Puranic encyclopaedia
by Vettam Mani | 1975 | 609,556 words | ISBN-10: 0842608222
This page describes the Story of Danda 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 Daṇḍa
A king who was the son of Ikṣvāku. It is mentioned in Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 67, Stanza 45, that this King was the rebirth of Krodhahantā, an asura.
Birth.
Ikṣvāku had one hundred sons. Of them Vikukṣi, Nimi and Daṇḍa were famous. Daṇḍa became a famous archer when he grew up. In the Brahmāṇḍa Purāṇa mention is made that this King Daṇḍa took part in the Devāsura battle (Battle between the gods and the demons) and killed several thousand asuras (demons).
Administration.
The king Ikṣvāku gave his son Daṇḍa the country between the mountains Himālaya and Vindhya and anointed him the King of that country. Daṇḍa built a capital city known as Madhumatta and began to rule the country. He had an army of Caturaṅga (four parts, elephant, chariot, horse and infantry). The hermit Śamana was the priest of King Daṇḍa. (Uttararāmāyaṇa).
The origin of Daṇḍakāranya (the forest of Daṇḍaka).
Daṇḍa once raped Arā, the daughter of hermit Śukra, who had been doing penance in a forest in the middle of the country of Daṇḍa. Śukra the hermit got angry and destroyed the country of Daṇḍa by a shower of fire. From that day onwards that country was known as Daṇḍakāraṇya. (For further information see under Arā).