I furnish the details of Lord Rama‘s’ Dynasty, Ancestors and Descendants.
Lord Rama’s Pattabhishekam.
Manu had many sons of whom 50 perished quarelling with one another. Ten sons survived, one of whom was Ikshvaku. The Brahma Purana (Chapters 7 and 8) provides details on Manu’s 10 sons and their descendents as follows [4]
- Ikshvaku
- Nriga
- Dhrishta – also called Rishta. He ruled over Dharstika. His son was first a Kshatriya and then became a Vaishya. Subsequently he became a Brahmin.
- Saryati – he had twins, Anarta and Sukanya. Anarta’s country was Anarta with Kushasthali as its capital. Anarta’s son was Raiva and grandson was Raivata. Raivata’s son was Kakudmin. Kakudmin returned after a few Yugas to Kushasthali and found it changed to Dvaravati, ruled by Yadavas. He gave his daughter Revati (aka Samudra) in marriage to Baladeva and retired to asceticm.
- Narishyanta – Narishyanta had a son named Yama and grandson named Dhandhara. Narishyanta’s sons were the Sakas.
- Pransu – Pramsu son was Prajapati.
- Nabhaga – had a son named Ambirasa who was first a Kshatriya and then became a Vaishya. Subsequently he became a Brahmin.
- Nideshta
- Karusha – his sons Karushas became Kshatriyas.
- Prishadhra – he hurt his teacher’s cow and hence was cursed to become a Shudra.
Manu also had a child named Ila (aka Sudyumna) who gave birth to Pururavas out of wedlock after intercourse with Budha, the son of Soma. Pururavas was the first king of Aila dynasty or the Somavamsha.
Rama was born in Ikshvaku’s line. The lineage from Ikshvaku to Rama is as follows:
- Ikshwaku - Manu’s successor was the founder of the Ikshvaku dynasty. Ikshwaku fathered 101 children of whom most illustrious were Vikukshi, Nimi and Danda. Ikshvaku’s 50 children were protector of northern countries while 48 were prince of southern countries. Nimi was ruler of Mithila region and started the kingdom of Janaka. After death of Ikshwaku, his son Sasada succeeded him. According to Jain sources, Ikshvaku was Rishab Deva.[5]
- Sasada – Named Vikuksi at birth, he was called Sasada after eating Hare-meat meant for a rite himself (Sasada means Hare-eater). Though abandoned by Ikshvaku, he became the successor due to Vasistha. Vikuksi had 500 sons who guarded northern regions led by Sakuni and 58 sons who guarded southern regions led by Visati. The Brahma Purana says Sasada’s son was Kakutstha and Kakutstha’s son was Anenas. However, the Vishnu Purana says Sasada’s son was Puranjaya (Paranjaya in Shrimad Bhagavatham) and Puranjaya’s son was Anenas. From Puranjaya / Kakutstha and Anenas the lineage is as follows:
- Puranjaya (Vishnu Purana and Shrimad Bhagavatham / Kakutstha (Brahma Purana)
- Anenas
- Prithu
- Viswagaswa, rendered Virasva and Vistarasva by Brahmapurana.
- Ardra
- Yuvanaswa
- Srasvata – He founded the city of Srasvati.
- Vrihadaswa (also spelled Brihad-Ashwa).
- Kuvalayswa – He defeated demon Asura Dhundu. His sons (21000 in number) perished except three – Dridhaswa, Chadraswa and Kapliswa. Haryyaswa, the eldest son of these three succeeded to the throne.
- Haryyaswa
- Nikumbha
- Sanhatswa – rendered Samhatasva in Brahma Purana. He had 2 sons, Akrasava and Krisasva, and a daughter Haimavati whose son was Prasenajit. The Brahma Purana proceeds with the genealogy tables from Prasenajit with the same names as in Vishnu Purana and Shrimad Bhagavatam below. However, since Prasenajit is the son of Haimavati in Brahma Purana, this would make the line to have descended from Haimavati (a female) as per Brahma Purana.
- Krisaswa – The Vishnu Purana and Shrimad Bhagavatam says Prasenajit was Krisasva’s son.
- Prasenajit married Gauri. As per Brahmapurana, he had 2 sons Yuvanaswa and Mandhatri. However, as per SB and Vishnu Purana, Mandhatri was Yuvanaswa’s son.
- Yuvanaswa (he was second Yuvanaswa)- According to Vishnu Puarana, Yuvanaswa had no children, so the sages, took pity on Yuvanaswa and instituted a Yagya to help him procure progeny. One night, Yuvanaswa feeling thirsty and not wanting to disturb anybody, went in search of water. In darkness, he accidentally drank the consecrated water. In the morning the sages found the vessel containing the consecrated water to be empty and pronounced that a mighty son will be born to the queen who has drunk this water. Then Yuvanaswa told the sages about he having drunk the water. Accordingly, Yuvanaswa conceived a child in his belly. Upon birth of a male child, he was worried as to who would nurse the child. Lord Indra appeared and said - Mam Dhyasti i.e. I would be his nurse, and hence the boy was named Mandhatri.
