Ayaḥśiras (Ayahsiras) or Ayaḥśirā (Ayashsira)  is one of the Asura(s) born of the womb of Danu, daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha), and sired by the Prime Father Kaśyapa (Kasyapa). In the age of the Pāṇḍava(s) (Pandava) and Kaurava(s), one king of the Kekaya kingdom was born as a partial incarnation of him. In the Upaparva called […]

Ayaḥśiras (Ayaḥśirā) is an Asura warrior, a follower of the Demon-king, Vali.

Ayajña (Ayajna) is one of the names of Śiva-Mahādeva (Siva-Mahadeva). According to the narrative drawn from Mahākāvya and Purāṇa(s), there was a time when Śiva was not entitled to receive the share of Yajña(s). Afterwards, since the destruction of Dakṣayajña (Dakshayajna; the legendary sacrifice performed by Daksha, which Siva destroyed), it became customary to offer […]

Ayama is one of the names of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu) as described in Viṣṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasranamastotra; Hymn of Thousand Names of God Vishnu).

Thirty days and night or two fortnights make a month. Six months make an Ayana.  Ayana is of two kinds — Dakṣināyana (Daksinayana; the southward journey) and Uttarāyana (Uttarayana; the northward journey). Uttarāyana is the daytime for gods, and Dakṣināyana is their night. So, one whole year makes a full day for the gods.

Āyāpya (Ayapya)was one of the ṛṣivaṁśas(rishivamsa; hereditary of disciple-wise line of sages) belonging to Maharṣi (Maharshi, Great Sage) Aṇgirā (Angira). Through a genealogical or disciple-wise line from Aṇgirā, these sages were also known as Āṇgirasa (Angirasa). Āyāpya was one of the thirty three sages who were mantradraṣṭā (mantradrashta, seer of holy hymns) in the vaṁśa […]

In Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), Ayāsya (Ayasya) has been mentioned as Ayasya. Ayāsya was one of the sons born of the womb of Pathyā (Pathya), and sired by Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Aṅgirā (Angira). In Purāṇa (Purana; Mythological Scripture), his name has been mentioned as one of the mantradraṣṭā (seer of holy hymns) sages of Veda. He […]

Āyatāyana(Ayatayana) is one of the ṛṣivaṁśa (rishivamsa; genealogical or disciple-wise line of sages) belonging to the gotra (clan) of Maharṣi (Maharshi, Great Sage) Viśvāmitra (Viswamitra). Through the hereditary or disciple-wise line from Viśvāmitra, they are also known as Kauśika (Kaushika).

Brother of King Yatāti (Yayati), son of Nahuṣa(Nahusha).

Ayati is a brother of king Yayāti (Yayati) belonging to Candravaṁśa (Chandravamsa; the Lunar dynasty), and the son of King Nahuṣa (Nahusha).  

According to Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana), Dhātā or Dhātri  (Dhata or Dhatri) and Vidhātā or Vidhātri (Vidhata or Vidhatri)– two sons were born of the womb of Khyāti(Khyati), sired by Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage)Bhṛgu (Bhrigu). Dhātā and Vidhātā got married to Āyati (Ayati) and Niyati, daughters of Meru. Āyati gave birth to a son named Mṛkaṇḍa (Mrikanda) […]

One of the six sons of King Nahuṣa (Nahusha). Yati , Yayāti (Yayati), Saṁyāti(Samyati), Āyati(Ayati), Viyati and Kṛti (Kriti)– these are the six sons of Nahuṣa. In Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), Āyāti is named instead of Āyati, and in Viṣṇupurāṇa (Vishnupurana), the name is mentioned as ‘Ayāti’.

Ayavāha or Āyavāha (Ayavaha) is the name of a locality, or the community or race living in this locality. The name is mentioned along with the communities called Vāravāsya (Varavasya) and Cakra (Chakra).

See Ayovāhu (Ayovahu).

The birthplace of the famous Rāmacandra (Ramacandra), also the place of his many deeds, and the land of Ādikavi (Adikavi) Vālmīki’s conception. In Rāmāyaṇa (Ramayana), Kośala (Kosala) is described as a rich land, situated on the southern bank of Sarayū (Sarayu). The capital of this Kośala was Ayodhyā (Ayodhya). Rāmacandra (Ramachandra) ruled Ayodhyā. Manu, lord of […]

Ayogasiddhi is a Śaivatīrtha (Saivatirtha; a site of pilgrimage sacred to God Siva), located in Vārāṇasī (Varanasi), is known as a holy site and it yields all the fruits of siddhi (spiritual achievements) — ayogasiddhināmānaṃ sarvasiddhi-pradāyakam.

