Agnīdhra (Agnidhra) was the son of Bhautya Manu, the lord of the fourteenth epoch (manvantara). According to a different opinion, Agnīdhra was one of the seven great sages (saptarṣi; saptarshi) during the reign of Bhautya Manu. 

Legends say, Agni, the Fire-god, had one desired sixteen rivers, namely Kāverī (Kaveri or Cauvery), Kṛṣñaveṇī (Krishnaveni), Narmadā (Narmada) and others. Basically, this marital relationship was envisaged because it was on the banks of these famous rivers that worship of the Vedic deity Agni started being practiced and flourished. Here the rivers have been identified […]

Agnīdhra (Agnidhra) was one of the ten sons born to Viśvakarmā’s (Vishwakarma) daughter Varhiṣmatī (Varhishmati) and  Svāyambhuva (Swayambhuva) Manu. He was made the king of Jambudvīpa (Jambudweepa) — jambudvīpeśvaraṃ cakre agnīdhrantu mahābbalam.  According to some other Puranic variations, all of these ten scions of Manu were not sons of Svāyambhuva Manu, but his grandsons – sons […]

Pṛśni (Prishni), the wife of Savitā (Savita), a representative form of Sūrya (Surya), gave birth to a sacrificial rite of immense significance known as agnihotra.  Agnihotra has been compared to the grinding of teeth of yajñavaraha (yajnavaraha), the sacrificial boar conceptualised as the mythical presiding deity of a yajña (yajna).  Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana) opines, while commenting on the […]

A demon who dwells on the fifth plane of pātāla (patal; ‘the underworld’) which is known as mahātala (mahatal). 

Agnijvāla is the name of one of the Hells. Those who disturb and torture sages dwelling in hermitages are condemned to spend their afterlife in this Hell.  According to a different opinion, this Hell is the destination for a person who strays from the particular phase of Caturāśrama (Chaturashram) which that person is bound to […]

Prajāpati Vikrānta (Prajapati Vikranta) was the father of the gandharvas Āgneya (Agneya) and Bāleya (Baleya). He also had three beautiful daughters, one of whom was Agnikā (Agnika).

The plot of land that spreads out towards the east of the large elevated altar constructed for conducting yajña (yajna) is known as agnikṣetra (agnikshetra). A fire in the shape of a falcon needs to be lit and maintained within this plot of land. Owing to the importance of this fire or agni, this plot […]

It is said in Vaikhānasa Smārtaṣūtra (Vaikhanasa Smartasutru) edited by W. Caland, which is a part of the Vaikhānasa Gṛhyaṣutra (Vaikhanasa Grijhyasutra), that it is necessary that a separate agnikuṇḍa (agnikunda) or a pot-like altar or furnace be constructed in order to offer oblations to the sacrificial fire that is lit inside the room designated […]

Vyāsa’s (Vyasa) disciple Paila divided the hymns of Ṛgveda (Rigveda) into two parts and taught the second part to the sage Bāskali (Baskali), who went on to compile four saṃhitā (samhita; supplementary Vedic literatures) from them. Out of these four, the second branch of the Vedic hymns is known as Agnimāṭhara (Agnimathara). According to a […]

Agnisambhavā (agnisambhava) is one of the fourteen gaṇa (gana) or sects into which the apsarā (apsara) are categorised. Purāṇas (Purana) identify the apsarā falling in the category of agnisambhavā were born of Ūrjā (Urja), the wife of the great sage Vaśisṭha (Vashishtha). 

Brahmā (Brahma) had accumulated the offerings made in various yajña (yajna) at the site of the death of Gayāsura (Gayasura) in the epoch of Svetavarāhakalpa (Shwetavarahakalpa) and created many priests out of his own mind. Agniśarma (Agnisharma) was one of them. Agniśarma produced five Fires (Agni) — namely, Dakṣiṇāgni (Dakshinagni), Gārhapatyāgni (Garhapatyagni), Āhavanīya (Ahavaniya), Sabhya […]

Agniṣṭoma (Agnishtoma) was one of the ten sons born to Naḍvalā (Nadwala), fathered by Cākṣuṣa (Chakshusha) Manu. Because of this he has been referred to as Nāḍvaleya (Nadvaleya) Manu.  Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana) and Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana) refer to him by the name Agniṣṭut (Agnishtut). 

