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 […]

Amareśatīrtha (Amaresatirtha) is a sacred site of pilgrimage situated on the bank of the river Narmadā (Narmada). God Śiva (Siva) is worshiped as Amareśa(Amaresa) in this tīrtha (tirtha).

Amāvasu(Amavasu) is the son born of the womb of Urvaśī (Urvasi), and sired by Pururavā (Pururava)belonging to Candravaṃśa. However, in another śloka (sloka;verse) of Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), he is referred to as the eldest son of Āyu (Ayu), son of Pururavā. According to Purāṇa (Purana; Mythological Scripture), Acchodā (Acchoda), the daughter of Agniṣvāttva (Agnishwattwa) Pitṛgaṇa(Pitrigana) got […]

Goddess Bhagavatī (Bhagavati) is known as Amoghākṣī (Amoghakshi) on the bank of river Vipāsā (Vipasa).

Amṛtā (Amrita) is one incarnation of Goddess Śakti (Sakti) . In Vindhyaparvata (the mountain Vindhya) and Veṇā (Vena), Goddess Bhagavatī (Bhagavati) is worshipped as Amṛtā.

Once sage Durvāsā went out travelling across the world, and he met Indra. Durvāsā had in possession a divine garland of Pārijāta flower (or Santānaka flower) which he received from God Viṣṇu (in another opinion, from an Apsarā). Durvāsā gave the garland to Indra, which he took and placed on the head of Airāvata. The […]

According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), Amūrtarayā (Amurtaraya) was one of the sons born of the womb of Manasvinī (Manaswini), and sired by king Rantināra, belonging to Puruvaṃśa ( Puruvamsa; the royal lineage of Puru).

Amvara is a holy site of pilgrimage. Goddess Bhagavatī (Bhagavati) is worshipped here as Viśvakāyā (Viswakaya).

According to Mahābhārata (Mahabharata)and Manu, Amvaṣṭha (Amvashtha) is the hybrid child born of the womb of a Vaiśya(vaisya) woman, and sired by a Brāhmaṇa (Brahmana) man – brāhmaṇād vaiśyakanyāyāmvaṣṭho nāma jāyate. They are quite ancient as a jāti (jati), since they are mentioned in Aitareya Brāhmaṇa (Aitareya Brahmana). Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage)Parvata and Devarṣi (Devarshi; […]

Amvikeya is a rough and ice-covered mountain. Another name for this mountain is Sumanā (Sumana). God Varāha(Varaha) killed the demon-king Hiraṇyākṣa (Hiranyaksha) on this mountain. Two other readings, Āmvikeya (Amvikeya)and Añcikeya (Anchikeya) can be found respectively in Vāyupurāṇa(Vayupurana) and Viṣṇupurāṇa (Vishnupurana).

A mountain situated near Somaka parvata (Mountain Somaka) mentioned in Purāṇa (Purana). It is also called Sumanā (Sumana). It is said that God Varāhadeva (the third incarnation of Sri Vishnu) killed Hiraṇyākṣa (Hiranyaksha), king of the Daityas (a type of Demons), on this mountain.  

Anādhṛṣṭi (Anadhrishti) was one of the most prominent sons sired by Śūra (Sura) of the Vṛṣṇi (Vrishni) clan to Bhojā (Bhoja). Although Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) reads his name as Anādhṛṣṭikara (Anadhrishtikara), authenticity of this reading is not established.  In Sabhāparva (Sabhaparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), Kṛṣṇa (Krishna) refers to seven principal Vṛṣṇi warriors while describing Jarāsandha’s prowess. Anādhṛṣṭi is one […]

Anagha was the son of Vibhrāja, the king of Pañcāla (Panchala). Anagha had a son named Brahmadatta.

One kind of musical instrument covered with leather. This instrument is also known as mṛdaṇga. When Vasudeva was born, the gods were playing ānaka(anaka) or mṛdaṇga (mridanga). In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) and the Purāṇas (Purana), it is found that this instrument was played before some festivities, celebrations, before the beginning of a battle or to celebrate […]

Vasudeva was born of the womb of Māriṣā (Marisha), or Vāsī (Vasi), daughter of King Bhoja — according to Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana). He is also called Ānakadundubhi (Anakadundubhi). As soon as Vasudeva was born, the gods, with their divine vision, could realise that the incarnation of the Supreme Divinity will be born in the house of […]

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 […]

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 […]

Anamitra was the son of Nighna, a king of the Ikṣvāku (Ikshvaku) lineage. He left his kingdom for the forests to undertake rigorous religious austerities.

