Appendix 1 - Notes on Pauranic names in the Bhaktavijaya

AKRUR [AKRURA]

One of the Yadavas, the son of Shvaphalaka and Gandini, and always taking Krishna’s side. Considering him to be a faithful messenger, Kamsa sent him to fetch Krishna to Mathura from Gokul [Gokula] and kill him. But he explained all Kamsa’s plans to Krishna. By many stratagems he had obtained the possession of the Syamantaka; jewel.

AGASTI

A well known rishi, the son of Mitravaruna. He made the Vindhyadri mountain range lie flat and thus humbled it. At the request of great rishis he drank up the ocean at one gulp and thus destroyed the Kalkeya asuras (demons) who had hidden in it. It was he who gave to Rama a sword, a bow, and a quiver ever full. He colonized the Deccan. Vide Appendix Up. Mi 3.

AJAMIL [AJAMILA]

A Brahman of the country of Kanyakubja. He had abandoned his parents and wife, and spent his life in the company of a Shudra woman. He dearly loved the youngest child of the Shudra woman by name Narayan. In this state he happened to hear a discussion about him between the messengers of Yama (the god of death) and Vishnu. On this he repented and, discarding big Shudra wife and children, spent his remaining days at Gangadwar in the service of God, and thereby obtained moksha after death.

ARJUNA

The third of the Pandavas, the son of King Pandu, and born to Kunti as the boon of the god Indra. A favourite disciple of Dronacharya; expert in archery whereby at the swayamrar of Draupadi (choice of a husband ceremony) he won her. At the time of the royal sacrifice of his brother Yudhishthira he conquered the Northern country. He pleased the god Shiva in the form of a hunter and obtained divine missiles from Him. He acted as a female dancer while living in disguise at the house of Virata. At the time of the great Indian Civil War Krishna explained to him his duty now embodied in the Gita.

ANASUYA

The wife of the Rishi Atri and mother of the Rishis Datta and Durvasa, known also as a very faithful wife and a great female ascetic. Once upon a time the gods Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesha (Shiva), in accordance with the hints of their wives came to test her wifely fidelity but by the force of her purity she turned them into children and then at the request of their wives she again gave them their previous forms; by her desire, portions of these three gods led to the avatar of Dattatreya being horn. During Rama’s wanderings she gave to Sita an ointment which kept her beauty ever fresh and protected her from wild animals and demons.

AMBARISH

A king of the solar race, very powerful and a great devotee of Vishnu. He observed a strict fast on Ekadashi (the eleventh day of every fortnight). Once on a time the Rishi Durvas suddenly came to him on the twelfth day just as the king was to brook bis fast. He therefore invited the Rishi to dine with him. The Rishi, however, went to the river to bathe ceremonially and as he was late in coming back, the time for the king breaking the fast was passing away. So the king, in order that his observance might not suffer, offered the food to God and broke his fast by drinking the holy water in which the gods were washed. When on his return from the river the Rishi learnt of it he fell into a great rage, and from a lock of his hair created a demoness and made her follow the king to persecute him. But meanwhile the disk of the god Vishnu, ever ready to protect him, destroyed the demoness and pursued the Rishi Durvas, who went to all the great gods for protection but none would vouchsafe it to him. Finally he went to Vishnu who asked him to go as a suppliant to the king who had fasted a whole year for him, and then only would he be free from the pursuit of the disk. He went to the king who on seeing him was pleased and prayed the disk to stop the pursuit. The king freed Durvas and dined in his company.

ABHIMANYU

The son of Arjuna and Subhadra, and the nephew of Krishna and Balaram; a great warrior like his father. He valorously broke his way through the army of the enemy arranged in a circle but was unable to come back and was treacherously killed. He was the father of King Parikshiti.

ARUNA

The son of Vinata wife of Kashyapa; also the charioteer of the Sun; the elder brother of Garud (the divine eagle, Vishnu’s vehicle) and the father of Sampati and Jatayu. Vinata broke the egg which contained him be fore maturity and therefore he was born without legs.

AHALYA

The wife of the Rishi Gautama, the mother of Shatanand, and the adopted daughter of the god Brahma. Through ignorance she cohabited with the god Indra, and so was cursed by her husband and was turned into a slab of stona. Rama restored her to life by the dust of His foot,

INDRA

The chief of gods. In one day of Brahmadeva there are fourteen Indras. The present one is called Purandar. The name of the wife of Indra is Indrani. Vide Appendix Up. 423.

INDRAJIT

Son of Ravana. By the performance of many sacrifices he obtained from Shankar (God Shiva) a divine chariot, weapons and missiles. He captured Indra in battle and made him captive and therefore is named as Indrajit. His former name was Meghanad. By the missiles of Brahma he fastened Maruti the monkey-god who had gone in search of Sita, and brought him into the royal court of Ravana. In three hours he killed sixty-seven crores of monkeys and had thrown Rama and Lakshman into a swoon, but ultimately he was killed by Lakshman.

UGRASEN [UGRASENA]

King of Mathura, Kamsa’s father. Kansa had imprisoned him, but Krishna killed Kansa and reinstalled Ugrasen.

UTTANAPAD [UTTANAPADA]

A king of the solar race. He had two wives, Suniti and Suruchi by name. Dhruva was his son born from Suniti.

UDDHAVA

The nephew of Vasudev, a great devotee of Krishna and always accompanied him. They loved each other very much. When Krishna departed from Gokul [Gokula] to Mathura he sent Uddhava to console the Gopis and Nanda and Yashoda. Krishna explained to him the knowledge of the soul as he (Krishna) passed away from this world. Then he went to Badrikashram [Rama] in accordance with Krishna’s command.

UPAMANYU

The eldest son of Vyaghrapad Rishi, in the family line of Vashishtha; and elder brother of Dhaumya. His mother used to give him flour mixed with water instead of milk. Once when he had drunk real milk in a neighbour’s house he obstinately asked for that kind of milk from his mother who felt sad and said, ‘How can you obtain milk unless you please God? Our good deeds in our former births are not so strong as to give you milk.’ Upon this he practised severe austerities and obtained the boon of mastery over the ocean of milk, and life as long as the world existed. He was a devotee of Shiva, and through him Krishna took the Shaiva vow.