In Anuśāsanaparva (Anusasanaparva) of Mahābhārata, in course of describing the varṇasaṁkara (varnasamkara; hybrid castes),  children born of a Vaiśya (Vaisya) woman, sired by a Śūdra (Sudra)-man are referred to as Āyogava (Ayogava). By profession they are carpenters, capable of earning by their own labour. Brāhmaṇas do not accept offerings from them. śūdrāyogavaścāpi vaiśyāṁ grāmyadharmiṇaḥ brāhmaṇairapratigrāhyastakṣā […]

Ayomukhī (Ayomukhi) was a rākṣasī ( rakshasi; a female monster). She looked ugly and ferocious. When, in search of Sītā (Sita), Rāma(Rama) and Lakṣmaṇa (Lakshmana) were crossing Krauñcāraṇya (Kraucharanya; a portion of the forest called Krauncha)and about to enter the hermitage of Sage Mataṅga (Matanga), they met this she-monster in front of a deep cave. […]

Ayomukhī (Ayomukhi) was the wife of Vighna, son of Kali.

While slaying Andhakāsura (Andhakasura), Mahādeva (Mahadeva) created innumerable Mātṛkā (Matrika; an order of female deities) out of his own body. Ayomukhī (Ayomukhi) was one of those Mātṛkā.

Ayonisaṅgama (Ayonisangama) is a sacred nadī-tīrtha(nadi-tirtha; river-pilgrimage), where the Pāṇḍava(s) (Pandava) took a bath. Having a bath in this site, one gets salvation. It is located on the bank of river Narmadā (Narmada). It is advised that having a bath in this site, without having conjugal relationship with women, one should go to Pāṇḍaveśvara (Pandaveswara). […]

Ayovāhu (Ayovahu) was one of the hundred sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra(Dhritarashtra). During the war of Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra), on the day of the slaying of Ghaṭotkaca (Ghatotkacha), ten Kaurava brothers including Ayovāhu attacked Bhīma (Bhima). The son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who was present in the battlefield, is called Ayobhuja instead of Ayovāhu. They seem to be the same […]

One of the Aṣṭottara Sahasranāma (Astottara Sahasranama; Thousand and eight Names) of God Śiva (Siva). Nīlakaṇṭha (Nilakantha), the commentator, argues that the meaning of Āyu(Ayu)  is ‘Āyurjīvanakālaḥ’ (Ayurjivanakala; the period of lifetime). Again, the term Āyu is also connotative of life or life-force. God is manifested as both Prāṇa (life-force) and Jīvanakāla (Life-period) because He […]

Āyu (Ayu) is the king of the Bheka race. His daughter Suśobhanā (Susobhana) was married to King Parīkṣhit (Parikshit)of the Ikṣvāku clan. Suśobhanā deceived and seduced several other kings before Parīkṣhit. Learning of this ill nature of his own daughter, Āyu offered his daughter to Parīkṣhit , and cursed that Suśobhanā’s sons will be harmful […]

According to Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana), Prāṇa(Prana) was one of Aṣṭavasu (Astavasu; Eight Vasus). Āyu was the son of Prāṇa and Ūrjasvatī (Urjaswati).

In the genealogical line of Yadu, Puruhotra is the son of Anu. Āyu (Ayu) is the son of this Puruhotra and the father of Sātvata (Satwata).

Āyu(Ayu) is one the sons born of the womb of Bhadrā (Bhadra), sired by Srī Kṛṣṇa(Sri Krishna).

A ṛṣi(rishi, sage) who stays in the chariot of Surya (the Sun-god).

In Vāyupurāṇa(Vayupurana) it is said that Āyu(Ayu) is one of the sons born of the womb of Surūpā (Surupa) , sired by sage Aṇgirā (Angira). Surūpā was the daughter of Sage Mārīci (Marichi).

A mantradraṣtā (mantradrasta; seer of mantra) ṛṣi (seer-sage). Āyu(Ayu) was one of the seer-sages belonging to the Caraka branch of Kṛṣṇa-Yajurveda (Krishna-Yajurveda).  

