Uśaṅgava (Ushangava) is an ancient rājarṣi (king who possesses the virtues of a sage) . he was one of those ancient rājarṣis, who, after death, was given distinguished places in the court of Yama. In the reading of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) maintained by Haridas Siddhantavagish, this name is referred to as Uṣadgava (Ushadgava).

Uṣaṅgu (Ushangu) is a sage. He lived towards the west, as mentioned in Mahābhārata (Mahabharata).

Ūṣmapa (Ushmapa) is one kind of Pitṛgaṇa (Pitrigana; Forefathers’ spirits). The Ūṣmapa forefathers have a special characteristic feature, that they drink hot liquid. Though the term itself carries the sense of drinking, in the commentary of Bhagavadgītā (Bhagavadgita), citing the sources of Śruti (Sruti) and Smṛti (Smriti), Śrīdharasvāmi (Sridharaswami) has said that this kind of Pitṛgaṇa […]

A land near Krauñcaparvata (Kraunchaparvata; a mountain called Krauncha), located in between Manonuga and Prāvaradeśa (Pravaradesa). This is also known as a pilgrimage site. Goddess Satī (Sati) is worshipped as Abhayā (Abhaya) in this site of pilgrimage.

Uṣṇadeśa (Ushnadesa) is a land inhabited by the Gandharvas (a kind of demi-gods) near Krauñcaparvata (Kraunchaparvata; the mountain Krauncha). It is located between Mano’nuga and Prāvaradeśa (Pravaradesa, the land of Pravara).

Uṣṇīgaṁga (Ushniganga) was a pious river created from the Bhṛgutuṁga (Bhrigutunga) parvata. In the text of Haridāsa Sidhantavāgīśa (Haridasa Sidhantabagisa), the reading of Tūṣṇīgaṁga (Tushniganga) can be found.

Uṣṇīnābha (Ushninabha) is one of the Viśvedeva ( Viswedeva; one genus of the Vedic gods).’Viśvedevāḥ’  is the presiding deity of many of the sūktas (sukta; Vedic hymns) of Ṛgveda (Rigveda). 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 […]

Uṣṇīṣī (Ushnishi) is one of the Aṣṭottara sahasranāma (ashtottara sahasranama; thousand and eight names) of God Śiva (Siva). The term ‘uṣṇīṣa’ means coronet or a turban around the head. Śiva (Siva) is called uṣṇīṣi because he bears a coronet upon his head. In another sense, the matted locks of Rudraśiva serve as his coronet or […]

Uṣṭrajihva(Ushtrajihva) was one of the associate-warriors who assisted Skanda-Kārtikeya (Kartikeya) while slaying Tārakāsura(Tarakasura).

Uṣtrakarṇika (Ushtrakarnika) was an ancient place in the southern middle India. During the Digvijaya, Sahadeva conquered this place. In the Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), Uṣtrakarṇika (Ushtrakarnika) was mentioned along with the southern places like Andhra, Kaliṁga (Kalinga). For this, the scholars think that Uṣtrakarṇika (Ushtrakarnika) is one of the localities in the present Andhrapradeśa (Andhrapradesha) where the […]

In the Anuśāsana (Anusasana) Parva, the grandson of Uśīnara (Usinara) and the son of the King Śivi (Sivi), Vṛṣadabha (Vrishadabha) was also called Uśīnara (Usinara). As Vṛṣadabha (Vrishadabha) belonged to the clan of Uśīnara (Usinara), he might be called in the name of Uśīnara (Usinara) to indicate the glory of the clan.

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 […]

Utathya was the second son of Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Aṅgirā (Angira) the elder brother of Vṛhaspati, the guru of gods, and a famous Vedic sage. According to Purāṇa (Purana), he was one of the sons born of the womb of Svarāṭ (Swarat), sired by Maharṣi Aṅgirā. He was the half-brother of Vṛhaspati (Vrihaspati). According […]

According to Bhagavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana), Utkalā (Utkala) is the wife of Samrāt (Samrat), the son of Citraratha(Chitraratha), in the lineage of Priyavrata, the eldest son of Svāyambhuva (Swayambhuva ) Manu. A son called Marīci (Marichi)was born of her womb, and fathered by Samrāt.

It is an ancient locality in the middle part of India. In Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana) it is described as a land adjacent to Vindhyaparvata (the mountain Vindhya). Ilā (Ila), daughter of Vaivasvata Manu, was transformed into a man and came to be known as Sudyumna. Utkala was one of the three valiant sons of Sudyumna. He was […]

In the Mahābhārata, Utkocaka (Utkochaka) was the name of a place of pilgrimage. It was a sacred wood meant for meditation. Dhoumya, the younger brother of Devala, meditated in this sacred wood. He also had an āśrama (ashrama or a hermitage) in this sacred wood. Being advised by the King of Gandharva, Aṁgārparṇa (Angarparna), the […]

Utkrāthinī (Utkrathini) is one of the matṛkā (matrika; a lesser female deity) who were present during the corronation of Skanda-Kārtikeya (Kartikeya).