URVASHI

A heavenly damsel born from the thigh of the Rishi. Narayan of Badrikashram, and the wife of king Pururava, the first of the lunar race.

EKALAVYA

A fisherman by caste who made an earthly image of Dronacharya, regarded it as his guru and by dint of his great devotion learned from it the art of archery, becoming mightier than Arjuna. On one occasion Dronacharya witnessed his valour and made him promise as an honorarium to his guru, not to use his right thumb in archery. Even to this day the people of the hunter-caste stick to this promise.

KARNA

Born to Kunti before her marriage, through the mantra of the sun. For fear of public shame she put him into a box and threw him into a river. A charioteer Adhirath by name found the box and brought up the child. His wife’s name was Radha, and hence he himself was named Radheya. Learning the art of archery with the Kauravas and Pandavas he became the rival of Arjuna in that art. Duryodhan [Duryodhana] then gave him the kingdom of Anga and formed friendship with him. He was a great donor, and when the god Indra went to him in the disguise of a Brahman asking for his armour and earrings, he gave these to him. In order to defeat Arjuna he went to ParashuRam [Rama] (the sixth avatar of Vishnu) as a Brahman and learned from him the use of missiles, but when ParashuRam [Rama] found out that he was a Kshatriya and not a Brahman he pronounced the curse that he would not remember the use of the art at the time of battle. While hunting he had once by chance killed a Brahman’s cow who gave the curse that the earth would swallow the wheel of his chariot while fighting on the battlefield. Krishna and Kunti both narrated to him the circumstances of his birth, and sought to persuade him not to fight against the Pandavas, his brothers, but he did not listen to them and he was at last killed by Arjuna.

KADARYU

A Brahman inhabitant of Avanti (modern Ujjain), who was so miserly that his wife and children and other relatives robbed him of everything and drove him out of the house. On that account and also on account of the influence of the good deeds in his former births he turned an ascetic and obtained complete peace of mind. People tried their best to bring him down from that, state, but in vain. Just for this virtue of his, Shri Krishna has related his story to Uddhava in the Bhagwat.

KAYADHU

The wife of Hiranyakashipu, the daughter of Jambhasura and the mother of Pralhad. When she was bearing

Pralhad her husband went away on austerities. Taking this opportunity Indra slew many demons and when he was taking her to heaven the Rishi Narad [Narada] met him and said, ‘Her son will be a Vishnu-bhakta and will not hate you,’ and thus freed her, and staying with her on the bank of the Bhagirathi, gave her soul-knowledge. This knowledge Pralhad heard while in her womb and thereby became a bhakta of God Vishnu. After this the Rishi Narad gave her back to her husband.

KANSA [KAMSA]

The son of Ugrasen of the race of the Yadavas, a cousin of Devaki and the king of Mathura. In the ceremony of Devaki’s marriage he heard a divine voice that he would be killed by her son, and therefore he killed her six sons. When Krishna was born and was sent to Gokul [Gokula] (surreptitiously), Kansa tried to kill him by sending many of his hirelings there, but failed in his attempt. Then finally Krishna and Balarama were brought to Mathura under the pretext of wrestling with his wrestlers, but they killed these wrestlers and Kansa as well.

KALAYAVAN [KALAYAVANA]

Born to a Yavan king’s wife from the sage Garga for the purpose of defeating the Yadavas. He wag a great warrior and invincible against the Yadavas. Krishnahad him killed at the hands of the sage Muchakund.

KALINDI

The seventh wife of Krishna. She performed austerities on the banks of the Jumna river and married Krishna.

KUBJA

A maidservant of Kansa. She was personally crippled in three places. While at Mathura with his brother Balaram at the invitation of Kansa, Krishna healed her.

KUSHA AND LAVA

The sons of Rama, the son of Dashrath. They were born in the hermitage of the sage of Valmiki, and were brought up there. The sage Valmiki educated them in all arts. Both of them were very brave. After the royal horse sacrifice of Rama, the sage Valmiki consigned them to their father’s care and then Rama with his wife Sita and the children returned to Ayodhya.

KUNTI

The daughter of king Shur of the line of the Yadavas. She was adopted by King Kuntibhoja. She was the wife of Pandu. In her girlhood she had obtained mantras (charms) from the sage Durvas by which she could beget sons and so became the mother of Kama, Dharma, Bhima and Arjuna. They were portions of the four gods, the sun, Yama (the god of death), the wind, and Indra respectively. She gave two of her charms obtained from Ashvinikumar to her rival Madri to whom two sons Nakul and Sahadev were born.

KUMBHAKARNA

The younger brother of Ravana, He was very brave, and had an enormous person. He used to sleep for six months and was awake for one day only. He was killed by Rama.

KURMA AVATAR

The second avatar of Vishnu. Vishnu assumed this avatar in order to support Mountain Mandar which was used as the churn at the time of churning the ocean.

KRISHNA

The son of Vasudev and Devaki, Kansas cousin, the son of the maternal uncle of the Pandavas and the eighth avatar of Vishnu. Out of fear of Kansa, his father Vasudev stealthily took him to Gokul [Gokula] to Nanda who brought him up. He performed many wonderful things in Gokul [Gokula] in his childhood. He killed many giants who were sent by Kansa and in the end Kansa also. He was a great friend of Arjuna. Troubled by Kalayavan he forsook Mathura and founded the town of Dwaraka on the sea. He killed Narakasur. He had eight chief wives, Rukmini, Satyabhama, etc., and 16,100 other wives besides. He went to the Kauravas as an ambassador from the Pandavas for reconciliation but failed in his attempt. He was given the highest place of honour in the royal sacrifice of King Dharma for which Shishupal [Shishupala] censured him; so he killed Shishupal. He was the charioteer of Arjuna in the great Indian Civil War (between the Pandavas and Kauravas). He was an expert in soul-knowledge, explaining the Bhagavadgita to Arjuna and soul-knowledge to Uddhava. He was killed by a hunter named Jara. Vide Appendix II pp. 424-429.