One kind of  Agni(fire). The dictionary meaning of Āyu (Ayu) is ‘life-force’. The Agni that abides in the body of living animals as a life-force, is referred to as ‘Āyu-Agni’ (Ayu-Agni) In Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) it is said that Āyu-Agni is the son of Śuci-Agni (Suchi-Agni) and father of Mahimān (Mahiman). According to Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), Āyu-Agni […]

Āyu is one of the sons born of Urvaśī , sired by Purūravā. In Brahmaṇḍapurāṇa, Vāyupurāṇa, Viṣṇupurāṇa and Bhāgavatapurāṇa it is said that Āyu is the eldest of the six sons of Urvaśī and Purūravā. However, Matsyapurāṇa says that Āyu is the eldest of the eight sons of Urvaśī and Purūravā. In Vāyupurāṇa and Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa […]

One of the Aṣṭottara Sahasranāma (Astottara Sahasranama; Thousand and Eight Names) of God Śiva. The dictionary-meaning of ‘Āyudha’ is ‘weapon’. One who holds weapons is called Āyudhī (Ayudhi). To clarify the meaning of Āyudhī (Ayudhi), Nīlakaṇṭha (Nilakantha), the commentator, has said — “āyudhaṁ svasyādhāraṇaṁ śūlaṁ tadvān śūlītyartha.” In several Purāṇas (Scriptures), Mahādeva’s ten-armed manifestation is […]

Medhātithi (Medhatithi) divided Śākadvīpa (Sakadwipa) into seven varṣas (varsha; a vast plot of land). In every varṣa, there is a mahānadī (mahanadi, great river). The great river Āyurdā flows across the varṣa called Monojava.

According to Brahmāṇdapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), Pārāvata (Paravata) is a gaṇa (gana, genus) of the gods in Svārociṣa (Swarochisha) Manvantara. Āyurdāna (Ayurdana) is a god belonging to this gaṇa.

God Viṣṇu (Vishnu), incarnated Himself as Dhanvantarī (Dhanvantari), and manifested the knowledge of Āyurveda (Ayurveda; the knowledge of life or longevity).

According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), Āyuṣmān (Ayushman) is the son of Prahlāda (Prahlada), the king of Daitya (a type of Demons). According to Viṣṇupurāṇa (Vishnupurana), Āyuṣmān(Ayshman) is the son of Saṁhlāda (Samhlada).

According to Brahmāṇdapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), Āyuṣmān (Ayushman) is one of the sons of King Uttanapāda (Uttanapada), born of the womb of Sunṛtā(Sunrita).

According to Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana), in the ninth manvantara in future, during the time of Dakṣasāvarṇi (Dakshasavarni) Manu, the father of Ṛṣabhadeva (Rishabhadeva) is Āyuṣmān (Ayushman). God Viṣṇu (Vishnu) is born as Ṛṣabhadeva (Rishabhadeva), of the womb of Amvudhāra (Amvudhara), sired by Āyuṣmān (Ayushman).

Āyuṣmatī (Ayushmati)is one of the sacred fourteen gaṇa of the Apsarās (Apsara; celestial courtesans). According to Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), this gaṇa is said to have emerged from Surya (the Sun).  

See Āyuṣmatī (Ayushmati).

According to Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana), Ayuta was the son of Rādhika (Radhika), in the genealogical line of Rājarṣi (Rajarshi; a king with the attributes of a seer) Jahnu.

Ayuta is one unit of counting numbers. Ten thousand makes an Ayuta.

Ayutanāyin(Ayutanayin) was a distant forefather of the Pāṇḍava (Pandava)and Kaurava(s). He was the son born of the womb of Suyajñā (Suyajna), daughter of Prasenajit, and sided by the king Mahābhauma (Mahabhauma) of Puruvaṃśa (Puruvamsa; the Puru dynasty). He performed ten thousand, or ayuta number of Puruṣamedha Yajña (Purushamedha Yajna), so his name was Ayutanāyī — […]

Ayutāyu (Ayutayu) is one of the sons born of the womb of Urvaśī (Urvasi), and sired by Pururavā (Pururava).

Ayutāyu (Ayutayu) is the son of king Sindhudvīpa (Sindhudwipa), belonging to Ikṣvākuvaṃśa (Ikshvakuvamsa; the Ikshvaku dynasty). In the Bengal recension of Viṣṇupurāṇa (Vishnupurana), he is referred to as Ayutāśva (Ayutaswa). He is the father of Rājarṣi (Rajarshi; a king with the attributes of a seer) Ṛtuparṇa (Rituparna).