The land called Bhogavardhana, situated in the Dakṣināpatha ( Dakshinapatha; the path towards Sothern India).

A township situated in the eastern part of India.

The father of Balāka (Balak), a rākṣasa (rakshasha) as mentioned in Purāṇas (Puranas).

A river that annihilates sin, coming from Ṛkṣa (Riksha) or Vindhya mountain ranges.

Agni is the Sanskrit word for ‘fire’. Agni is one of the foremost among the Vedic deities. In regard of the number of Vedic hymns (sūkta; sukta) attributed to the deities, Agni comes only second to Indra (almost two hundred hymns have been dedicated to Agni). Since Agni’s deeds and actions are mainly observable on […]

Agni is one of the saptarṣi (saptarshi; seven sages) who lived during the period of reign of Tāmasa (Tamasa) Manu.

Agnibāhu (Agnibahu) was the son of the fourteenth Bhautya Manu.  According to another opinion, a hermit sage during the reign of Bhautya Manu was called Agnibāhu. Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana) has identified him as Agnirvāhu (Agnirbahu). 

Agnīdhra (Agnidhra) was the son of Bhautya Manu, the lord of the fourteenth epoch (manvantara). According to a different opinion, Agnīdhra was one of the seven great sages (saptarṣi; saptarshi) during the reign of Bhautya Manu. 

Agnīdhra (Agnidhra) was one of the ten sons born to Viśvakarmā’s (Vishwakarma) daughter Varhiṣmatī (Varhishmati) and  Svāyambhuva (Swayambhuva) Manu. He was made the king of Jambudvīpa (Jambudweepa) — jambudvīpeśvaraṃ cakre agnīdhrantu mahābbalam.  According to some other Puranic variations, all of these ten scions of Manu were not sons of Svāyambhuva Manu, but his grandsons – sons […]

Aindrī (Aindri) was one of the epitomes of Ṣakti (Sakti) of Indra, the King of the gods. Devī Aindrī (Devi Andri) arrived at the battlefield to help Devī Caṇḍikā (Devi Chandika) when she was fighting with Śumbhāsura (Sumbhasura). Aindrī (Aindri) was one of the eight manifestations of Ṣakti (Sakti) of Devī Bhagavatī (Devi Bhagavati). She […]

Aja is one of the sons of Uttama (or Auttama) Manu, the lord of the third epoch (manvantara).

A locality situated in the middle part of the country (ancient India). Elsewhere it has also been referred to as ‘Kaliṅga’ (Kalinga). [See Kaliṅga] 

The mountain Ṛkṣa (Riksha) or Skandhapāda (Skandhapada) is the source of the river Ākrāma (Akrama). In a different version, the mountain is called Ṛkṣapāda (Rikshapada).

Akrimī (Akrimi) is the name given to villages where most people are nefarious and powerful, where people forcefully seize others’ lands if they do not have their own. In these villages live those who have earned the favor of the king.

Akṣamāla (akshamala) is also known by the name akṣasūtra (akshasutra). It is a garland made of rudrākṣa (rudraksha). When the gods had presented various weapons to goddess Caṇḍikā (Chandika) for slaying the demon Mahiṣāsura (Mahishasura), Prajāpati Dakṣa (Prajapati Daksha) had given her akṣamālā.

Alarka is the youngest among the four sons born of the womb of Kuvalāśva (Kuvalaswa) and Madālasā (Madalasa). The other sons of Madālasā were disinterested in Rājadharma (Rajadharma; duty of a king)and Saṃsāradharma (Samsaradharma; duty of a householder). So, as per the request of Kuvalāśva, Madālasā adviced Alarka regarding the responsibilities of an ideal householder […]

Ali is an Asura. He approached Brahmarṣi (Brahmarshi; a Brahmana Sage) Pāra (Para) to claim his daughter Kalāvatī (Kalavati). The sage did not consent,and the Asura abused him severely, and killed him, too.

Amarakaṇṭaka (Amarakantaka) is a sacred site of pilgrimage. The lake Jvalā (Jwala)and the river Viśalyakaraṇī (Visalyakarani) are located here. Situated near the land of Kaliṅga, Amarakaṇṭaka is a siddhakṣetra, famed across the three worlds. Practicing tapasyā (tapasya; penance) in this place, one may attain great puṇya (punya; virtue). It is also a place well-recommended for performing […]

In Cākṣuṣa (Chakshusha) Manvantara, there had been eight gaṇa(s) (gana; genus) of Amṛtā (Amrita; divine nectre)-consuming gods.The fifth among these gaṇa(s) is named Amṛtāśī (Amritasi).

