A region located in Central India. Even though the name Atharva is mentioned in Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa (Markandeyapurana), the other Purāṇas refer to this land occasionally as Āvanta (Avanta), or as Arvuda or even as Atharvā (Atharva). According to D.C.Sircar, Atharva is another variation of Avantī (Avanti).

Atirātra (Atiratra) was a fores-dwelling hermit brāhmaṇa (brahmana), who married his daughter off to another brāhmaṇa called Suśarmā (Susarma). [See Uttama – 1] 

Since the Ṛgvedic (Rigvedic) period, Indian culture has conceived of the guest (atithi) as one who must be treated with respectful and humble hospitality and offered food and shelter. The host should do everything within his power to please the guest. Any yajña (yajna) would require fire (agni; imagined as the Fire-god), therefore fire has been […]

People belonging to the Ātreya (Atryeya) community are actually specific type of the Kirāta (Kirata) race.

Atri was one of the six supreme patriarch ṛṣi (rishi; sage) — like Marīci (Marichi) and Aṅgirā (Angira) — who were born at the onset of the Creation. Many legends are associated with the birth of these six prime sages, and the great sage Atri is no exception. The foremost of these legends is that all […]

Audumvara is an ancient community. The kṣatriya(kshatriya) members of this tribe came to Indraprastha, at the time of the Rājasūya yajña of Yudhiṣṭhira. They gifted many jewels to Yudhiṣṭhira. In Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa (Markandeyapurana), Audumvara is referred to as a tribe of the middle part of India. Scholars differ regarding the location of the tribe called Audumvara. As […]

A place located in Aparānta (Aparanta; the other end) or the land of Pāścātya(Paschatya; the Western part of the country). [See Avantī (Avanti)]

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 […]

Thirty days and night or two fortnights make a month. Six months make an Ayana.  Ayana is of two kinds — Dakṣināyana (Daksinayana; the southward journey) and Uttarāyana (Uttarayana; the northward journey). Uttarāyana is the daytime for gods, and Dakṣināyana is their night. So, one whole year makes a full day for the gods.

Name of a river that has been mentioned along with Vedasmṛtā (Vedasmrita), Vedavatī (Vedavati) and Tridivā (Tridiva) in Jambukhaṇḍavinirmāṇaparva [Jambukhandabinirmanparva; a sub-chapter of Bhīṣmaparva (Bhishmaparva)] of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata). But the source of this river is not given in Mahābhārata. In Vāyupurāna (Vayupurana), river Ikṣulā (Ikshula), along with Trisāmā (Trisama), Ṛtukulyā (Ritukulya), Lāṅgulinī (Langulini), Vaṃśdharā (Vamsadhara), […]

Indīvara (Indivara) was the son of Nalanābha (nalanabha), a Vidyādhara (Vidyadhara, a kind of celestial being or demi-god). In ancient times, Indīvara expressed his desire to study Āyurveda (Ayurveda, the science of longeivity)  from Sage Brahmamitra. The sage was reluctant to teach him, so Indīvara earned this knowledge  secretly. When the truth got disclosed, Brahmamitra […]

The figure and characteristics of Indra  as depicted in Mahābhārata-Rāmāyaṇa-Purāṇa is completely different from that of his acts and manners as described in  old Veda and Brāhmaṇa treaties. Indra in/of Veda  the greatest warrior, he is slaughter of Vṛtra, Namuci, Śuṣṇa, Cumuri, Dhuni, Śambara, Pripru, Vala, Arbuda, Kuyava — killing these dangerous demons/Asuras he is […]

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, […]

Ṛtavāk (Ritavak) is a ṛṣi (rishi; sage). Towards the end of the tenure of the influence of Revatī (Revati) nakṣatra (nakshatra; star), a son was born to him. Ṛtavāk sought to bring up his son and teach him properly. But the son of the sage became evil-natured, and a shame to the family. In despair, […]

He is one of the army chiefs of Mahiṣāsura (Mahisasura). He fought with Devī (Devi) Durgā (Durga) and she killed him in the war.

Udāvasu (Udavasu) is the son of Prajāti (Prajati), in the lineage of of Nābhāga (Nabhaga), son of Vaivasvata Manu. Khanitra, the eldest son of Prajāti, appointed Udāvasu the king of the southern country. Kuśāvarta (Kusavarta), belonging to the order of Gautama, was the priest of Udāvasu.

Ugrāsya(Ugrasya) is one of the warrior-generals of Mahiṣāsura (Mahishasura). Goddess Durgā (Durga)killed him with the trident, in the battlefield.

Unnata is one of the saptarṣi (saptarshi; seven mythical sages) in Cākṣuṣa (Chakshusha) Manvantara.

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

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).

In Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa(Markandeyapurana) it is described that Urjasvī (Urjasvi) achieved Indrapada (the post of Indra) in Vaivasvata Manvantara.

Ūrjjā(Urjja) is the daughter of Prajāpati (Prajapati; Ruler of the people) Dakṣa (Daksha) , and wife of Vaśiṣṭha (Vasistha). According to Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana), the children sired by Vaśiṣṭha (Vasistha), and born of the womb of Ūrjjā(Urjja) , are — Citraketu (Chitraketu), Virajā (Viraja), Suroci (Surochi), Mitra, Ulvaṇa (Ulvana), Vasubhṛdyāna (Vasubhridyana), Dyuman and others. In Viṣṇupurāṇa […]

Ūru(Uru) is one of the sons sired by Cākṣuṣa(Chakshusha) Manu, and born of the womb of Naḍvalā (Nadvala), daughter of Vairāja(Vairaja)  Prajāpati (Prajapati; Ruler of the people) Araṇya (Aranya). According to Viṣṇupurāṇa (Vishnupurana), Ūru is mentioned as one of the Saptarṣi (Saptarshi; the seven legendary sages) in Cākṣuṣa (Chakshusha) Manvantara.

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 […]

Uttamaujā (Uttamauja) is one of the sons of the second Sāvarṇi (Savarni) Manu in future. Viṣṇupurāṇa (Vishnupurana) has referred to him as the son of Brahmasāvarṇi (Brahmasavarni) Manu.

Uttamouja 3 will be the son of the future Sāvarṇi (Savarni) Manu. According to the Viṣṇu Purāṇa (Vishnu Purana), Uttamouja was the son of Brahma Sāvarṇi (Savarni) Manu.