Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Ajamidha 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 Ajamīḍha
A famous king of the Pūru Vaṃśa.
Genealogy.
Descended from Viṣṇu in this order:—Brahmā-Atri-Candra-Budha-Purūravas-Āyus-Nahuṣa-Yayāti-Pūru-Janamejaya-Prācinvā-Manasyu-Vītabhaya-Śunḍu-Bahuvidha-Saṃyāti-Rahovādi-Bhadrāśva-Matināra-Santurodha-Duṣyanta-Bharata-Bṛhatkṣetra-Hasti-Ajamīḍha.
Birth.
Several dynasties like Yadu Vaṃśa, Pūru Vaṃśa etc. take their origin from Yayāti. Duṣyanta belongs to that dynasty. King Bharata was born as Duṣyanta’s son by Śakuntalā. Suhotra-Suhota-Gaya-Gardda-Suketu and Bṛhatkṣetra were Bharata’s sons. Bṛhatkṣetra had four children, who were: Nara, Mahāvīra, Garga and Hasti. Of them Hasti had three sons: Purumīḍha, Ajamīḍha and Dvimīḍha.
Other details.
Ajamīḍha had three queens—Dhūminī, Nīlī and Keśinī. Of them, Dhūminī had a son, Ṛkṣa and Nīlī’s son was Duṣyanta (This was not Śakuntalā’s husband, Duṣyanta) and Keśinī’s sons were Jahnu, Praja and Rūpiṇa. Parameṣṭī was another name of Keśinī. (Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 94, Verses 30-32; Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 4, Verse 2).