KAIKEYI

The youngest wife of King Dashrath (Rama’s father), mother of Bharat, and the daughter of the king of the country of Kaikeya. Incited by her maid Manthara at the time of the installation of Rama as Yuvaraja, she demanded the exile of Rama and the coronation of Bharat in fulfilment of the two boons which her husband Dashrath had promised her long before. Rama therefore went into exile and grieved by his separation his father King Dashrath died.

KAUSALYA

The first wife of king Dashrath, and mother of Ramachandra.

GAJENDRA

At first king of the country of Pandya. His name was Indradyumna.

GANIKA

A prostitute. She had a parrot which she taught continually to repeat ‘Rama, Rama.’ Thereby she also had to repeat this name of God and so attained final beatitude.

GARUD [GARUDA]

The son of the sage Kashyapa and Vinata; the younger brother of Aruna (the charioteer of the sun); the king of birds; also the vehicle of Vishnu. He was very powerful and brought nectar for the serpents and freed his mother from the slavery of his stepmother.

GAUTAMA

With severe austerities he brought the Godavari river where it is. He was a great ascetic.

CHANUR

A great wrestler in the service of King Kamsa. Krishna killed him when he had gone to Mathura with Balarama for the Dhanuryaga.

JATAYU

The younger son of Aruna (the charioteer of the sun) a great friend of King Dashrath, who fought with Ravana while he was carrying away Sita. But Ravana skilfully contrived to cut off his wings, and left him in a dying condition. It was he who told Rama of Sita being carried away to Lanka.

JAMADAGNI

A rishi (sage), father of Parashurama, and the son of Richika from Satyavati the daughter of Gadhi. He was of a wrathful disposition. Once his wife was late in returning from the river for some reason so he had her killed by Parashuram. But at Parashuram’s request she was again restored to life.

JAMBUVATI

The daughter of Jambuvan, one of the eight chief wives of Krishna. She had six sons, Samba and others.

JAIMINI

A chief disciple of Vyasa. He was the writer of the Purvamimamsa. He was an expert in debates. He was the author of the Jaimini Ashvamedha.

TARAMATI

The wife of Harishchandra of the solar race. Their son was Rohidas. She was a very dutiful wife.

TUMBARU

One of the Gandharvas born from Pradha. Rambha was his wife.

TRIPUR

The three sons of Tarakasur obtained from Brahmadeva the boon of three invulnerable cities. They were made of gold, silver and iron and rotated in the space on the sky and on the earth. The collection of these three is called Tripur. Shankar burned them and therefore he is called Tripurari.

DATTA OR DATTATREYA

The son of Atri and Anasuya. (See under Anasuya).

DAMAYANTI

The daughter of King Bhima of the country of Vidarbha and as the wife of King Kala very dutiful.

DASHRATH [DASHARATHA]

The son of King Aja of the Ikshvaku solar race, and the father of Rama. He had three wives, Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi, but was without any issue. With the advice of his family guru Vashishtha he performed a son-giving sacrifice, through the Rishi Rishyashringa. Then four sons were born. From Kausalya Rama, from Sumitra Lakshmana and Shatrughna, and from Kaikeyi, Bharat. He loved his sons very much. Rama was as it were his very life. Kaikeyi was his most beloved wife. Her obstinacy compelled Rama to go into the forest as an exile and King Dashrath [Dasharatha] died through mourning for his son.

DARUKA

The charioteer of Shri Krishna.

DURYODHAN

The eldest son of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari, and an enemy of the Pandavas. He was very skilful in macefighting. He devised many plans to destroy the Pandavas. He tried to burn them in a lacquer house. He poisoned Bhima, and threw him into a river. But all his efforts proved fruitless. Finally defeating Dharma at dice he won his kingdom. He tried in an open assembly to strip Draupadi of her garment. He sent the Pandavas into exile for twelve years, at the end of which they had to pass one year incognito. During this time he sent the sage Durvas to persecute them, and by carrying away the cows of King Virata he tried to force them out of their disguise but he did not succeed. After the period of thirteen years Shri Krishna on behalf of the Pandavas went to Duryodhan [Duryodhana] to bring about a reconciliation between him and the Pandavas, but Duryadhan insulted Shri Krishna by telling him that he would not give to the Pandavas even as much earth as would cover the point of a needle. He hid himself in the deep water of a pond after the death of his commanders Bhishma, Drona, Kama, Shalya and others during the great Indian Civil War. Bhima went to the pond, and challenged him to fight. He struck him on the thigh with his mace which made him senseless. Duryodhan [Duryodhana] then appointed Ashvatthama as the commander and he at dead of night killed all the warriors of the Pandavas such as Dhrishtadyumna, etc., while they were asleep. Duryodhan [Duryodhana] died cheerfully when he heard this.

DURVAS [DURVASA]

A rishi, son of Atri and Anasuya. He had given to Kunti (the mother of the Pandavas) at an early age, five mantras (charms) to beget as many sons. He was very wrathful. Once Duryodhan [Duryodhana] sent him to the Pandavas and asked him to demand from them at midnight a dinner for him and his thousand disciples with a view to humiliate them. He went but was defeated in his attempt on account of the cooking pan which the sun had given to Draupsdi producing any kind of food when required.

DUSSHASAN [DUSSHASANA]

One of the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra, and the younger brother of Duryodhan [Duryodhana]. Like Duryodhan [Duryodhana] he was a brave and powerful warrior but was very wicked. He tried to strip Draupadi of her garment, and so Bhima vowed to kill him and drink his blood, a vow Bhima fulfilled in the great Indian Civil War.

DRAUPADI

The daughter of King Drupad, and wife of the Pandavas. She was born from a sacrificial fire. In her svayamvar (choosing of husband ceremony), Arjun killed the fish on the target and won her. As soon as Kunti said the prize should be divided equally she became the wife of all the five and also lost her liberty along with the Pandavas at the game of dice. When Duryodhan [Duryodhana] through Dusshasan tried to strip her of her garment in the open royal court Shri Krishna provided her with innumerable garments and thus preserved her modesty. In her life of retirement she lived under the name of Sairandhri as the handmaid of Queen Sudeshna. She was a most virtuous, noble and dutiful wife.