Amvā (Amva) is a term denoting the mother in general, but specifically it refers to Goddess Durgā (Durga), mother of the world. In the hymn of worship uttered by the gods, in Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa (Markandeyapurana), it is said that this Amvā is all-pervading in the universe, and she is the highest among those who are to […]

Goddess Śakti (Sakti) or Pārvatī (Parvati), divine mother of the universe, is also known as Amvikā (Amvika). In Anuśāsanaparva (Anusasanaparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) it is said that by recalling or mere uttering of the name of Goddess Amvikā, people may be redeemed of all sins. In Purāṇa(s) (Purana; Mythological Scriptures), too, Goddess Pārvatī was known […]

Anagha was the fifth of the seven sons born of Vaśiṣṭha (Vashishtha) to Urjjā (Urjja). During the third epoch of Manu (manvantara), these seven sons of Vaśiṣṭha became saptarṣi (saptarshi) [the seven sages].

While describing the future epochs of Manu (manvantara), Viṣṇupurāṇa (Vishnupurana) chronicles that during the eleventh manvantara, when Dharmasārvarṇi (Dharmasarvani) would become Manu, Anagha would be one of the seven sages or saptarṣi (saptarshi) .

Prajāpati (Prajapati) was Manu’s son, and Manu was Brahmā’s (Brahma’s) son. Anala was born of Prajāpati to Śāṇḍilī (Shandili). He was a luminous god. He was one of the eight Vasu. In some Purāṇas (Puranas) it is said that the eight Vasu were born of Kaśyapa (Kashyapa). In others, it is said that they were […]

Anamitra was one of the sons of Dakṣasāvarṇi (Dakshasavarni) Manu, the ruler of the tenth epoch of Manu (manvantara).

A sage king (rājarṣi; rajarshi). His wife’s name was Bhadrā (Bhadra) and his son was Ānanda (Ananda). Ānanda later became renowned as Cākṣuṣa (Chakshusha) Manu, the ruler of the sixth epoch of Manu (manvantara).

In another birth, Ānanda (Ananda) was born out of the eye of Parameṣṭi Brahmā (Parameshti Brahma; the Supreme God Brahma). So he was known as Cākṣuṣa (Chakshusha)Manu. Cākṣuṣa Manu’s previous name was Ānanda. Rājarṣi (Rajarshi; a king with the attributes of a sage) Anamitra was his father, and mother was Bhadrā. One day, when Bhadrā (Bhadra) […]

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 […]

There were eight gaṇa (gana; groups) of deities in the epoch of Vaivasvata.  Other than the seven gaṇa Āditya (Aditya), Vasu, Rudra, Sādhya(Sadhya), Viśva (Vishva), Marut, Bhṛgu (Bhrigu), the eighth was Aṅgirogaṇa (Angirogana). They are the descendants of Aṅgirā (Angira).

A particular ethnic group. A type of the Kirāta (Kirata) tribe. 

Ānīkaṭa (Anikata) is one of the localities in the western part of India, as mentioned in Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa (Markandeyapurana). However, in the other Purāṇas (Purana; Mythical Scriptures), the place is referred to under different names. In Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) it is named Kālītaka (Kalitaka), in Brāhmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), the place is called Kuntala, and in Vāmanapurāṇa (Vamanapurana) it […]

Aṇimā (anima) is the name of a yogic feat which enables a performer to decrease his size and even become molecular in appearance as per his wish.    [See Aṣṭasiddhi] 

A mountain called Trikakuda or Traikakuda has been referred to more than once in Atharvaveda and other Vedic literatures. Maybe the name was inspired by a presence of three peaks of the mountain (Sanskrit kakuda means ‘hump’ or ‘projection’). Atharvaveda was the first book to call this Trikakuda Hills Añjanaparvata (Anjanaparvata) —devāñjana traikakudaṃ pari mā […]

Annaja is a locality situated at the valley of Vindhya Parvata (the mountain called Vindhya). Though in Mārkaṇdeyapurāṇa (Markandeyapurana) this place is mentioned as Annaja, in most of the other Purāṇa(s) (Purana; Mythological Scriptures), it is referred to as Anūpa (Anupa) or Aṇūpa. Scholar D.C. Sircar, delving into a comparative study of the reading maintained […]

Antaḥśirā (Antaḥśīlā) is a  river. It has been issued out of Vindhya Parvata (the mountain Vindhya).

