Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Agnidhra included the Puranic encyclopaedia by Vettam Mani that was translated into English in 1975. The Puranas have for centuries profoundly influenced Indian life and Culture and are defined by their characteristic features (panca-lakshana, literally, ‘the five characteristics of a Purana’).
Story of Agnīdhra
(AGNĪDDHRA).
Genealogy.
Descended from Viṣṇu thus: Viṣṇu-Brahmā-Marīci-Kaśyapa-Vivasvān-Vaivasvatamanu-Priyavrata-Agnīdhra.
Birth.
Priyavrata, son of Vaivasvatamanu, married Barhiṣmatī, daughter of Viśvakarmā. Agnīdhra was one of their ten sons. The other nine sons were: Idhmajihvā, Yajñabāhu, Mahāvīra, Hiraṇyaretas, Ghṛtaprṣṭha, Sava, Medhātithi, Vītihotra and Kavi. A daughter also was born to Priyavrata and Barhiṣmatī named Ūrjjasvatī. Śukra married her and Devayānī was their daughter.
Married life.
Agnīdhra married a nymph named Pūrvacitti. They had nine children: Nābhi, Kiṃpurusa, Hari, Ilāvrata, Ramyaka, Hirañcaya, Kuru, Bhadrāśva, and Ketumāla. It was from this Kuru that the Kuru Vaṃśa began.
Other incidents.
(1) Agnīdhra ruled over Jambudvīpa for a long time. (Devī Bhāgavata, Skandha 8).
(2) While he was the ruler of Jambudvīpa Agnīdhra once went into a cave and did hard tapas there without eating any food. Brahmā then sent a beautiful nymph (Apsarā maiden) to him to tempt him and thwart his tapas. Agnīdhra fell a victim to the temptation. His penance was shaken by that nymph named Vipracitti. He married her. (Bhāgavata, Skandha 5, Chapter 2).