According to Mahābhārata (Mahabharata)and Manu, Amvaṣṭha (Amvashtha) is the hybrid child born of the womb of a Vaiśya(vaisya) woman, and sired by a Brāhmaṇa (Brahmana) man – brāhmaṇād vaiśyakanyāyāmvaṣṭho nāma jāyate. They are quite ancient as a jāti (jati), since they are mentioned in Aitareya Brāhmaṇa (Aitareya Brahmana). Maharṣi (Maharshi; Great Sage)Parvata and Devarṣi (Devarshi; […]

Anu was the second son sired by King Yayāti (Yayati) to Śarmiṣṭha (Sarmishtha).  When Yayāti, cursed of acquiring untimely senility by Śukrācārya (Sukracharya), requested each of his sons to exchange his youth with the king’s old age, Anu directly refused this plea of his father. He said that old men, like infants and lowly people, eat whenever […]

Aśvātaka (Aswataka) is an ancient tribe. They fought on the side of the Kaurava, during the battle of Kurukṣetra(Kurukshetra). This Aśvātaka tribe possibly lived in the north-western region of India, since it is known that Alexander, during his expedition in East Asia, conquered these people. Alexander found their habitation near ancient Puṣkalāvatī (Pushkalavati) or modern […]

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 […]

Upāvṛtta is one of the major localities of ancient India. In the beginning of Bhīmaparva in Mahābhārata, through the words of Sañjaya it is mentioned along with Anupāvṛtta, Kekaya, Svarāṣṭra or Surāṣṭra.  The name of this locality is also found in Vaudhāyana Dharmasūtra, where it is said that lower class people lived in Upāvṛtta and […]