The varṣa (varsha)or plot of land in Paurāṇika (pauranika; as mentioned in the Purāṇa, or ancient) Śakadvīpa (Sakadvipa; the Saka island), in which Śyama (Syama) parvata (the mountain named Syama ) is situated, is called Anīcaka-varṣa (Anichaka-varsa) . Its alternative name is Ānandaka. See Anīcaka-varṣa (Anichaka-varsha).

Another name of Madana, the presiding deity of lust, love and affection. Once he was burnt to ashes by the fire of the third eye of Śiva-Mahādeva’s (Shiva-Mahadeva’s). Aṅga (anga) means body. Charred by Mahādeva’s fire of rage, Madana became incorporeal and hence came to be known as Anaṅga (Ananga; ‘one without a body’). An exceptional […]

A woman hailing from the village of Bārāṅgana (Barangana). It chronicled in Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana) that she religiously observed the ascetic austerities of the Vibhūtī Dvādaśī (Vibhuti Dwadashi) vow, and consequently became Kāmadeva’s (Kamadeva’s) second wife when she went to heaven.

Wife of Svāyambhuva (Swayambhuva) Manu. Priyavrata and Uttānapāda (Uttanapada) were born of Svāyambhuva Manu to Anantā (Ananta).

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 […]

The great sage Anantabhāgin (Anantabhagin) or Anantabhāgī (Anantabhagi) was one of those sages mentioned in Vaṃśapurāṇa (Vamshapurana, or the purāṇa with an account of all lineages) as the patriarchs and progenitors of the Bhārgava (Bhargava) line. He was related to Sage Bhṛgu (Bhrigu) by the association of being his disciple or of his biological lineage.

This pilgrimage site is situated at Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra), on the western side of the river Yamuna. Located here are temples of abode dedicated to Brahmā (Brahma) and Mahādeva (Mahadeva). Rudrāṇī (Rudrani) occupies the west, and Padmanābha (Padmanabha) occupies the north of this holy place. It has been referred to as sarvadevatīrtha (sarvadevatirtha, or the place […]

Śaryāti (Saryati) is one of the sons of Vaivasvata Manu. Ānarta (Anarta) is the son of Śaryāti. The region ruled by Ānarta is known as the land of Ānarta. Reva (According to Viṣṇupurāṇa and Bhāgavatapurāṇa, the name is Revata) was the son of Ānarta. According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana) , Ānarta established Kuśasthalī (Kusasthali), capital of […]

Ānarta is a locality in the western part of India. The inhabitants of that region are also called Ānarta. Ānarta is the abode of Vāsudeva Kṛṣṇa. The alternative name of this place is Antargiri. The name of the son of Śaryāti is Ānarta. The land is named after him. Raivata is the son of Ānarta. […]

Not eating. A mode of asceticism or severe self-discipline. Right after uttering the eminence of the eleventh day of the lunar fortnight it is said that just like there is no ritual of observing a vow of penance on this day, there is no religious austerity such as anaśana (anashana) or starvation by choice. Here, by […]

In Purāṇas (Puranas) the lineages of sages that fall under the line of descent of the great sage Kaśyapa (Kashyapa), the lineage of the great sage Anasūya (Anasuya) is one of them. It is known that Anasūya was one of the progenitors or patriarchs under the lineage of Kaśyapa.

Anaupamyā (Anaupamya) was the wife of Vāṇāsura (Vanasura). She was a beautiful lady of several virtues. However, her mother-in-law and sister-in-law always ill-treated her. Once Devarṣi (Devarshi; the divine sage) Nārada (narada) visited the house of Vāṇāsura, and Anaupamyā asked him about the redressal of this problem. Nārada then enlightened her about the procedures of […]

Anāyu (Anayu) was daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha) Prajāpati (Prajapati) and wife of Kaśyapa (Kasyapa) Prajāpati. From Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), the text which identifies her as mother of all the maladies of the world, it appears that Anāyu was also known as Anāyuṣā (Anayusha). According to Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), Anāyuṣā is the mother of five powerful asura (a type of demons), […]

Commonly the term aṇḍa (anda) means ‘egg’ or ‘a bird’s egg’ to be specific. In a famous verse in Ṛgveda (Rigveda) we find a figure of speech based on comparison: “As a bird brings out its progeny breaking the egg…” — āṇḍeva bhitvā śakunasya garbham. This comparison considers the egg  or aṇḍa as another womb of the bird. In a […]

Andhaka was one of the sons born of the womb of Kauśalyā (Kausalya), and sired by Sātvata (Satwata), belonging to Yaduvaṃśa (Yaduvamsa; lineage of Yadu). According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), daughter of Kaṅka (Kanka)was the wife of this Andhaka. She gave birth to four sons –Kukura, Bhajamāna (Bhajamana), Śaśī (Sasi) or Śuci (Suchi) and Kamvalavarhiṣa (Kamvalavarhisha). […]

In ancient times, twelve devastating battles took place between Devata(s) (gods) and the Asura(s) demons. The eighth among these battles. In Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), it is described that many Asura(s) and Piśāca(s) (Pisacha; a kind of evil spirit) got killed at the hand of Mahādeva. Probably the battle in which Andhakāsura was slain, was known as […]

Andhakāraka (Andhakaraka)was one of the seven sons varṣaparvata(s)(major mountains, indicating a varsha) or kulaparvata of Krauñcadvpa (Kraunchadwipa).

