Itihāsa(Itihasa) is also one of the Aṣṭottarasahasranāma (Ashtottarasahasranama; Thousand and eight names) of Śiva (Siva). Itihāsa refers to the legends or tradition and events of the ancient times, which chronologically or through certain tracks of legacy, come down to us and become accessible to the future generations. God is the Ruler and Controller of Kāla […]

Oghavatī (Oghavati) is an ancient, sacred river of India. Oghavatī is one of the seven manifestations of Sarasvatī (Saraswati)– rājan saptasarasvatyo yābhirvyāptamidaṃ jagat āhūtā valavadbhirhi tatra tatra sarasvatī. suprabhā kāñcanākṣī ca viśālā ca manoramā sarasvatī coghavatī sureṇurvimalodā. People of both Ārya (Arya; Aryan)and Mleccha (Mleccha; foreigners) communities live on the water of Oghavatī. At the […]

Ojaḥ (Ojah) is one of the Sahasranāma (Sahasranama; thousand names) of God Viṣṇu(Vishnu).

One of the thousand names of Lord Viṣṇu (Vishnu) in the stotra or hymns describing Lord Viṣṇu’s (Vishnu). It was mentioned in the Anuśāsanaparva (Anusasanparva) in the Mahābhārata (The Mahabharata, the epic).

Puru was the son of Yayāti (Yayati). Raudrāśva(Raudrasva) was the third son of this Puru. Ten powerful sons were born of the womb of the Apsarā (Apsara; Celestial courtesan)Miśrakeśī (Misrakesi), and sired by Puru. Ṛceyu (Richeyu)was the eldest and the worthiest of these ten sons. Since Ṛceyu was so powerful , it was impossible to […]

Ten sons were born of the womb of Dyou, sired by Brahmā (Brahma). Ṛchīka (Richika) was one of them. In one sense, Brahmā is also called Vivasvān (Vivaswan). Nīlakaṇṭha (Nilakantha), the commentator has said that the sons of Dyou, as depicted in masculine gender, denotes Vivasvān Sūrya (Vivaswan Surya; the Sun-god), that is, they are […]

Bhumanyu, the adopted son of Bharata, king of Hastināpura (Hastinapura), fathered six sons who were born of the womb of his wife Puṣkariṇī (Pushkarini). The youngest of these sons was Ṛchīka (Richika).

Ṛcīka (Richika) was a sage who belonged to the clan of Maharṣi Bhṛgu (Maharshi Bhrigu). In the Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), in one instance it was said that Ṛcīka (Richika) was a son of Bhṛgu (Bhrigu). But according to some Purāṇas (Puranas), he was the son of Maharṣi Ūrva (Maharshi Urva) or Āpluvāna (Apluvana) who belonged to […]

Ṛddha(Riddha)  is one of the Sahasranāma(Sahasranama; Thousand names) of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu) . In Viṣṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasranamastotra; The Hymn of the Thousand names of God Vishnu), Viṣṇu is mentioned twice by this name.

Ṛddha (Riddha) is one of the thousand names of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu). In Viṣṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasranamastotra; The Hymn of Thousand Names of Vishnu), Viṣṇu is addressed twice as Ṛddha (Riddha)

Ṛddhi (Riddhi) is the wife of Dhanapati (Lord of wealth) Kuvera, son of Viśravā (Visrava). She gave birth to a son called Nalakūvara (Nalakuvara), sired by Kuvera. In fact, the term ‘Ṛddhi’ denotes riches or an abundance of wealth. It is possibly for this reason, that Ṛddhi is conceptualised as the wife of Kuvera, the […]

Ṛddhimān(Riddhiman) is a Nāga(Naga; Snake) slain by Garuḍa (Garuda).

Ṛksahasrāmitekṣaṇa (Riksaharamitekshana) is one of the Aṣṭottara Sahasranāma (Ashtottara Sahasranama; Thousand and Eight Names) of God Śiva (Siva). The term Īkṣaṇa(Ikshana) derives from the Sanskrit dhātu (dhatu; verb-root) Īkṣ (Iksh), which means ‘to see’ or ‘to behold’. In this sense, amitekṣaṇa (amita + īkṣaṇa) denotes innumerable visualising organs. The Thousands and hundreds of mantras (hymns) in Ṛgveda (Rigveda) are […]

In Rāmāyaṇa (Ramayana), Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) and Purāṇa (Purana; Mythological Scripture), we have the mention of the Ṛkṣa(Riksha) tribe, beside the other tribes such as the Vānara (Vanara). Sometimes the Ṛkṣa tribe is mentioned as identical with the Vānara tribe. In Purāṇa and Mahābhārata, it is said that Mṛgamandā (Mrigamanda), one of the daughters of Krodhā(Krodha) […]

Ṛkṣā (Riksha) is one of the wives of King Ajamīḍha (Ajamidha), belonging to Kuruvaṁśa (Kuruvamsa).

