According to Viṣṇupurāṇa (Vishnupurana), pralaya (the great dissolve) is of three kinds. Ātyantikapralaya (Ātyantikapralaya) is one of them. When the Yogis no longer experience any kind of emotional upsurge like joy and sorrow; when all their feelings get dissolved in the great realisation of Paramātman (Paramatman; the Absolute Self) and they attain Brahmajñāna (Brahmajnana; the […]

In the beginning of creation, the fourteen swaradhwanis or vowel sounds were created from the mouth of the God of Creation, the four-faced Brahmā (Brahma). The fourteen Manvantarādhipati (Manvantaradhipati) Manu was born out of these fourteen swaradhwanis or vowel sounds. Au varṇa (varna or letter) is the last one of these fourteen swaradhwanis or vowel […]

Ten sons were born of the womb of Apsarā (Apsara; Celestial Courtesan) Dhṛtā (Dhrita), and sired by Bhadrāśva (Bhadraswa), in the genealogical line of Puru, the youngest son of Yayāti (Yayati). Auceyu was the eldest among these ten sons. King Auceyu married Jvalanā (Jwalana), daughter of Takṣaka (Takshaka) Nāga (Naga; Snake). Rajarṣi (Rajarshi; A king […]

Audaka carries a connotation of water-dwelling birds. Śuci was one of the daughters born of the womb of Tāmrā (Tamra), daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha), and sired by Kaśyapa (Kasyapa). This Śuci (Suchi)was the mother of water-dwelling birds, as mentioned in Purāṇa (Purana; Mythological Scripture).

Audakā (Audaka) was a name of a castle surrounded by water, situated at Prāgjyotiṣpura (Pragjyotishpura). It was ruled by Narakāsura (Narakasura). He had a palace within it. As the entire Audakā (Audaka) was surrounded by water, it was quite safe. For this very reason, Narakāsura (Narakasura) captured sixty thousand beautiful women and kept them in […]

Ten Soma-consuming gods were born of the womb of Surūpā (Surupa), and sired by Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage)Aṅgirā (Angira). Audārya (Audarya) was the eldest among these ten sons of Aṅgirā.

The first of the six varṣaparvata(s) (major mountain) of the Kuśa island. It was a playground of the gods, the Gandharvas (a kind of demi-gods) and the humans.

A hill beside the Kṛtamala river. It was known as Audbhida as the place consisted of various trees. Different types of animals like tiger, lion and deer were also visible in this hill.

Audumvara is an ancient community. The kṣatriya(kshatriya) members of this tribe came to Indraprastha, at the time of the Rājasūya yajña of Yudhiṣṭhira. They gifted many jewels to Yudhiṣṭhira. In Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa (Markandeyapurana), Audumvara is referred to as a tribe of the middle part of India. Scholars differ regarding the location of the tribe called Audumvara. As […]

Audumvara is one of the four types of ascetic sages who resort to vānaprastha (vanaprastha; the phase of dwelling in forest and performing penance), as mentioned in Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana). Sometimes, the reading is ‘Auḍumvara’ in stead of Audumvara. Śrīdhrasvāmī (Sridharaswami), the commentator, has described the characteristics of this order of ascetics –after waking up every morning, […]

Audumvarī (Audumvari) is a sacred site of pilgrimage. Agni is placed here, assuming the name of Ṛtudhāma (Ritudhama).

Audyānakatīrtha(Audyanakatirtha) is a sacred pilgrimage site, as mentioned in Padmapurāṇa (Padmapurana).

The name of Augaja is mentioned as one of the sages belonging to he genealogical or disciple-wise line of Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Aṅgirā (Angira). He was one of the mantadṛṣṭā (mantradrashta; seer of holy hymns) ṛṣi(s) (rishi) of Veda.

See Oghavatī (Oghavati).

See Ugrasenā (Ugrasena).