In the genealogical line of Turvasu, the second son of Yayāti (Yayati), Marutta was without a son. So he adopts Duṣmanta (Dushmanta) of Puruvaṁśa (the hereditary line of Puru), as his son. According to Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), this adopted son is Duṣkṛta (Dushkrita). According to Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), Sarupya is the son of Duṣmanta. Āndīra (Andira) is […]

An ancient sage-king. Most Purāṇas (puranas) have identified him as a descendant of Svāẏambhuva Manu (Swayambhubha Manu). Aṅga (Anga) was the child of Ulmuka of Svāẏambhuva Manu’s lineage, conceived by Puṣkariṇī (Pushkarini). Another version, however, recognises Aṅga as the child borne of Agneẏī (Agneyi) and Uru. Some Purāṇas, on the other hand, identify him as […]

In Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), another Aṅga (Anga) has been mentioned as belonging to the lineage of Svāyambhuva (Swayambhuva) Manu’s son Uttānpāda. He was born to Dhiṣaṇā (Dhishana) and Havirdhāna (Havirdhana), King Pṛthu’s (Prithu) youngest son and Veṇa’s grandson.

Vali was the son of Titikṣu (Titikshu) who belonged to the bloodline of Anu, Yayāti’s (Jajati) son. Aṅga (Anga) was the eldest of the kṣetraja (kshetraja; literally, child borne of a surrogate) sons conceived by King Vali’s wife Sudeṣṇā (Sudeshna) from Sage Dīrghatamā (Dirghatama). King Bali appointed Aṅga as the ruler of a newly formed kingdom […]

Aṅga (Anga) was the son of Viśvajit Janamejaya (Bishwajit Janamejaya) who belonged to the lineage of Vali’s son Aṇga. It is likely that this Aṅga was also renowned as the sūta (the caste of professional charioteers and storytellers) Adhiratha who adopted Karṇa (Karna) as his son.

A country or kingdom. The word Aṇga (Anga) is also used to refer to the citizens of the kingdom of Aṇga. Usually, it is mentioned along with four other kingdoms situated in eastern India—Aṇga, Vaṇga (Banga), Kaliṇga (Kalinga), Suhma (Suhma) and Puṇḍra (Pundra). Perhaps these five kingdoms formed a confederacy of which the capital was […]

A holy site of pilgrimage. It is traditionally believed that one may attain great fortune in this life and in the one after death by performing obsequies of one’s ancestors at this site.

At the beginning of Creation, nine sons and a daughter were born from Brahmā’s (Brahma) body. This daughter is known as Aṅgajā (Angaja).

A kingdom situated on the far west of India, flanked by mountains, and inundated by seven rivers. In the Middle Ages, during the emergence of Islam, when Makran (a semi-desert coastal strip in Balochistan, in Pakistan and Iran, along the coast of the Persian Gulfand the Gulf of Oman) was under the occupation of the Arabs, Hinglaj gained popularity as a […]

A sacred river. It is well-known a site of pilgrimage for offering prayers to the manes.  

Aṅgāreśvara (Angareshwara) is a site of pilgrimage situated on the northern bank of the river Narmadā (Narmada). Rudraloka may be attained as a result of visiting this holy place. The residing deity of Aṅgāreśvara is God Rudraśiva (Rudrashiva). In an alternate version, this place has been noted as Agāreśvara (Agareshwara). It is auspicious to perform […]

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 […]

Aṃśu (Angshu) literally means ray or glow of light. According to Ṛgveda (Rigveda), when a certain portion part or aṃśa of the sacrificial moon-plant or somlatā (somlata) is grounded, what we have is known as aṃśu. Therefore, aṃśu is that which flows from the moon— pra syandasvba soma biśbebhiraṁśubhiḥ.  The word aṃśu literally refers to the moon, […]

According to some Purāṇas (Puranas), all but four of the sixty thousand sons born of King Sagara’s first wife perished by the fire of Sage Kapila’s wrath. Pañcajana (Panchajana)(Pañcavana or Panchabana according to Vāyupurāṇa or Vayupurana) was one of the sons of King Sagara who survived. Śivapuraṇa (Shivapurana) states that Pañcajana became king after Sagara. Aṃśumāna (Angshuman) was Pañcajana’s […]