DHARMA OR DHARMARAJA

The eldest son of King Pandu, and born to Kunti by the mantra (charm) of Yamadharma. He was extremely god-fearing and kind towards all beings and so was called Ajatashatru ( one without an enemy). He was a great lover of truth, and. even in times of adversity he did not swerve from it, although he was sharply reproached by Bhima. and others. When first the plans of the Kauravas for the destruction of the Pandavas were frustrated, King Dhritarashtra gave him half of his kingdom. Afterwards he made conquests in all quarters of the world with the help of his brothers and with the fortune thus amassed he performed a royal horse sacrifice. This made Duryodhan [Duryodhana] jealous of him. He was very fond of gambling. Taking advantage of this Duryodhan [Duryodhana] gambled and cunningly defeated him, taking all his kingdom and sending him into exile. In the year of his life incognito he stayed at the court of Virata as a player of dice assuming the name Kanka. He tried his best to make peace with Duryodhan [Duryodhana] but was unsuccessful. He defeated the Kauravas after his return from exile and ascended the throne. When Drona, lying on his deathbed of arrows, asked him whether it was Ashvatthama. his son or elephant that was dead, Dharma replied that he did not know and so Drona forsook his bow. This was the only time in his life when he did not speak the truth. He performed a horse-sacrifice and ruled well. In the end, he seated Parikshiti on the throne and with his four brothers and Draupadi went into the Himalayas to perform austerities. An era named Yudhisthira was started in his name after him.

DHRITARASHTRA

Grandson of Shantanu in the lineage of Puru. Born to Vyas [Vyasa] through Ambika, a wife of Vichitravirya. He was blind from birth, and therefore his brother Pandu received the kingdom. He had a hundred sons (one being Duryodhan [Duryodhana]) and one daughter. His wife was Gandhari. He also bad a sou named Yuyutsu born from a Vaishya woman. When Duryodhan, Shakuni and others lied and did other wicked things to destroy the Pandavas he never forbade them. When finally all his sons died in battle he lived with Dharmaraja for fifteen years. During that period he was always vexed by Bhima with curt remarks which disgusted him and so he became an ascetic and went to the Himalayas, taking with him Gandhiri and Kunti, and there they all died.

DHRUVA

The son of king Uttanapad and Suniti, His stepmother insulted him in his childhood and through anger he left his father, went into the jungle and performed severe austerities. Vishnu was pleased with these and so Ha gave him an eternal place.

NAKULA

The son of King Pandu and Madri, and fourth of the Pandavas. He was a portion of the Ashvinikumaras, the heavenly physicians, and was extremely handsome. He conquered the west. In his retirement ha lived with King Virata under the name of Granthik [Granthika] and was in charge of his horses.

NANDA

The chief of Gokul [Gokula]. He was a great friend of Vasudev. His wife was Yashoda. He brought up the brothers Balarama and Krishna from their infancy.

NANDI

The bull of Shiva. His vehicle. The eon of the wish-cow. His form is that of a human being except the head which is that of a monkey. He has short arms.

KALA

The king of the country of Nishadha the son of Virasen, and the husband of Damayanti. He was very handsome, truthful and an expert in the knowledge of horses. His brother Pushkar won from him in gambling all his royal fortune and drove him into the forest. One night Nala abandoned his wife in the forest in the hope that she would go and live with her parents and not suffer with him. She first went to King Chedi, then to her father when he came to know of her whereabouts. Nala then took refuge with King Rituparna of Ayodhya. When Damayanti knew it she invited Rituparna to Kundinpur to the choosing of her husband a second time and Nala accompanied him as his charioteer. Nala and Damayanti recognized each other and again lived together. From Rituparna Nala learnt the art of gambling and then won back his kingdom from Pushkar.

NAKRA

A divine chorister Huhu by name. Through the curse of a rishi he had become a crocodile; but along with Gajendra was saved by Vishnu.

NARAD [NARADA]

A famous celestial rishi (sage). He was one of the seven sons produced by the will of Brahmadev. He performed the song-service of Hari (God) and his favourite musical instrument was the Vina. He was very fond of picking quarrels. He had access to the three worlds, viz., the heaven, the mortal world and the nether regions.

NRISINHA [NRISIMHA]

The fourth principal avatar of Vishnu. In form he was half man and half lion, hence his name Nrisinha (lion-man.) He killed Hiranyakashipu, and protected Pralhad.

PARASHURAM [PARASHURAMA]

The son of the Rishi Jamadagni and the sixth principal avatar of Vishnu. King Kartavirya took away the cow of Jamadagni, and so ParashuRam [Rama] killed him. Kartavirya’s sons killed Jamadagni in vengeance for the death of their father. On this ParashuRam [Rama] vowed to annihilate the Kshatriyas; and on twenty-one occasions he rid the earth of all the Kshatriyas, doing this as a gift to Kashyap; and creating a new country near the sea-coast he lived there. This country is the modern Konkan [Konkana]. He was deprived of his divine power by Rama (son of Dasharath) as he acted disrespectfully towards him. By the command of his father he beheaded his mother. Bhishma, his disciple, had once defeated him in battle.

PANDAVAS

The sons of Pandu born from his two wives Kunti and Madri. They were Yudhisthira (or Dharma), Bhima, Arjun, Nakul and Sahadev. Each is called a Pandava.

PARVATI

Sati the wife of Shiva, who having abandoned her body in the sacrifice performed by Daksha was reborn as the daughter of the Himalaya mountains and so received the name Parvati; other names Haimawati, Girija, etc have the same sense.

PULASTYA

The will-born son of Brahmadev. His wife was Havirbhuva. He had two sons by name of Agastya and Vishrava.

PUTANA

A demoness sent by Kansa to nurse Krishna with her poisoned breasts and thus kill him. But Krishna sucked up the poison and killed her.