Agniṣvātta (Agnishvatta) is the term referring to a particular sect of the manes (pitṛ; pitri) as well as the space allocated to them. The region called Agniṣvātta, named after the pitṛ residing there, is located in the south of the cosmos, beneath the Earth and above the upper regions of the abyss called atala — […]

In the main Rāmāyaṇa (Ramayana) the great sage Vaśiṣṭha (Vashishtha) is seen introducing the Solar Dynasty (Sūryavaṃśa; Suryavangsha) before Rāmacandra’s (Ramachandra) marriage. In this description Agnivarṇa is mentioned as Sudarśana’s (Sudarshana) son and the father of Śīghra (Shighra) or Śīghraga (Shighraga). All of them are Rāmacandra’s ancestors. But in Purāṇas (Purana), Kuśa (Kusha) is Rāmacandra’s […]

Agniveśya (Agniveshya) was the son of Śulī (Shuli), a great ascetic who lived in the Naimiṣā Forests during the twenty-fourth Dvāpara (Dwapara) era. 

– ‘Agre’ means ‘in the beginning’. And the meaning of Ayana is motion or journey, shelter or the way of duty. Yajña is another meaning of ‘Ayana’. So, the yajña (yajna)performed before the cultivation of crops, is called Āgrayana (Agrayana). In his dictionary , Pandit Haricharan Bandyopadhyay has said that this yāga(ritual) is performed in […]

After creating prajā (praja; people), the divine grandsire Brahmā (Brahma) found that there were no distinguishing attributes in them — nor in appearance , nor in qualities. So, collecting all beauty and charms from all other people, and combined them to create a beautiful woman, and she was Ahalyā (Ahalya) — yad yat prajānāṃ pratyaṅgaṃ […]

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).

Āhavanīyapada (Ahavaniyapada) is a holy site for performing funeral rites located in Gayā (Gaya). Performing śrāddha(sraddha; rite dedicated to the peace of tedead ) here yields the result of Aśvamedhayajña(Aswamedhayajna; a grand sacrifice of a horse, performed by a king).

In Purāṇa (Purana; Mythological Scripture) and Saṅgītaśāstra (Sangitasastra; Theoretical scriptures on music), twenty one mūrchana(s) (murchana; melodious tune), made of the seven svara (swara, musical note) have been mentioned. Ahimūrchanā (Ahimurchana) is one of these tunes. God Varuṇa (Varuna) is the presiding deity of this tune. It is said that this enchanting tune is capable […]

Ahīna (Ahina)was the son of Sahadeva, and father of Jayatsena, in the genealogical line of King Kṣatravṛddha (Kshatravriddha) or Kṣatradharma (Kshatradharma). The name is Adīna according to Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) and Viṣṇupurāṇa (Vishnupurana).

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).

In Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), when the term Ahirvudhnya is used for the first time, it is referred to as one of the several yajñasthāna(s) (yajnasthana; place of fire-sacrifice). It is said that Ahirvudhnya is the name of gṛhapti (grihapati)agni or gārhapatya agnisthāna (garhapatya agnisthana, a ritual fireplace considered sacred for the life of a householder). Ahirvudhnya […]

Ahirvudhnya is one of the Aṣṭottara Sahasranāma (Ashtottara Sahasranama; Thousand and eight names)) of Śiva-Mahādeva (Siva-Mahadeva). In Purāṇa (Purana; Mythological Scripture), Ahirvudhnya denotes gṛhapti (grihapati) agni or gārhapatya agnisthāna (garhapatya agnisthana, a ritual fireplace considered sacred for the life of a householder). Again, Ahirvudhnya is one of the eleven Rudra(s) born of the womb of […]

In the genealogical line of Kratha, Vastu is the son of Lomapāda (Lomapada). Vastu sired a son called Āhṛti (Ahriti). According to Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), the son of Lomapāda (Lomapada) is Vabhru. There, the name of ‘Ākṛti’ (Akriti) is mentioned as the son of Vabhru.