Ṛkṣa (Riksha) was one of the sons born of the womb of Dhūminī (Dhumini), wife of King Ajamīḍha (Ajamidha) belonging to Puruvaṁśa (Puruvamsa; the genealogical line of Puru). This son of Puru was probably the presverver of the main line of the kings of Puruvaṁśa. We get the name of Saṁvaraṇa (Samvarana), the son of […]

Ṛkṣā (Riksha) is a Mātṛkā (Matrika; a lesser female deity) who was present as an associate during the abhiṣeka(abhisheka; corronation) of Skanda-Kārtikeya (Kartikeya).

Ṛkṣa (Riksha) was the son sired by Ariha, and born of the womb of Sudevā (Sudeva), the princess of the kingdom of Aṇga (Anga). He married Jvālā (Jwala), the daughter of Takṣaka (Takshaka). Matināra (Matinara) was born of the womb of Jvālā, sired by Ṛkṣa. According to Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), Ṛkṣa’s father, Ariha was the son […]

The dictionary meaning of Ṛkṣa (Riksha) is ‘star’ or a constellation. In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), we have the term mentioned several times, in this sense. At one place in Anuśāsanaparva (Anusasanaparva), when Kṛṣṇa (Krishna)was about to go to Himālaya (Himalaya) for tapasyā (tapasya; ascetic practice), Jāmvavatī (Jamvavati), his wife,  prayed so that he might have a […]

Rikṣa (Riksha) was one of the mountains in ancient India. In the Mahābhārata Purāṇa (Mahabharata Purana), it was mentioned as one of the Kulaparvatas of Bhāratvarṣa (Bharatvarsha). Sometimes Rikṣa (Riksha) parvata or mountain was renamed as Rikṣvāna (Rikshavana) parvata. In the ancient books, the position of Rikṣa (Riksha) or Rikṣvāna (Rikshavana) parvata was very clearly […]

Ṛkṣadeva(Rikshadeva) is the son of Śikhaṇḍī (Sikhandi). Elsewhere he is also mentioned as Kṣatradeva. In Droṇaparva(Dronaparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata),  we find the description of the chariot and the horses of the son of Śikhaṇḍi. It is mentioned that the lotus-coloured horses from the land of Vāhlīka (Vahlika), carried his chariot.

A rākṣasa (rakshasa; a monster) who assumed the shape of a bull. Vṛhadratha (Vrihadratha), king of Magadha, killed this rākṣasa and made three large gongs with the skin and arteries of this rākṣasa, and placed them on Caityaka (Chaityaka) parvata (mountain).

Ṛṣabha is an ancient sage. In Rājadharmaparvādhyaya  (Rajadharmaparvadhyaya) included in Śāntiparva (Santiparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata) , Yudhiṣṭhira (Yudhishthira) asked Bhīṣma (Bhishma)– What is āśā (asa;hope) and what are its consequences?  In course of answering Yudhiṣṭhira,  Pitāmaha (Pitamaha; grandsire) Bhīṣma describes the discourse of Maharṣi Ṛṣabha and king Sumitra. Once hunting a deer, king Sumitra chased […]

Ṛṣabha was a ṛṣi (rishi; sage). We have the mention of Ṛṣabhakūṭa (Rishabhakuta) parvata (mountain)in the Tīrthayātrāparva (Tirthayatraparva)included in Vanaparva. This is also called Hemakūṭaparvata (Hemakutaparvata; the mountain called Hemakuta). Reaching there, the Pāṇḍava (Pandava) saw that the moment anybody talks here, innumerable clouds and pieces of stones come hurling towards the speaker; the sound of […]

Ṛṣabha (Rishabha) is a Brahmarṣi (Brahmarshi; a noble and resectable category of seer-sages, who possess the virtues of a Brahmana). It is known that he used to satay in the sabhā (sabha; court) of God Brahmā (Brahma).

Ṛṣabha (Rishabha) is a warrior who participated in the battle of Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra) on the side of the Kaurava. Along with other Kaurava warriors, he was also present at the centre of the Garuḍavyuha(Garudavyuha; a special kind of army-arrangement) created by Dronācārya (Dronacharya).