PRALHAD

The eldest of the four sons of Hiranyakashipu born from Kayadhu. While he was in his mother’s womb he became a devotee of God by hearing the discourses of Narad. As he was a born bhakta of Vishnu his father persecuted him very much. At last Vishnu assumed the avatar of Narasinha and killed his father, and thus protected him.

BALI

The grandson of Pralhad, and son of Virochana, and the father of Banasur. He performed a sacrifice on the north bank of the Nurbada river in Bhrigukachcha. There Vishnu went in the form of a dwarf Brahman Vauian and begged of Bali a gift of three paces; with two paces he occupied the heaven and the mortal world and with the third sent Bali to the lower regions. Vishnu became his doorkeeper to make amends to him. He (Bali) is deathless.

BIBHISHAN [BIBHISHANA]

The brother of Havana. He remonstrated with his brother for kidnapping Sita and advised him to return her to her husband. Havana did not like the advice, so Bibhishan went over to the side of Rama. On the death of Ravana, Rama seated him on the throne of Lanka (Ceylon). He is deathless.

BUDDHA

Founder of Buddhism. His original name was Shakyasinha. He was born at Kapilvastu. He is regarded as the ninth avatar of Vishnu.

BHAGIRATH [BHAGIRATHA] AND BHAGIRATHI

Bhagirath, the great-great-grandson of King Sagar. He performed severe austerities and brought the heavenly Ganges to the mortal world to save his sixty thousand ancestors, the sons of Sagar who lay in the form of ashes under the curse of the Rishi Kapil. Having been brought by King Bhagirath, the Ganges is called the Bhagirathi. Vide Appendix II p. 432.

BHARAT [BHARATA]

The son of Dasharath born to him from Kaikeyi. He loved Rama very much, and therefore went to the forest to request Rama to come back to Ayodhya to reign, but Lord Ramchandra did not come. Then Bharat kept the sandals of Rama on the throne, and for fourteen years reigned in his name, and when Rama returned from his exile gave him his kingdom.

BHASMASUR [BHASMASURA]

A demon created by God Shiva from a lump of holy ashes. He was given the boon that the person on whose head he kept his hand would be turned to ashes. He began to trouble each and every person and so Vishnu took the form of a beautiful young damsel called Mohini and caused Bhasmasur to keep his hand on his own head and thus turned him to ashes.

BHIMA

The second of the Pandavas and born to Kunti from the mantra (charm) given herby God (the wind). Even as a boy he was very powerful and even in play threatened Duryodhan and others. He learned the art of wielding the mace from Balaram. Krishna’s brother. He had the strength of ten thousand elephants. He killed many demons such as Baka, Hidimb, Jarasandh [Jarasandha] and Kichak. He lived with king Virat in his retirement as Ballav, and was in charge of the royal kitchen. He killed all the hundred sons of king Dhritarashtra, via., Duryodhan, Dusshasan, etc.

BHIMAK [BHIMAKA]

The ruler of Vidarbha, known also as Bhishmak. He was the father of Rukmi.

BHISHMA

The son of King Shantanu of the lunar race born to him from the river Ganges. At the desire of his father he vowed not to claim the throne and remained a bachelor till death. His father was pleased with his vow, and gave him the boon that he would die at will. He was a disciple of Parashuram but had defeated him once. When Arjun hit him in battle from behind Shikhandi he lay on a bed of arrows till the sun entered the summer solastices and then died. After the war (the Indian Civil War) he preached Dharmaraj (the duties of a king) and about religion.

BHRIGU

A Brahman rishi (sage), the will-born son of Brahmadev, of the line of Jamadagni. Once there was a dispute among the rishis as to who was the highest amongst the three gods, Brahma, Shankar (Shiva) and Vishnu. Bhrigu, who was sent to decide, treated Brahma and Shiva disrespectfully for which they were angry with him. Lastly he went to Vishnu, but finding him asleep he kicked him on His chest. This did not anger Vishnu, and this test made Vishnu the highest of the three. The mark of this kick is called the Shrivaisa. Vide Appendix II p. 432.

MADHU AND KAITABHA

Demons born from the dirt of the ear of Vishnu and whom Vishnu killed.

MATSYA (the fish avatar)

Vishnu became a fish in order to kill a demon called Hayagriva who intended to steal away the Vedas from Brahmadeva when he slept at the end of the Kalpa.

MARUTI

The son of Anjani, a female monkey and the wind. As a loyal servant of Rama he crossed the ocean and in Lanka (Ceylon) found Sita. He was extremely powerful and ever celibate and one without death. Rama being greatly delighted taught him the knowledge of Brahma. Vide Appendix II p. 482.

MITRAVINDA

The daughter of Jayasena, King of Avanti Krishna carried her away from her Svayamvara (choice of a husband ceremony) and married her. She was one of the eight chief wives of Krishna.

MUCHUKUND

He was much fatigued on account of his assisting the gods in their battles and the gods insisted on his taking rest. He asked for a boon of the gods for a secluded place to sleep in and that the man who tried to awaken him should meet with death as soon as his eyes fell on him, while he himself should have a darshan (vision) of Vishnu. Krishna cleverly caused Kalyavan to disturb his sleep and by him he was burned to ashes.

MENAKA

A heavenly damsel. She interrupted the austerities of Vishvamitra who was attracted towards her and from her Shakuntala was born.

YASHODA

The wife of Nand the chief of Gokul [Gokula]. She brought up Krishna.

YADNYAJITI

One of the chief eight wives of Krishna.

RAMA

The son of King Dasharath and Kausalya, and the seventh avatar of Vishnu. He was an expert archer and when Vishvamitra took him from Dasharath to protect his sacrifice, he slew several demons, went to Mithila (the capital of Janak [Janaka]), and there broke the bow of Shiva in two and thus won Sita as his wife. ParashuRam [Rama] came to fight with him for breaking Shankar’s bow but Rama defeated him. Basharath meant to give Rama the kingdom but Rama was sent into exile for fourteen years in fulfilment of his stepmother’s (Kaikeyi’s) previous boon from Dasharath. In his forest life his wife was kidnapped by Ravana the king of Ceylon. While wandering in search of Sita he met Hanuman, Sugriva and other monkey chiefs and made friends with them. He crossed the sea by building a bridge, killed Ravana, and then returned with Sita to Ayodhya and ascended the throne of his father. He had only one wife, used only one arrow and was true to his word. He had two sons, Kusha and Lava. In the forest by the touch of his foot, he restored to lift Ahalya who had been cursed by her husband and was lying in a petrified state.