In the war against Tārakāsura (Tarakasura), the gods selected and hailed Skaṇda Kārtikeya (Skanda Kartikeya) as the army chief of the divine army. At this time, Indra and other important gods sent some of their special followers with Skaṇda (Skanda) to help him in destroying Tārakāsura (Tarakasura). Utkrośa (Utkrosha) was one of these two special […]

Utpalāvatatīrtha (Utpalavatatirtha) is a sacred woodland and site of pilgrimage, as described in Vanaparva of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata). Since it is a forest, in describing the glory of Tīrtha(s) (Tirthas or sights of pilgrimage) in Anuśāsanaparva (Anusasanaparva), it is referred to as Utpalāvana (Utpalavana). In Vanaparva it is described that once the great sage Viśvāmitra (Visvamitra) arranged […]

Utpalinī (Utpalini) was a river in the Naimiṣāraṇya (Naimisharanya) which was mentioned in the  Mahābhārata (Mahabharata). During his Vanavasa (the compulsory stay in the woods), Arjuna came to this pious river. The scholars think that the Naimiṣāraṇya (Naimisharanya) was situated in Uttarpradeśa (Uttarpradesha). According to this belief, the river Utpalinī (Utpalini) should flow through the […]

Utpātaktīrtha (Utpataktirtha) was a name of a place of pilgrimage mentioned in the Mahābhārata (Mahabharata, the great Indian epic). If someone takes a holy bath at this place and offers Pitṛtarpaṇa (Pitritarpana, a holy offering to the male ancestors), he can get the benefits of the Aśwamedha Yajṇa (Aswamedha Yagya, the great holy fire which […]

Utsaṅga (Utsanga) is one of the thousand and eight names of God Śiva (Siva). The scholar Haridāsa Siddhāntavāgīśa, in his Bhāratakaumudī ṭīkā (Bharatakaumudi Tika)says that — utkṛṣṭo saṅgo yasya sa utsaṅgaḥ. A divine sense of intimacy with the Supreme God gives bliss, knowledge and peace to human heart. In this sense, Śiva is known as […]

Utsavasaṅketa (Utsavasanketa) is a locality and the inhabitants of that locality, mentioned in Mahābhārata (Mahabharata). Before the Rājasūya Yajña (Rajasuya Yajna)of Yudhiṣṭhira (Yudhishthira), Arjuna set out for conquering all sides, and defeated these people. It is also said that Nakula, too, conquered them. It appears that this tribe called Utsavasaṅketa lived scatteredly in large portions […]

Uttama was a king presnt in the courtroom of Indraprastha during the Rājasūya (Rajasuya) Yajña (Yajna) of Yudhiṣṭhira (Yudhishthira). he was one of those kings whom Śiśupāla (Sisupala) claimed to be worthy of receiving the arghya or the customary royal gift instead of Kṛṣṇa (Krishna). However, in the edition of Mahābharata (Mahabharata)maintained by Haridāsa Siddhāntavāgīśa […]

Uttama is the name of a tribe living in ancient India. The inhabitants of this locality were also known as ‘Uttama’. Uttama is one of those localities or tribes in Northern India, as described by Sanjaya in the beginning of Bhīṣmaparva (Bhishmaparva).

Uttama is one of the thousand names of Lord Viṣṇu (Vishnu).

Uttamaujā (Uttamauja) is a Pāñcāla (Panchala) prince. In most cases, his name is mentioned along with his brother Yudhāmanyu (Yudhamanyu). Since Udyogaparva in Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), we get the name of Uttamaujā as one of the major warrriors on the side of the Pāṇḍava(s) (Pandava). In the battle of Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra), we see Uttamaujā in the […]

Uttarā (Uttara) was the daughter born of the womb of queen Sudeṣṇā (Sudeshna), and sired by king Virāṭ (Virat) of the Matsya kingdom. In Virāṭparva (Viratparva) of Mahābhārata (mahabharata0, when the Pāṇḍava(s) were spending their Ajñātavāsa in the royal house of Virāṭ, Arjuna disguised as Vṛhannalā (Vrihannala), a eunuch, came in front of the king, […]

Uttara’s father is Virāṭ, king of Matsya, and mother is Sudeṣṇā. In one place of Virāṭparva in Mahābhārata, he is called Bhumiñjaya. Uttara himself, introducing himself to Arjuna, has said, ahaṃ bhumiñjaya nāma nāmnāhamapi cottaraḥ. Nīlakaṇṭha, the commentator also refers to Bhumiñjaya as another name of Uttara. bhumiñjayayitturasyaiva nāmāntaram. In the Svayamvara-sabhā of Draupadī, Uttara […]

Uttara is a tyrannical king. Before the killing of Jarāsandha (Jarasandha), Kṛṣṇa warned him citing examples of four other tyrannical kings. Among these four, after Damvodbhava and Kārtavīryārjuna (Kartaviryarjuna), the third name is given as Uttara. In some versions, the name is Marutta. But he is not known as an evil king anywhere else. So, […]

Uttara is one of the thousand names of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu). Śankarācārya (Sankaracharya), while analysing the meaning of the name, says — janmasaṃsāravandhanāduttaratīti uttaraḥ. He is above and beyond all worldly notions of birth and death, he cannot be confined to material adjuncts and limitations of the world. Another meaning of Uttara is ‘better’ or greater’. […]

In Śāntiparva (Santiparva) of Mahabhārata (Mahabharata), in the legend describing how Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Yājñavalkya (Yajnavalkya0 got access to Veda(s), it is said that the Sun-god gave him a boon that he would get access to all Veda(s) including Vedānta (Vedanta) — pratiṣṭhāsyati te vedaḥ sakhilaḥ sottaro dvija. The term ‘Uttara’ is rich in […]

Uttāraṇa (Uttarana) is one of the thousand names of Lord Viṣṇu (Vishnu).

It was an ancient place of residence. While in Digvijaya (A war to conquer all the places in all directions), Nakula conquered this land. One of the Yavana (the people belonging from other religions than Hinduism) reigned places in  north-western India. At present, it is assumed to be in Afganistan. [Astronomical Dating of Events & […]

Uttejanī (Uttejani) is a lesser female deity called mātṛkā (matrika) , who was present as an associate during the corronation of Skanda-Kārtikeya (Kartikeya).