Ṛṣabha (Rishabha) is a sacred tīrtha (tirtha; site of pilgrimage) . It was located in Kośaladeśa (Kosaladesa; the land of Kosala). Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Pulastya adviced Bhīṣma (Bhishma) to visit this tīrtha.

Ṛṣabha (Rishabha) is an ancient rājarṣi (rajarshi; a king with the attributes of a seer-sage) of Bhāratavarṣa (Bharatavarsha; the ancient namefor India). There is no clear evidence as to whether he was identical with the rājarṣi Ṛṣabha, the father of Bharata, belonging to the vaṃśa (vamsa; genealogical line) of Priyavrata.

In the Vali-Vāsava (Vali-Vasava; Vasava is another name of god Indra) saṁvāda (samvada; discoure) belonging to Śāntiparva (Santiparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), in response to the humiliating behaviour of Indra, the proud king of gods,  Vali — king of the Asura, advised the former on the transience of kingdom, material wealth and possessions. In this context, […]

Ṛṣabha (Rishabha) is a mountain situated in the southern part of India, on the seashore. In Rāmāyaṇa (Ramayana), we have the mention of a hill area called Ṛṣabha (Rishabha). In search of Sītā (Sita), when Sugrīva (Sugriva) sent a team of Vānara(s) (Vanara) towards the south,  he asked them to cross Bhogavatī (Bhogavati) Purī (Puri; […]

Ṛṣabha (Rishabha) is a sacred tīrtha (tirtha; pilgrimage -site) located on the bank of the river Sarasvatī (Saraswati). The place is known as Ṛṣabhadvīpa (Rishabhadwipa; the island called Rishabha). It may be thought that this place, located very close to Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra), may be a river-island located  in the bosom of the the river Sarasvatī […]

Ṛṣabha (Rishabha) is a Nāga(Naga; the Snake race) belonging to Dhṛtarāṣtravaṁśa (Dhritarashtravamsa; the genealogical line of Dhritarashtra). It is known that he got killed in the sarpayajña (sarpayajna; a fire-sacrifice for killing snakes) of King Janamejaya.

Ṛṣabha (Rishabha) was one of the seven svara or sounds. The Ṛṣabha (Rishabha) dhvani or sound was similar to the sonorous Meghamandrasvara or the sound of the dark clouds. In the Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), the Ṛṣabha (Rishabha) dhvani or sound was mentioned many times. In the Droṇa (Drona) Parva, the sound of Pāñcajanya (Panchajanya), the conch […]

After the war of Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra) and the coronation of Yudhiṣṭhira (Yudhishthira), Kṛṣṇa (Krishna) and the Pāṇḍava (Pandava) went to visit Bhīṣma (Bhishma), lying on his śaraśayya (sarasayya; bed of arrroes). Throughout Śāntiparva (Santiparva) and Anuśāsanaparva (Anusasanaparva) of the Mahābhārata (Mahbharata), there is an elaborate description of the dying Bhīṣma’s (Bhishma’s) advises to the Pāṇḍava […]

Five mountains were situated around Magadha, the capital of Jarāsandha (Jarasandha). Ṛṣigiri (Rishigiri) is one of these five mountains. According to scholars, Ṛṣigiri was located near Ratnāgiri (Ratnagiri). (The Indian Encyclopaedia, p. 4434)

  Ṛṣika (Rishika) is a rājarṣi (rajarshi; king with the attributes of a seer-sage). In the previous kalpa he was a dānava (danava; demon) called Arka.

In Sabhāparva (Sabhaparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), another Ṛṣikulyā (Rishikulya)has been mentioned. However, it is not described as a single river; rather it is a combined flow of several minor rivers created by more than one ṛṣi (rishi; seer-sage). Arjuna found these rivers near Uttara  Mānasa (the northern part of the pilgrimage cite of the Manasa […]

Ṛṣikulyā (Rishikulya) is a sacred river issued out of Mahendraparvata. However, according to Viṣṇu Purāṇa (Vishnu Purana), it emerges from Śuktimān (Suktiman) parvata. Visting this tīrtha (tirtha, place of pilgrimage) yields the fruit of Upasad yajña (yajna). People of both Aryan and Mleccha (alien, non-Aryan) community drank the holy water of the river. It shows […]