[Mr. Romesh C. Dutt, C. I. S., 1 C. 8. (retired), gives the following summary in volume 1, page 87, of The Encyclopedia Of Religion And Ethics:—‘Rama, the prince of Ayodhya or Oudh, was banished by the king (Daaharath) his father for fourteen years, and came and lived in a forest near the sources of the Godavari, accompanied by his wife Sita and his younger brother Lakshman. During the absence of the two brothers from their cottage, Sita was taken away by Ravana, King of Ceylon. After long search Rama got news of Sita, and determined to cross over from India to Ceylon with a vast army of monkeys and bears to recover her. It was for this purpose that the causeway across the ocean (Adam’s Bridge, or Ramaselu, Rama’s Causeway) is said to have been constructed. Rama crossed over with his army, defeated and killed Ravana, recovered his wife, and returned to Oudh. The period of exile had expired: Rama’s father was dead; and Rama ascended the throne.’ Dr. Arthur Anthony Mac-donell, who was Boden Professor of Sanskrit in the University of Oxford, in the article Ramayana in volume 1 of The Encyclopaedia Of Religion. And Ethics, attempted an estimate of this great Sanskrit epic of ancient India, in which he distinguished two parts: ‘the first an ordinary narrative of human life without any admixture of mythological elements, beginning with the intrigues of a queen (Rama’s stepmother Kaikeyi) at the court of Ayodhya to ensure the succession of her son (Bharata) to the throne,. Had the poem ended with the return of Rama’s brother Bharata to Ayodhya after the death of their father, King Dasharath,’ it might have passed for an epic based on historical events. But the second part has many mythological, and possibly allegorical, elements.] J. F. E.

RAVANA

The King of Lanka (Ceylon). Mandodari the daughter of Mayasur [Mayasura] was his wife. He obtained various boons from Brahmadev [Brahmadeva] with his severe penance. He had imprisoned all the gods and made them his slaves. From Kuber the treasurer of the gods he had obtained the Pushpak Viman [pushpaka-vimana](aeroplane). Bibhishana was his brother, He had kidnapped Sita, Rama’s wife. So Rama besieged his city defeated and killed all the Rakshasas including Ravana and rescued Sita. Ravana had ten heads and was therefore called Dashamukha. He was a great devotee of Shiva, divided the Vedas in parts, and explained the syllables of the Vedas. He initiated the three methods of the study of the Vedas, viz. Krama, Ghana and Jata.

RAMBHA, URVASHI, TILOTTAMA

Heavenly damsels.

RUKMANGAD [RUKMANGADA]

A great devotee of Vishnu, and a strict observer of Ekadashi (the eleventh day of every fortnight).

RUKMINI

The daughter of King Bhishmak of Vidarbha and Krishna’s chief wife. It had at first been decided that she be given to Shishupal, but on account of her love for Krishna, she wrote him a secret letter asking him to take her away. So Krishna deceived everybody, defeated Rukmi and the other kings and carried her away. She had a son by name Pradyumna. When the Yadavas were all destroyed she burnt herself. Vide Appendix II pp. 426-428.

RUKMI

The son of Bhishmak of Vidarbha and the elder brother of Rukmini. He hated Krishna and wanted to marry Rukmini to Shishupal. A battle was fought between him and Krishna but he was defeated. Later Balarama, Krishna’s brother, killed him.

RENUKA

The mother of ParashuRam [Rama] (wielder of an axe) and wife of Jamadagni. Because on one occasion when she saw Chitraratha Gandharva sporting with his wives, her passions were roused, her son ParashuRam [Rama], at the desire of his father, killed her.

LAVA

The younger son of Rama and the younger brother of Kusha. (See under Kusha).

LAKSHMAN [LAKSHMANA]

The son of King Dasharath and his wife Sumitra. He loved Rama very much and accompanied him into his exile. He killed Indrajit, the son of Ravana.

LAKSHMANA

One of the eight favourite wives of Krishna.

LAKSHMI

The wife of Vishnu. The story goes that she was churned out of the ocean.

VARAHA (BOAR)

The third avatar of Vishnu. He came out of the nostrils of Brahmadev [Brahmadeva], killed the demon Hiranyaksha and saved the earth by holding it on his tusk.

VASHISHTHA

A great Brahman rishi (sage), the son of Mitravaruna. He had a wish-cow which Vishvamitra demanded but the cow was unwilling to go. When he used force, from her body she produced various kinds of soldiers and extirpated the army of Vishvamitra. So they became enemies. To gain such spiritual power as that of Vashishtha, Vishvamitra practised severe austerities. Because Vishvamitra was a Kshatriya, Vashishtha would not acknowledge him as a Brahman sage though everyone else did. Sc Vishvamitra killed his hundred sons. But when he really acquired that worth he was accepted by Vashishtha as a Brahman sage. Vide Appendix IIp. 431.

VAMAN [VAMAN] (DWARF)

The fifth avatar of Vishnu. In order to help Indra he sent Bali to the lower regions. (See under the word Bali)

VALMIKI

The well-known writer of the great epic Ramayana. While going to practise austerities he was abandoned by his parents in a forest. Kiratas (forest hunters) took him and brought him up as a robber. He became clever at archery and once when going to kill a sage he asked him to go and ask his wife and children if they would share his nefarious deeds. Being convinced that they would not, he repented and practised severe austerities by repeating the two letters in the word ‘Rama’ in the reverse order until he was enveloped by valmik (an ant-hill) and therefore he was called Valmiki. Once moved through pity he cursed a hunter who had killed a pair of kraunch birds. The curse was in the form of a couplet which came naturally from his lips. Brahmadev [Brahmadeva] asked him to compose the Ramayana. When Rama abandoned Sita in the forest he took care of her and when Kusha and Lava were born he educated them and sent them all to Rama.

