Āhārya(Aharya) was one of the thirty-for great mantradraṣṭā (mantradrasta; seer of holy hymns) sages belonging to the vaṁśa (vamsa; genealogical or disciple-wise line of sages) of Aṇgirā (Angira). In Matsyapurāṇa(Matsyapurana) it is said that Āhārya is the father of Urukṣava(Urukshava).

Before starting to set up or build a house, there is a ritualistic custom of offering worship, with ghee, to thirty two deities residing in the Īśāna Koṇa (Isana Kona; the North-east corner). Ahimukhya is one of these thirty two deities.

Ahīnaka (Ahinaka) or Ahīnaga (Ahunagu) or Ahīnagu (Ahinagu), as found in different readings, was the son of Devānīka (Devanika), and father of Pāriyātra (Pariyatra) or Pāripātra (Paripatra) (or Ruru, according to another version) , in the genealogical line of Kuśa (Kusa), son of Rāmacandra(Ramachandra), belonging to Ikṣvākuvaṁśa (Ikshvakuvamsa; the genealogical line of king Ikshvaku).

According to several Purāṇas, Āhuka is the son of Punarvasu, belonging to the vaṁśa (genealogical line) of Yadu-Vṛṣṇi. However, in Harivaṁśapurāṇa it is said that Āhuka was the grandson of Punarvasu. Punarvasu’s son Abhijit was the father of Āhuka. King Āhuka was an eminent personality, with much wealth and power. In Vāyupurāṇa and Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa it […]

One of the branches of Yaduvaṁśa (Yaduvamsa; the genealogical line of Yadu) is Kukura. Punarvasu, belonging to this Kukuravaṁśa (Kukuravamsa), had a son and a daughter, namely, Āhuka(Ahuka) and Āhukī (Ahuki). Punarvasu probably passed away before the marriage of Āhukī. So it has been mentioned in the Purāṇas (Purana; Mythological Scriptures), that Ākuka got his […]

Aiḍīrava (Aidirava) is a sage. The order of Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Aiḍīrava is one of the order of sages belonging to the clan of Maharṣi Aṅgirā (Angira).

According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), Aikṣvāki (Aikshwaki) is the wife of Jantu, belonging to Jyāmogha (Jyamogha) dynasty. She gave birth to a son called Sātvata (Satwata), fathered by Jantu. In Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana) and Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), Aikṣvākī is the wife of Purudvaha belonging to Jyāmogha dynasty. Satva is the son of Purudvaha and Aikṣvākī. In Liṅgapurāṇa(Lingapurana) it […]

Ailika was one of the gotra (clan) mentioned in the Purāṇa. It was one of the sage families included in the Maharṣi Bhṛgu’s larger clan. Ailika was also known as Bhārgava following the tradition of Maharṣi Bhṛgu.

Aiḍaṇḍī (Airandi) was a pious place of pilgrimage on the bank of the river Narmadā (Narmada). This place was simultaneously a meeting-place of two rivers ands a place of pilgrimage- Aiḍaṇḍī- Narmodayośca saṅgamaṃ lokaviśrutaṃ. It seems that the scholars point Kolyad, the place situated at one mile distance from modern Baingani as the ancient meeting […]

The name of Airāvata (Airavata) have been mentioned several times in the epics and the Purāṇas (Puranas) as the king of elephants as well as the best elephant ever. In the Purāṇas (Puranas), the names of four divine elephants (in other opinion, eight divine elephants) are mentioned who surround the earth. Airāvata (Airavata) is a […]

Airāvata (Airavata) was a nāga (naga or a kind of serpent) who was born out of the womb of the womb of Kadrū (Kadru), the daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha). Kaśyapa (Kasyapa) was the father of him. In the Āstīka (Astika) parva of the Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), Airāvata (Airavata) was mentioned with the other sons of Kadrū […]

Airāvatī (Airavati), as mentioned in Purāṇa(s) (Purana; Mythological Scripture) is the river identical with Irāvatī (Iravati) or Rābhi (Rabhi), and it is also the same river that is called Hydraotes by Ariyan. Pururavā (Pururava), king of Madra, while going by the frontiers of his kingdom, found this river — airāvatīti vikhyātāṃ dadarśatimanoramām. On his way, […]

  According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyaputana), the wife of Jantu of the Jyamogha race was known as Aiṣvākī (Aiswhaki). She gave birth to Jantu’s son named Sātatva (Satatwa). According to  Brahmānḍa (Btahmanda) and Vayupurāṇa (Vayupurana), Aiṣvākī was the wife of Purudvaha of the Jyamogha race. Satva was the son of Purudvaha and Aiṣvākī. But according to the Lingapurāṇa […]

Aiṣākī (Aishaki) was a princess of the Iṣāku(Ishaku) clan who gave birth to a son named, Īrusha (Ieusha). In Padmapuraṇa (Padmapurana),  the name is mentioned as Mīrusha (Mirusha)  in place of ‘Īrusha’.