- Mandhatri – He married Chaitarathi / Bindumati, daughter of Sasabindu. He is supposed to be a mighty monarch who conquered seven continent and bought them under his dominion. A verse in Vishnu Purna is translated as “From the rising to the going down of the sun, all that is irradiated by his light, is the laand of Mandhatri* As per Brahmapurana he had 2 sons, Purukutsa and Mucukunda; and Trasdasya was the son of Purukutsa. From Purukuta the line follows in the same manner as SB and Vishnu Purana. However, SB and Vishnu Purana provide additional names between Mandhatri and Purukutsa as below:
- Ambrisha (son of Yuvanaswa)
- Yuvanaswa (third)
- Purukutsa and Harita
- Trasadasya (Son of Purukutsa and Narmada). According to Brahmapurana Narmada was Trasadasyu’s wife. One Kurusravana is described as the son of Trasadasyu in Rigveda 10.33 and hence Keith supposes that the Kurus existed in the Rg-Veda.[6] It remains a controversy as to whether Vedic literature knows of an enmity between the Kurus and the Pancalas, which we know of in the Mahabharata. Trasadasyu’s son was Sambuta.
- Sambhuta
- Anaranya – He was supposedly slain by Ravana.
- Prishadaswa
- Haryyaswa
- Sumanas
- Tridhanwan. In Brahmapurana, Tridhanwan is posited as the son of Sambuta, and the names in between Sambhuta and Tridhanwan as provided by SB and Vishnupurana are absent.
- Trayyaruna
- Satyavarta (also known as Trishanku). He was banished by his father Trayaruna and went to live with Svapakas. He killed Vasistha‘s cow. Brahmpurana says Vishwamitra made him ascend to heaven with his physical body.
- Harishchandra. Also called Traishankava as the son of Trisanku.
- Rohitaswa, also called Rohita.
- Harita (Second Harita)
- Chunchu, also spelled Chanchu, Cancu, Chamchu, Campa. Manusmrithi mentions Chenchu who have been explored for their links with the tribe Andhras [7]
- Vijaya
- Ruruka
- Vrika
- Bahu (also known as Bathuka) – His kingdom was overrun by neighbouring tribe of Haihayas and Talajangha. He was expelled to the jungle with his queens where Sage Aurva gave them shelter. As per Brahmapurana, Bahu was not very righteous. One of his queens, Yadavi, gave birth to Sagara together with poison (gara).
- Sagara – he had 6001 sons. Sagara recaptured his father’s kingdom and defeated the tribes of Haiheyas, Talajhanghas, Sakas, Pahlavas and Paradas. He shaved off the hair of Sakas halfway, that of Yavanas and Kambhojas totally, the Paradas had to wear their hair loose, and the Pahlavas had to wear moustaches. All of the following had to give up recitation; and were deprieved of their Kshatriya-hood and their dharma: Sakas, Kambhojas, Yavanas, Paradas, Konisarpas (Kalasarpas), Mahishakas, Cholas and Keralas. Sagara performed Ashvamedha and the horse disappeared near the coast of the South-eastern ocean. There they found Sage Kapila resting. According to the Vishnu Purana, Sagara’s sons killed Kapila. According to the Brahma Purana, Kapila is an avatara of Vishnu and burnt up Sagara’s sons and spared 4 of them—Barhiketu, Suketu, Dharmaratha, Panchananda. Then Kapila blessed Sagara, who went on to perform 100 Asvamedhas and begot 60,000 sons. One of the sons, named Panchajana entered the brilliance of Narayana and became King. His son Amsumat succeeded him.
- Ansumat – the grandson of Sagara and son of Asmanjas / Panchajana.
- Dilīpa.
- Bhagiratha - Bhagiratha bought the river Ganges to earth from Heaven.
- Sruta
- Nabhaga
- Ambarisha
- Sindhudwipa
- Ayutaswa
- Rituparna, a friend of Nala.
- Sarvakama
- Sudasa, supposedly a friend of Indra.
- Saudasa (also known as Mitrasaha, Kalmshapada and Kamlasapada Saudasa).
After Saudasa, the Brahmapurana gives the descent until Raghu as follows:
- Saudasa
- Sarvakarman
- Anaranya
- Nighna
- Anamitra and Raghu
- Dulidaha, the son of Anamitra
- Dilipa
- Raghu
After Saudasa, the Vishnupurana gives the descent until Raghu as follows:
- Saudasa
- Asmaka
- Mulaka - [8] (also derogatorily called Narikavacha (one who uses ladies for armour) since he was surrounded and concealed by women when his enemies came searching for him). [In present times Mulaka is (1) name of a jangam tribe in Andhra Pradesh that claims to be Kapus / Balijas; and (2) alternate name used by Mulakanadu Brahmins ]
- Dasratha (he was not the father of Rama)
- Viswasaha
- Khatwanga or Dileepa
- Dirghabahu
- Raghu
After Raghu, all the puranas give the descent as follows:
Valmiki Ramayana.
