Scripture), it is believed to be the birth-place of Vṛtrāsura (Vritrasura) .

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 […]

Uḍra (Udra) was the name of an ancient region in India. It was the part of the Utkala state. In the Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) and the Purāṇas (Puranas), Uḍra (Udra) was described as a famous place at the southern part of India- Tatrāste Bhārate Varṣe dakṣhiṇodadhisaṇsthitah. Oḍradeśa iti khyatah Swargamokṣapradāyakah. Here Oḍreswara Jagganāthadeva (Odreswara Jagganathdeva) was […]

Ūrdhvavāhu (Urdhvavahu) is one of the sons born of the womb of Ūrjjā (urjja), sired by Sage Vaśiṣṭha (Vasistha). In Raivata Manvantara, when Vibhu became Indra, Ūrdhvavāhu was one of the Saptarṣi (Saptarshi; the legendary seven sages hailed in ancient mythology).

Urvaśī is one of the Apsarā(s) or celestial beauties. But she is not just ̍one of them̍. She has a special position among the other Apsarā(s) such as Menakā, Rambhā, Ghṛtācī, Viśvācī and so on. She has always been recognised as the greatest of all. In all the legends related to Urvaśī, her behaviour and […]