Antargirya is a locality situated towards the east of Bhārata (Bharata; India).

Anugraha is son of Bhautya Manu. 

Anumati is one of the daughters born of the womb of Śraddhā, and sired by Maharṣi Aṅgirā (Angira). She was the wife of Dhātā (Dhata), and mother of Pūrṇimā (Purnima), as described in Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana). According to other Purāṇa(s), Anumati was the daughter born of the womb of Smṛti (Smriti), sired by Aṅgirā (Angira). According […]

Aparānta (Aparanta) is an ancient locality. When Paraśurāma destroyed the Kṣatriya(s) (Kshatriya)for twenty one times, and freed the earth of the Kṣatriya clan, Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Kaśyapa(kasyapa) asked him to stop. He also told him, ‘You should not live here, rather go to the place across the southern sea. Thus instructed, Paraśurāma came there […]

Āpomūrti (Apomurti) was one of the sons born of the womb of Anasūya (Anasuya), sired by Maharṣi(Maharshi; Great Sage) Atri. He is also one of the five Ātreyas(Atreya, son of Atri) born during the Svāyambhuva (Swaymbhuba) Manvantara. According to Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) and Brahmāṇdapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), during the second Manvantara in future, when Dharmasāvarṇi would be Manu, […]

Apratima is one of the Saptarṣi (Saptarshi; the legendary seven sages) in the third Sāvarṇi (Savarni)Manvantara.

Ārṣṇisena (Arshnisena) is an instructor of Yoga. Prince Dama learned the Yoga practices from him.

Aruṇa is born of the womb of Vinatā, the eighth daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha), and sired by the great sage Kaśyapa (Kasyapa). He is the elder brother of Garūḍa (Garuda). He pleased Mahādeva (Mahadeva) with great tapasyā (tapasya; ascetic practices), and was appointed the charioteer of the Sun-god, by grace of Mahādeva. Aruṇa’s wife’s name was […]

A great Daitya (Demon) called Aruṇa, very antagonistic to the gods, lived in Pātala (Patala; the underworld). In order to conquer the gods, he started practicing asceticism in order to please Brahmā (Brahma). Feared by his tapasyā (ascetic practice), the gods went to Brahmā. Hearing all this, Brahmā asked Aruṇa why he had been practicing […]

Aruṇāspadanagara (Arunaspadatirtha) is a nagara (city) located on the bank of the river Varuṇā (Varuna). A Brāhmaṇa (Brahmana), who lived in this town, by help of some oṣadhi (oshadhi; herbal drug) achieved the miraculous power to cross a distance of thousand yojana within a short period.

If Aśauca (Asaucha) is due to birth or death, brāhmaṇa (brahmana) should restrain themselves from yāga (yaga), homa or nityakarma ( daily rituals) for ten days. For the same reason, kṣatriya(s) (kshatriya) will do the same for twelve days, Vaiśya(s) (Vaisya) for fifteen days and Śūdra(s) (Sudra) for one month. After that all may resume […]

Asilomā (Asiloma) is a dānava (danava, demon), born out of the  womb of Danu, and sired by Kaśyapa (Kasyapa) Prajāpati(Prajapati; Ruler of the people). From Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa (Markandeyapurana) it is known that Asilomā was one of the senāpati(s) (senapati, warrior-general) of Mahiṣāsura (Mahishasura). When the soldiers of Mahiṣāsura launched an attack on Goddess Durgā (Durga), Asilomā, […]

One of the sons born of the womb of Aditi, mother of the gods, was Vivasvān. Vivasvān is another name for Sūrya, or the Sun-god. Sanjñā was one of the three wives of Vivasvān. She was the daughter of Tvaṣṭā. Unable to bear the energy and power of Vvasvān, Sanjñā created a clone of herself, […]

Aśvakūṭa (Aswakuta) is a locality in the middle part of India.

Aśvatara(Aswatara) was one of the Nāga(s) (Naga; snake) born of the womb of Kadrū (Kadru), daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha). In Āstīkaparva (Astikaparva), while describing the names of snakes, his name is mentioned along with another Nāga called Kamvala– kamvalāśvatarau. In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), and several Purāṇa(s) (Purana; Mythological Scripture), we have several mentions of Kamvala and […]