The Genealogy of Rama is provided in the Ayodhya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana as follows:[9]
- Brahma
- Marichi
- Kashyapa
- Vivasvan, the Sun-God, Surya
- Manu
- Ikshvaku
- Kukshi
- Vikukshi (Sasada)
- Bana
- Anaranya (Anenas)
- Prithu
- Trishanku
After Trishanku the Valmiki Ramayan continues with Yuvanasva as below:
- Yuvanasva
- Mandhata
- Susandhi. He had 2 sons Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit.
- Bharata, born to Dhruvasandhi
- Asita – Haihayas, Talajanghas and Shashibindavas became his enemies and drove him away. Asita became a Sage and took asylum in the Ashrama of Rishi Chyavana (a Bhrigu descendent). Asita’s wife Kalindi gave birth to Sagara together with the poison that she was given to destroy her foetus.
- Sagara – excavated the ocean
- Asamanja – banished by his father Sagara for wrongdoings. Asamanja’s son Amshuman succeeded him.
- Amshuman
- Dilipa
- Bhagiratha
- Kakutstha – his sons were called Kakutsthas. In the line of Kakutsthas was born a son called Raghu, from whence sprang the Raghavas.
- Raghu
- Pravriddha – he is also known as Purushadaka, Kalmashapada and Soudasa.
- Shankhana
- Sudarshana
- Agnivarna
- Shighraga
- Maru
- Prashushruva
- Ambarisha
- Nahusha
- Nabhaga – had 2 sons Aja and Suvrata.
- Dasartha, son of Aja.
- Rama
Descendants of Lord Rama.
The lineage of Rama starting from him is as under:
- Rama had two sons, Kusha and Lava
- Kusa. Kusha married a Naga princess and held sway over Dakshina Kosala that roughly corresponds to present day Chattisgarh.[10]
- Atithi
- Nishadha
- Nala
- Nabhas, also known as Nabha
- Pundarika
- Kshemadhanwan, also spelled Kshemadanvan
- Devanika
- Ahinagu or Ahinaga, which the Shrimad Bhagvatam renders as Ahina.[11] Alternate Pali sources mention that Ahinaga, the King of Ayodhya was one of the Naga Kings ruling with great power and majesty who was converted to Buddha‘s faith.[12] Ahinaga is also portrayed in Buddhist literature as an initial adversary of Buddha, and sometimes as Vritra or as a descendent of the Vedic Ahi-Vritra. However, this version does not coroborrate with the version given by Bhavishya Purana where Gautama Buddha is born in the line of Brihadbala as mentioned in the tables below. Bhandarkar mentions pre-Buddhist literature which tells that there were four families of the Ahi ( Naga ) kings around the regions of Kampilya, while making mention that in the Mahabharat, Bhishma and Krishna stayed with the Sarpa and Naga families for sometime.[13] Ahinaga’s son was Pariyatra.
The Brahma Purana gives the descent from Ahinaga to Vajranabha as follows:
- Ahinaga
- Sala
- Ukhya, also known as Uktha
- Vajranabha – had a son named Nala.
The Vishnu Purana gives the descent from Ahinaga to Vajranabha as follows:
- Ahinaga
- Paripatra, also rendered as Pariyatra.
- Dala
- Chhala, also rendered as Bala and Vacchala. The Shrimad-Bhagavatam calls him Balasthala [14]
- Uktha, also known as Ukhya
- Vajranabha. In The Shrimad-Bhagavatam Vajranabha is listed as the son of Balasthala.[15]
From Vajranabha to Brihadbala the genealogy given by the Vishnu Purana differs from the one given in the Shrimad-Bhagavatam.
Vishnu Purana provides the genealogy as follows:
- Vajranabha
- Sankhanabha
- Abhyutthitaswa
- Viswasaha
- Hiranyanabha – He was pupil of Sage Jaimini and is considered to be a Sage King. He communicated the knowledge of spiritual exercises to Yajnavalkya.
- Pushya, also known as Pushpa.
- Dhruvasandhi
- Maru
- Prasusruta
- Susandhi
- Amarsha
- Mahaswat
- Visrutavat
- Vrihadbala – Brihadbala was the last king in this dynasty. He was killed in battle by Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna.
- Sources.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genealogy_of_Rama#Ancestors_of_Rama
http://www.scribd.com/doc/9847300/Lord-Ramas-Ancestry-and-His-descendants
Related articles
- Rama Spoke Tamil In Ayodhya (ramanan50.wordpress.com)
- When Lord Rama Realized He Was ‘Brahman’ (ramanan50.wordpress.com)