The vaṃśa (vamsa; lineage) of Maharṣi(Maharshi; Great Sage) Aukṣi (Aukshi) was one of the ṛṣivaṁśa(s) belonging to the gotra of Maharṣi Bhṛgu (Bhrigu). Maharṣi Aukṣi was related to Bhṛguvaṃśa through a genealogical or disciple-wise connection.  

Auṇḍra (Aundra) is a locality situated on Vindhyaparvata (the mountain Vindhya).

Auṅka(Aunka) was the son of Vala, in the genealogical line of Kuśa (Kusa), the eldest son of Rāmacandra (Ramachandra) of Ikṣvākuvaṁśa (Ikshvakuvamsa; the Ikshvaku dynasty). Auṅka had a son called Vajranābha (Vajranabha).

  See Upadānavī (Upadanavi).

Matsya Purāṇa talked about the family of Maharṣi Aupagava which was one of the sage families included in the larger clan of Maharṣi Vaśiṣtha. It seemed that the family of Maharṣi Aupagava was connected with that of Maharṣi Vaśiṣtha through the tradition of disciples or through the family lineage.

Matsya Purāṇa talked about the family of Maharṣi Aupaloma which was one of the sage families included in the larger clan of Maharṣi Vaśiṣtha It seemed that the family of Maharṣi Aupaloma was connected with that of Maharṣi Vaśiṣtha through the tradition of disciples or through the family lineage.

The sons or disciples of Sage Upamanyu are known as Aupamanyu, or Aupamanyava, in plural. In the Vedic age, they were basically known as an order well-versed in Vyākaraṇa (Vyakarana; Grammar). Yāṣka (Yaska), the author of Nirukta, has cited the opinion of these Aupamanyava in many places. In Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), it is said that , The […]

When Bhīṣma (Bhishma) gave advice to Yudhiṣthira (Yudhishthira) in the Mokṣadharmaparva (Mokshadharmaparva) included in the Śāntiparva (Santiparva) of the Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), he said that Aupaniṣada (Aupanishada) dharma was the dharma which should be performed in the Sannyāsa Āśrama (Sannyasa Asrama) which was the last Āśrama (Asrama) or stage of the Caturāśrama (Chaturasrama) or four stages […]

Matsya Purāṇa talked about the family of Maharṣi Aupasthala which was one of the sage families included in the larger clan of Maharṣi Vaśiṣtha It seemed that the family of Maharṣi Aupasthala was connected with that of Maharṣi Vaśiṣtha through the tradition of disciples or through the family lineage.

A province near Gāndhāra. It was enriched by the water of the river Sindhu. The present location of this province still remains unknown.

Aurva is a sage, belonging to the order of Bhṛgu(Bhrigu). In Rāmāyaṇa (Ramayana), Mahābhārata (Mahabharata)and Purāṇa(s) (Purana),there are many legends related to the birth and life of Aurva. However, the earliest mention of sage Aurva can be found in Ṛgveda (Rigveda) and the ancient Brāhmaṇa (Brahmana) texts. In a sūkta of the eighth cycle of […]

It was mentioned in the Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana) that Devī Bhagavatī (Devi Bhagavati; Goddess Bhagavati) was incarnated as Ausadhī (Aushadhi) in the North Kuru provinces.

Auṣajiti (Aushajiti) is a sage. The vaṃśa (vamsa; genealogical or disciple-wise order) of sage Auṣajiti is one of those ṛṣivaṁśa(ṣ), belonging to the pravara of Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Aṅgirā (Angira), as mentioned in Purāṇa (Purana; Mythological Scripture).

Auṣnīka (Aushnika) is a mendicant tribe that paid allegiance Yudhiṣṭhira (Yudhishthira) and came to participate in his Rājasūya Yajña (Rajasuya Yajna), with many gifts. However, nothing yet is known about the origin or habitation of this tribe.

A group of nomads who accepted the authority of Judhiṣthira and participated in his Rājsuya yajna with gifts. But neither the living place nor the source of this nomad clan was known until now.