VIDUR [VIDURA]

The son of a female slave of Ambika, the wife of Vichitravirya, the father of Dhritarashtra. He was begotten by Vyusa, the well-known writer of the Puranas. He was very righteous, unbiassed, of right judgment and wise. He advised Dhritarashtra not to hate the Pandavas, and to let them have their share in the kingdom, but his advice was disregarded. He put the Pandavas on their guard as they were about to be burnt in the lacquer house especially created for their destruction by their cousins the Kauravas. He had gone to perform pilgrimages when the battle took place between the two parties. After the battle he went to live in a forest and died there. Vide Appendix Up. 429.

VISHVAKARMA OR TVASHTA

The architect of the gods.

VISHVAMITRA

The son of King Gadhi of the lunar race. Although a born Kshatriya, by his severe austerities he became a Brahman rishi (sage). He had many sons including Yadnyavalkya. He hated Vashishtha. In order to interrupt him in his austerities Indra sent Menaka a heavenly damsel She accomplished her purpose and from her Shakuntaka was born to him. Because the gods refused to admit King Trishanku with his mortal body into heaven, Vishvamitra created a separate world for his (Trishanku’s) residence. (See under Vashishtha, p. 413 & Appendix Up. 431.)

VYASA

Son of Parashara from Satyavati born in her maidenhood. He made the divisions in the Vedas. He wrote the Mahabharata. From him were burn to Vichitravirya’s wives Dhritarashtra and Pandu, and Vidur from a slave of Ambika. He is also known as Dvaipayan [Dvaipayana], Krishna-dvaipayana, etc.

SHAKUNI

The son of King Subal of the country of Gandhar, the brother of Gandhari, the wife of Dhritarashtra, and Duryodhan’s maternal uncle. He induced Duryodhan [Duryodhana] to gamble with Dharma. He was an expert deceitful gambler. He was killed by Sahadev.

SHABARI

A female Bhil, and the maid of the sage of Matang who lived near the Pampa lake. She was a great devotee of Rama.

SHATRUGHNA

The son of King Dasharath of his second wife Sumitra. He killed Lavanasur. While Rama led the life of an exile he reigned in his name like Bharat. He founded the country of Shurasen and made Mathura its capital.

SHISHUPAL [SHISHUPALA]

The son of Damaghosha, and Vasudev’s sister’s son, and the king of the country of Chedi. Rukmini was his betrothed wife, but Krishna took her away and after that he became Krishna’s enemy. At the royal sacrifice of the Pandavas, Krishna was given the first honour, therefore he (Shishupala) insulted Krishna, and the latter killed him.

SHUKA

Son of Vyasa. He was a born philosopher and a celibate till death. Rambha. a heavenly damsel was frustrated in her attempt to seduce him. Vyasa taught him the Bhagvata, and he read it to King Parikshiti.

SHUKRA

The son of the Rishi (Sage) Bhrigu and Puloma. He was the preceptor of the Daityas (demons). His daughter was Devayani born from his wife Jayanti,the daughter of Indra.

SANAK [SANAKA]

One of the first will-born sons of Brahmadev. Sanatkumara, Sanatsujat, and Sanandana were his brothers. All of them were expert in the knowledge of the Supreme Spirit.

SAHADEV [SAHADEVA]

The fifth and last of the Pandavas, Madri’s son was very beautiful. Was very skilful in sword-fight, and was a great astrologer. In his retirement he was in charge of the cattle of King Virat.

SAHASRARJUN [SAHASRARJUNA]

The son of Kritavirya of the Yadu line, and therefore was called Kartavirya. He had a thousand arms. He had obtained them as a boon of the god Dattatreya. His capital was Mahishmati. He took away the wish-cow of the father of ParashuRam [Rama] who therefore killed him. He ruled justly.

SANJAYA

The son of a charioteer by name of Gavalgana [Gavalagana]. He was the charioteer and adviser of King Dhritarashtra. Through t he favour of Vyas [Vyasa] he was able to understand all that happened in the war just from where he sat, and he explained the same to King Dhritarashtra.

SATYAVATI

The daughter of Uparichara born from a fisherwoman. She was also known as Matsyagandha, Yojangandha, and Gandhavati. Before she was married, Vyasa was born to her from the Rishi ( Sage) Parashar. Afterwards she was married to King Shantanu, and had from him two sons, Chitrangad [Chitrangada] and Vichitravirya.

SATYABHAMA

One of the eight chief wives of Krishna, the daughter of Satrajit. After the death of Krishna she burnt herself on his funeral pyre. Vide Appendix II p.

SATYAVAN [SATYAVANA]

The son of Dyumatsen of the country of Shalva; He was also known as Chitrashva. He was the husband of Savitri, the daughter of King Ashvapati and through her power he became long-lived although destined to die early.

SATRAJIT [SATRAJITA]

The eldest grandson of King Anamitra of the Satvat race of the Yadu family line. He gave his daughter Satyabhama to Krishna. He was killed by Shatadhanva.

SAVITRI

Daughter of King Ashvapati of the Madra country. Wife of Satyavan and famous as a dutiful wife. Born as the fruit of eighteen years’ worship of the goddess of the same name. Savitri was a child of wondrous beauty and lustre and hence no prince dared to wed her but at last after wandering in various countries at her father’s suggestion she herself chose Satyavan in marriage. Though Narad the Rishi told her that Satyavan would be short-lived, she nevertheless remained loyal to her choice. After her marriage she rendered the highest service to her mother-in-law, father-in-law and husband. Going into the forest with her husband on the appointed day of his death, she followed Yama (the god of death) as he was taking her husband away, saying ‘Wherever the husband goes, there goes the wife also.’ She followed singing the praises of Yama, and finally obtained the threefold boon, viz., that her blind father-in-law should receive sight, that to her father and herself should be granted a hundred sons, and that her husband should return to her.

SANDIPANI

The son of a sage by name of Kashya. He lived in Avanti, the modern Ujjain. Krishna and Balaram [Balarama] learned from him all sciences and arts including the knowledge of the Supreme Spirit. Kuchail (or Sudama) was also studying there. As an honorarium to their guru, Balaram [Balarama] and Krishna brought back to life the dead sons of their guru, and then went to their home.