Aiṣvākī was the wife of Anādhṛisti (Anadhrishthi) of the Vṛisṇi (Vrishni) lineage. Aiṣvākī (Aishvaki) gave birth to the son of Anādhṛisti, named Śatrughṅa (Satrughna).  

In Rāmāyaṇa (Ramayana), according to ādikavi (adikavi; the first poet, i.e., Vālmīki; Valmiki), Aja is the son of Nābhāga (Nabhaga)— nābhāgasya vabhūvājaḥ. However, in most of the Pūraṇas (Purana), Aja is the son of Raghu of the Ikṣvāku (Ikshvaku) clan, and the father of Daśaratha (Dasharatha). According to Matsyapūraṇa (Matsyapurana), Aja or Ajaka is the […]

Aja is the name of one of the horses which pull the chariot of Candra (Chandra), the Moon-god.

Ajabhūḥ (Ajabhuh) was one of the nine sons of Ugrasena, the ruler of Mathurā (Mathura), belonging to the Yadu-Vṛṣṅi (Vrishni) clan.

Pināka (Pinaka), the bow of Śiva (Siva),  is also known as ‘Ājagava’ (Ajagava). This is called ‘Ajakava’, ‘Ajakāva'(Ajakava)  or ‘Ajagāva’. The way the word ‘Ajakava’ has been analysed in Śabdakalpadruma, seems to indicate that the ‘ka’ has been transformed into ‘ga’ through linuisic evolution. The Puraṅa-scholars  state that ‘aja’ refers to Viṣṇu (Visnu) who is […]

Dilīpa (Dilipa) was the son of Raghu, a king belonging to the Ikṣvāku (Ikshvaku) clan. Ajaka was the son of Dilīpa.

Ajana was one of the thirteen dānāva (danava; demons) who were born to Siṃhikā (Singhika), fathered by Vipracitti (Viprachitti). He was also the nephew of the demon king Hiraṇyakaśipu (Hiranyakashipu). 

Ajana was one of the thirteen demons born out of the womb of Siṃhika, sired by Vipracitti. He was the nephew of Hiraṇyakaśipu.

According to Matsyapuraṇa (Matsyapurana), Ajapāla (Ajapal) was the son of Aja  and the father of King Daśaratha (Dasharatha).

Ajāta (Ajaata) was one of the ten sons of Ṝidika (Hridik) of the  Yadu-Vṛṣṇi (Vrishni) clan. He sired three powerful sons — Sudaṃṣṭra (Sudangshtra), Sunābha (Sunava) and Kṛṣṇa (Krishna).

Ajeśa (Ajesha) is one of the eleven rudra (destructive forms of Śiva; Shiva).

In the Purāṅas (Purana), Ājihāyana(Ajihayana) is one of the ṛṣivaṁśas (rishi-vamsa; hereditary or guru-śiṣya-line of sages) belonging to the gotra  (clan) of Kaśyapa (Kasyapa). They were also known as Kāśyapa (Kasyapa), since their genealogical or disciplinary relation to Kaśyapa.

Ajitā (Ajita) is one of the deities loyal to the female goddess Bhavamālinī (Bhabamalini).

The pitṛloka (pitriloka; heavenly abode of the forefathers’ spirits) named after Kardama-prajāpati (Prajapati; father of the people) . The vaiśya(vaisya; merchants by occupation) decsendants of the sons of Pulaha conceptualised this pitṛloka.

A locality situated in the middle part of the country (ancient India). Elsewhere it has also been referred to as ‘Kaliṅga’ (Kalinga). [See Kaliṅga] 

Son of Tāmasa (Taamasa) Manu.

Akampana was one of the demons present in the court of Hiraṇyakaśipu (Hiranyakashipu).

Akapi is one of the seven sages existing at the time of the fourth epoch, known as Tāmasa manvantara (Tamasa manwantara). The name Akapi can be found only in Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana) and in connection with another sage named Kapi of the same sect. The names of the seven sages present during the Tāmasa manvantara recorded in […]

A mātṛkā (matrika; a lesser female deity), follower of Śuṣkarevatīdevī (Śuskarevatīdevi; a goddess). Mahādeva (Mahadeva) created some mātṛkā in order to slay Andhakāsura (Andhakasura); and they were about to consume the entire universe after killing the asura (a type of demon). Unable to control them, Mahādeva uttered a hymn in praise of Narasiṃhadeva (Narasimhadeva).  In […]

Tāmasa  ahaṃkāra ( tamasa ahamkara; the dark ego) gets distorted and transformed into śabdatanmātra (sabdatanmatra; the essence of sound).  The vacuous ākāśa(akasa; ether)  — the cause of śabda (sabda; sound) is created from the essential form of śabda. Ākaśa is one of Pañcamahābhūta (Panchamahabhuta; five great elements ). In the ‘Śukānupraśna’ (Sukanuprasna) adhyāya (adhyaya; chapter) of Mahābhārata […]

While discussing the situations in which a king may attack another king’s land,  Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana) says that when the king learns that  the enemy or pārṣnigrāha (parshnigraha; one who occupies the backside) has been attacked by a more powerful Ākranda (Akranda), he may proceed to fight — yadā manyeta nṛipatirākrandena valīyasā pārṣnigrāhabhibhuto’ristada yātrāṁ prayojayet. However, this […]

A boy who has not had his head shaven following the smārta (smarta) tradition is known as akṛtacūḍā (akritachura). Customs prescribe that the death of such a boy be followed by a night’s mourning. On the death of a boy who is a kṛtacūḍā (kritachura), or has had his head shaven, a three-night mourning must be […]

Akṛtāśva (Akritashwa) was the son of Saṃhatāśva (Sanhatashwa), a king under the lineage of King Bṛhadaśva (Brihadashva) of the Ikṣvāku (Ikshvaku) clan.