Auṣṭrakarṇa (Aushtrakarna) is a locality situated on the bank of the river Hlādinī (Hladini). The branch of Lohitya or Brahmaputra, flowing eastward is known as Hlādinī. Scholars think that the high flow of modern Brahmaputra is that very branch, and the site called Auṣṭrakarṇa was located by the river Brahmaputra in Eastern Himālaya (Himalaya). [See […]

See Utkaca(Utkacha).

See Utkṛṣṭa (Utkrishta).

Uttama Manu, ruler of the third Manvantara, is also mentioned as Auttama in some places. [See Uttama – 1]

Avabhṛtā (Avabhrita) is a city belonging to the Ābhīra (Abhira)kings. Seven kings belonging to Abhīravaṁśa (Abhiravamsa; the Abhira dynasty), residing in this city will rule the world in Kaliyuga, as described in Purāṇa (Purana; Mythological Scripture).

A sage of a high level, – one who does not abide by the rules of varṇāśrama (varnasrama, the system of four varnas), who has not attachment to saṃsāra (samsara;the material world), who has a certain ‘what you will’ kind of orientation even towards the nature of vairāgya (vairagya; non attachment or reclusive renunciation), but […]

Avadhūta (Avadhuta) is a site of pilgrimage located in Vārāṇasī (Varanasi). The Paśupatīśvara (Pasupatiswara; one name of God Siva) liṅga (linga) is situated towards the west of this site.

In the legend of king Puranjaya in Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana), the term Avadhūta(Avadhuta) has been chiefly used as a metaphor for olfactory sense.

Avadhūta (Avadhuta) is a sage. Yadu, the eldest son of Yayāti (Yayati), received from him valuable advices on spiritual matters.

In Uttama Manvantara, gods were divided in several gaṇa(s) (gana; genus). Pratardana is one of these gaṇa. Avadhya was one of the gods belonging to this gaṇa.

See Agāvaha (Agavaha).

In Śāntiparva (Santiparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), it is said that the airy sphere above the ground-level, where moisture from water is created by the help of sun-rays, is called ‘Pravaha’. The next sphere, whereto the clouds filled with moisture are transported from ‘Pravaha’, is called Āvaha (Avaha). Its modern name is Troposphere. In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), […]

In Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) it is said that Āvaha (Avaha) is one of the sons born of the womb of Gāndinī (Gandini), sired by Śvaphalka (Swaphalka).

While slaying Andhakāsura (Andhakasura), Mahādeva (Mahadeva)created a number of Mātṛkā (Matrika; an order of lesser female deities) from his own body. Avālā (Avala) was one of those Mātṛkā.

Avandhya was on of the sons born of the womb of Svarāṭ (Swarat), daughter of Kardama Prajāpati (Prajapati; Ruler of the People) and sired by Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Aṅgirā (Angira).

A place located in Aparānta (Aparanta; the other end) or the land of Pāścātya(Paschatya; the Western part of the country). [See Avantī (Avanti)]

Avantī was the capital of Indradyumna, king of Mālava (Malava). This is called the best city on earth. The sacred river Śiprā (Sipra) flows across the place. Śrī Hari (Sri Hari) resides here as Govindasvāmī (Govindaswami). In Purāṇa(Purana; Mythological Scriptures), we get a long description of Avantī (Avanti). The inhabitants of this beautiful, rich and […]

Avantikā (Avantika) is a sacred pitṛtīrtha (pitritirtha; a site of pilgrimage sacred to the forefathers’ spirit).

According to Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana), Sukarmā (Sukarma), disciple of Jaiminī (Jaimini), divided Sāmaveda(Samaveda) into several branches. Āvantya (Avantya) is one of those disciples who learned these branches of Sāmaveda from Sukarmā (Sukarma). This Āvantya had five hundred disciples, too.

Avaragātra  (Avaragatra) is a Vānara(Vanara) warrior.