Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Antariksha 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 Antarīkṣa
A Rājā named Antarīkṣa is mentioned in the Bhāgavata.
Genealogy.
Viṣṇu, Brahmā, Svāyambhuva, Priyavrata, Agnīdhra, Nābhi, Ṛṣabha, Antarīkṣa. Svāyambhuva Manu had two sons, Uttānapāda and Priyavrata. Dhruva was the son of Uttānapāda. Priyavrata married Barhiṣmatī, and they had eleven children including Agnīdhra. Agnīdhra married Pūrvacitti, a Deva woman, and they became parents to nine sons, viz. Nābhi, Kimpuruṣa, Hari, Ilāvṛta, Ramyaka, Hiraṇmaya, Kuru, Bhadrāśva and Ketumāla. Nābhi wedded Merudevī, and to them were born 100 sons. The eldest son was Bharata, after whom this country (India) is named, i.e., Bhārata. Bhārata had 9 younger brothers, namely Kuśāvarta, Ilāvarta, Brahmāvarta, Malaya, Ketu, Bhadrasena, Indraspṛk, Vidarbha and Kīkaṭa.*
These brothers had nine younger brothers who were all highly evolved yogīs. They were Kavi, Hari, Antarīkṣa, Prabuddha, Pippalāyana, Āvirhotra, Dramiḍa, Camasa and Karabhājana. (Bhāgavata, Pañcama Skandha, Chapters 1-4).
*) Rāmānuja’s Bhāgavata (Malayalam) mentions one Āryāvarta also as Bharata’s younger brother. But the name does not occur in the original. (See Bhāgavata, Chapter 4, Verse 10.)
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