SITA

The heroine of the Ramayana and the adopted daughter of Siradhvaja Janaka who found her while ploughing the ground. The breaking of the Shiva-bow was the condition to be fulfilled by the man who should become the husband of Sita. Rama broke it, and Sita became his wife and was a model of a faithful wife. She followed him in his exile. While Rama was away, Ravana kidnapped her and tried hard to induce her to yield to his sensual wishes but she did not. After her rescue from Ravana, Rama would not admit her to his house, so she threw herself into the fire and came out of the test safe and sound. After the accession of Rama on the throne she was great with child, but Rama abandoned her on account of the calumnious language which a washerman used in connection with her, and she took refuge with the Rishi (Sage) Valmiki in the forest. There Kusha and Lava were born to her. Valmiki taught them the Ramayana and everything that was fit to be learnt by Kshatriya children. He sent all the three to Rama, and convinced him of Sita’s purity, but she instantly disappeared in the earth. (See under the name Rama for other details.)

SUDAMA

A poverty-stricken Brahman, Krishna’s school-fellow. Persuaded by his wife he went to Krishna with a handful of parched rice. Krishna was pleased on seeing him and raised him to a great and a glorious life.

SUMITRA

The daugter of Shur, king of Magadha. The second wife of King Dasharath, and the mother of Lakshman and Shatrughna.

HAYAGRIVA

A demon who tried to carry away the Vedas from Brahmadev. But Vishnu took the Matsya (fish) avatar and killed him. This avatar is also known as Hayagriva, hence an epithet of Vishnu.

HARISHCHANDRA

A king of the Ikshvaku family line, and the eldest son of King Trishanku. Vashishtha praised him in the court of Indra, and therefore Vishvamitra tried various means to test his goodness, but he bravely endured every test.... One of the most memorable incidents of the entire narrative about Harishchandra describes the moment when his Dom master commanded him to slay his wife Taramati, and her last prayer was: ‘In every birth let there be a king like Harishchandra, a son like Rohitha, a guru (preceptor) like Vashishtha, and a beggar like Vishvamitra.’ (Abbreviated from the Abhinava Bhaktavijaya account, pp. 675-674.)

[This ancient king ‘is said to have lived in the Treta Yuga or Silver Age. Many legends are recorded concerning him.... He is best known for his piety and his suffering. He was a sort of Indian Job, who passed through inconceivable and undeserved woe, and had to sell even his wife [Taramati] and child [Rohith] In order to pay the dues of the rapacious saint Vishvamitra. He finally sank to be the servant of a Dom, his duties being to collect the clothes that covered the corpses at the Benares place of cremation, and to deliver them to his master. At the climax of his sufferings in this degrading occupation, he had to steal the clothes from the corpse of his own son, which was brought thither for cremation by his mother, Harishchandra’s long-parted wife. The parents resolved to end their sorrows by dying on the son’s funeral pyre. The gods then intervened. His Dom master, who was really the god Dharma, or Virtue, taking human form on purpose to test Harishchandra’s sense of duty, expressed himself satisfied. Harishchandra and his wife were translated to heaven, and his son was resuscitated and restored to his kingdom, where he reigned in his father’s stead. The whole story is told with much pathos in the seventh and following chapters of the Markandeya Purana. The story also occurs in the Padma Purana, and is a favourite subject of modern vernacular literature. The Harishchandis are nearly all of very low caste, mostly Dorns. They claim to practise the tenets handed down to them from Harishchandra’s Dom master; who was taught piety by his servant in the intervals of his employment. They worship Vishnu as the Creator of the universe; and if they have any other definite doctrines, they are those of the Bhakti Marga.’[3]]—J. F. E.

HIRANYAKASHIPU

The father of Pralhad, a great devotee of Vishnu. He pleased Brahmadev [Brahmadeva] and got from Him the boon that he would not suffer death at the hands of a man or a beast at night or in daytime or on earth or in water. So Vishnu took the form of Nrisinha, half man, half beast, and killed him in the evening, a time between day and night, and under the door, that is, neither in the house nor outside.

HIRANYAKSHA

The younger brother of Hiranyakashipu. Vishnu became Varaha (a boar) and killed him.

Other India history Concepts:

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Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Notes on Pauranic names in the Bhaktavijaya’. Further sources in the context of India history might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Gautama, Garuda, Rama, Kalindi, Kunti, Nandi, Sita, Vidura, Vyasa, Draupadi, Bali, Bhishma, Krishna, Shakuni, Ahalya, Arjuna, Kaikeyi, Kaushalya, Menaka, Parvati, Ravana, Rukmi, Rukmini, Satyavan, Urvashi, Valmiki, Vamana, Lakshmi, Ekalavya, Hiranyakashipu, Lakshmana, Vishvamitra, Savitri, Satyabhama, Maruti, Bhagavad-gita, Bharat, Sacrificial fire, Wondrous beauty, Royal family, Great devotee, Great warrior, Faithful wife, Axe, Krishna avatar, Virata Kingdom, KUSHA AND LAVA, Female dancer, Military general.

Concepts being referred in other categories, contexts and sources.

Dharmaraja, Bhima, Jambavati, Kala, Kamsa, Nakula, Sanjaya, Dhritarashtra, Satyavati, Varaha, Vishvakarma, Abhimanyu, Anasuya, Indrajit, Jamadagni, Jatayu, Karna, Kumbhakarna, Rambha, Renuka, Shatrughna, Sumitra, Yashoda, Daruka, Damayanti, Hiranyaksha, Lava, Matsya, Shuka, Uddhava, Ugrasena, Ganika, Pulastya, Hayagriva, Putana, Durva, Jaimini, Gajendra, Kubja, Mitravinda, Vasishtha, Savitra, Sudama, Ramachandra, Satrajit, Vaman, Kansa, Divine missile, Soul-knowledge, Mortal realm, Deccan, Duty of a king, Family guru, Brahma Creator, MADHU AND KAITABHA, Royal sacrifice.