Son of Āyu (Aayu) (also known as Taritāyu) (Taritayu)—taritāyusto’bhavat.   akrodhanastvāyusutaḥ. Akrodhana is an ancestor of Pratīpa (Pratipa), Śāntanu (Shantanu) and other Kaurava kings. The narrator or the scribe of Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), have chronicled him to be Ayutāyu (Ayutayu) or Ayutāyudha’s (Ayutayudha’s) son. According to Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), Akrodhana was born of King Ayutanāyī (Ayutanayi) of […]

A game of dice. It involves gambling. Ṛtuparṇa (Rituparna) and Śakuni (Shakuni) were experts at this game. Ṛtuparṇa taught this game to King Nala. Playing akṣa (aksha) has been considered a wanton vice to be abandoned for kings.

A rosary or bracelet made of rudrākṣa (rudraksha) beads. Many gods like Brahmā (Brahma), Śiva (Shiva), Gaṇeśa (Ganesha), Sarasvatī (Saraswati), Pārvatī (Parvati), et al, can be seen holding or being adorned with akṣasūtra (akshasutra). The famous Citrasūtra (Chitrasutra) part of Viṣñudharmottarapurāṇa (Vishnudharmottarapurana), while explaining the significance of akṣasūtra carried by gods, has said that akṣasūtra is suggestive of […]

Akṣayāśva (Akshayashwa) was the son of King Saṃhatāśva (Samhatashwa) of the Ikṣvāku (Ikshvaku) dynasty. Even though Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana) and Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana) identify him as Akṛtāśva (Akritashwa), Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) has hailed him as Akṣayāśva.

Akṣayatṛitīyā (akshayatritiya) is the third day of the bright fortnight in the month of Vaiśākha (Vaishakha) of the Hindu calendar. It is said that on this day goddess Gaṅgā (Ganga) was born in a four-armed form in the abode of Himālaya (Himalaya; the river Ganga has her source in the Himalayas). According to Purāṇas (Puranas), this lunar […]

One of the daughters born to Rohiṇī (Rohini) and Kṛṣṇa’s father Ānakadundubhi (Anakadundubhi) or Vasudeva.

Ālamva is one of the ṛṣivaṁśa(rishivamsa, hereditary or disciple-wise line of sages) belonging to the pravara (community or clan) of Sage Vaśiṣṭha (Vasishtha). Through the genealogical or disciple-wise line from Vaśiṣṭha, they are also known as Vāśiṣṭhī (Vasisthi).

Alarka is the youngest among the four sons born of the womb of Kuvalāśva (Kuvalaswa) and Madālasā (Madalasa). The other sons of Madālasā were disinterested in Rājadharma (Rajadharma; duty of a king)and Saṃsāradharma (Samsaradharma; duty of a householder). So, as per the request of Kuvalāśva, Madālasā adviced Alarka regarding the responsibilities of an ideal householder […]

The name of Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage) Alavdha is one of the ṛṣivaṁśa(s) (genealogical or disciple-wise order of sages) belonging to the goṣṭhī-pravara (gosthi-pravara; clan and community) of Maharṣi Vaśiṣṭha (Vasishtha), as mentioned in Purāṇa (Purana; Mythological Scriptures). He is one of the vaṁśa pravartaka (founder of the order) belonging to Vaśiṣṭhavaṁśa.  

Āluki is one of the ṛṣivaṁśa(rishivamsa; hereditary of genealogical line of sages) belonging to the gotra (clan) of Maharṣi 9Maharshi; Great Sage) Bhṛgu (Bhrigu), as mentioned in the Purāṇa (Purana). Through the genealogical or disciple-wise line from Bhṛgu, they are also known as Bhārgava (Bhargava).

Generally, uncooked, green vegetables are called āmānna (amanna). ‘Āma'(Ama) means ‘unripe’. In śrāddhamantra ( sraddhamantra; hymns uttered during the funeral ritual), green vegetables are referred to as āmānnabhojyam (amannabhojya, food consisting of green and uncooked elements). It is a custom to make an offering of green vegetables to the Śudra (Sudra, the fourth varna) people, […]

Amara is one of the hilly localities in Bhāratavarṣa (Bharatavarsha; ancient name for India), as mentioned in Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana).

In Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), it is said that Marutvatī (Marutwati), daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha), was the wife of Dharma. She gave birth to the ‘Marut’ gods. Amara was one of these ‘Marut’ gods.