In the Ṛgveda (Rigveda), Ṛiṣti (Rishti) was mentioned as the name of a sharp weapon- Vāśīmantaḥ ṛṣtimanto maṇīṣiṇaḥ. This concept becomes more clear in the line- He throws the lightening like Ṛiṣti (Rishti)- Ārukmairāyudhā nara ṛṣvā, ṛṣtīrasṛkṣata. In this mantra, Sāyanāchārya gives the meaning of the word Ṛiṣti (Rishti) as ‘āyudha’- ṛṣtīrāyudha (rishtirayudha) as an […]

Ṛṣyamūka (Rishyamuka) is a sacred parvata (mountain). It is located on the south bank of the Pampā (Pampa) lake. the hermitage of Maharṣi Matanga  was situated on the mountain Ṛṣyamūka (Rishyamuka). Pursued by Vālī (Vali), Sugrīva (Sugriva) along with his four followers, took shelter in a cave of this mountain. After killing the Asura Dundubhi, […]

Ṛṣyaśṛṅga (Rishyasringa) is a ṛṣi (rishi; sage) of great fame. The son of sage Vibhāṇḍaka (Vibhandaka), he was a forest-dwelling sage with great ascetic energy. With his father, he lived inside a dense forest without any other human company. He performed both kinds of Brahmacarya (Brahmacharya; Celibacy) — Mukhya (Primary) and Gauṇa (Gauna; Secondary). He […]

During the war of Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra), a Rākṣasa (Rakshasha; a monster) named Alamvuṣa (Alamvusha)fought on the side of Duryodhana. This Alamvuṣa is referred to as Ārṣaśṛṅgi (Arshasringi; that is, the son of Rishyasringa), more than once. It can be assumed that some Rākṣasa warrior called Ṛṣyaśṛṅga (Rishyasringa) was the father of Alamvuṣa.

Ṛta(Rita) is one of the eleven Rudra(s).

Ten Āṇgirasa(Angirasa) devatā(devata; god) were born of the womb of Surūpā (Surupa), daughter of Marīci (Marichi), and sired by Maharṣi (Maharshi) Aṇgirā (Angira). One of these Āṇgirasa gods was Ṛta (Rita).

In the very beginning of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), we hear the utterance of ‘Ṛta’ (Rita) from the lips of Ugraśravā (Ugrasrava) Sauti almost as a blessed utterance– Ṛtam ekākṣaraṁ Brahma vyāktāvyāktaṁ sanātanam. Here the term ṛta (rita) has been inseparably identified with the unspeakable Parabrahman, so it is also identified with the concept of Vyāktāvyakta Puruṣa […]

Ṛteyu (Riteyu) is a ṛṣi (rishi; sage). In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), it is said that Ṛteyu is one of the seven sages including Agastya and others, who reside in the South. These seven sages were the priests of Dharmarāja (Dharmaraja) or Yama.

In the beginning of Mahābhārata (Mahaharata), when Ugraśravā (Urrasrava) Sauti had been describing the Sarpasatra or Sarpayajña (Sarpayajna; a ritual fire- sacrifice involving the destruction of snakes) of Janamejaya, Śaunaka (Saunaka) asked him — who were the Ṛtvik (Ritwik) of this great and tragic yajña, and who were the sadasya (members) of it? Ugraśravā said, […]

Ṛtu (Ritu) is one of the names of God Viṣṇu (Vishnu), included in Viṣṇusahasranāmastotra (Vishnusahasranamastotra; Thousand Names of God Vishnu in the form of a hymn), as described in Anuśāsanaparva (Anusasanaparva) of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata).

Ṛtu (Ritu) is one of the names of God Śiva (Siva) as described in Śivasahasranāmastotra (Sivasahasranamastotra; The Hymn of Thousand Names of Siva). In this śloka (sloka; verse) of Śivasahasranamastotra, such  names of Śiva as Ṛtu(Ritu; Season), Saṁvatsara (Samvatsara; Year), Māsa(Masa; Month) Pakṣa(Paksha; Fortnight) — have been uttered all together. God Śiva is the manifestation of […]

Ṛtuparṇa (Rituparna)  was the king of Ayodhyā(Ayodhya). In Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), he was mentioned as the son of Bhaṅgāsura (Bhangasura) or ‘Bhāṅgāsuri (‘Bhangasuri)’. However, in the reading maintained by Haridas Siddhantabagish, Ṛtuparṇa (Rituparna) is called Bhāgasvari (Bhagasvari), that is, the son of Bhagasvara (Bhagasvara). From the reading of Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), it may be difficult to determine the […]