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 […]

In Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) and Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), there is a mention of one locality called Āhuka(Ahuka) belonging to the Eastern part of India. But it remains unknown exactly where this place was located.

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 […]

Āhvaya(Ahvaya) is a god belonging to the third gaṇa(gana, genus) of the Marud.

In the beginning of creation, fourteen vowel sounds were created from the mouth of four-headed Brahmā (Brahma). Manu, the king of fourteen Manvantara(s) , was born out of these fourteen vowel sounds. The letter ‘Ai’ was the tenth of these fourteen vowel sounds created by Brahmā. The fourteen letters from ‘A’ to ‘Au’ were envisioned […]

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 […]

Aindra was one of Dināśrita (Dinasrita or the parts of a day) muhūrta (muhurta) which are mentioned in the Vāyu Purāṇa (Vayu Purana). Dināśrita (Dinasrita) muhūrta (muhurta) indicates a certain part of a day. The Aindra muhūrta (muhurta) points out a time around 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 noon. Jyeṣthā Nakṣatra (Jyeshtha Nakshatraor star) rises in […]

One of the meanings of ‘Aindra’ is the East. Vāyu Purāṇa prescribes to give Pinḍa (the last holy offering of food) at the land of the eastern side for the ultimate freedom or Moṣa of the forefathers.

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 […]

  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 […]

In the second Manvantara of the future, Merusāvarṇi (Merusavarni), son of Dakṣa (Daksha), will be Manu. He is also known as Rohita Prajāpati. It is described in Purāṇa(s) that his sons will be gods in this Manvantara. The sons of Rohita Prajāpati were divided into three sects — Marīci (Marichi) or Marīcigarbha (Marichigarbha), Suśarmā (Susarma)and Pāra […]

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 one of the sons of Uttama (or Auttama) Manu, the lord of the third epoch (manvantara).

A part of the night. The first of the fifteen parts (muhūrta; muhurta) in which night-time is divided is known as Aja.

The son of Bhṛgu (Bhrigu). Twelve deities belonging to the clan of Bhṛgu, who drank soma (a medicinal potion), were born of the great sage Bhṛgu from the womb of a Devī (Devi). Aja was one of them.

The name of a dānava (danava; a type of demon). Aja was one of the sons born of Prajāpati Kaśyapa (Prajapati Kashyapa) to Dakṣa’s (Daksha’s ) daughter Danu.

A piśāca (pishacha; a type of ghoul with hideous physical appearance and nature). The name of his daughter is Brahmadhanā (Brahmadhana). Aja had a younger brother named Khaṇḍa (Khanda).

During the churning of the ocean (samudramanthana), of all the things which emerged from it, Dhanvantari was the first one. That is why Brahmā (Brahma) addressed Dhanvantari as Aja. One who doesn’t take birth, but was born as a human. Following this supernatural logic Dhanvantari was perhaps called Aja.

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 […]

According to Bhāgavatapurāṇa (Bhagavatapurana), Vijaya was one of the sons of Purūravā (Pururava) born of Urvaśī (Urvashi). The royal sage Jahṇu (Jahnu) was a descendent of Vijaya. According to Bhāgavatapurāṇa, Jahṇu’s son was called Puru, and Puru’s son was Balāka (Balaka), and Balāka’s son was Ajaka. Ajaka had a son named Kuśa (Kusha). According to […]

In Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) there is a list of all the kings who ruled during Kaliyuga. In this list, after the end of the reign of the dynasty of Bṛhadratha (Brihadratha),the reign of a certain Ajaka, belonging to the dynasty of the king Pradyota, is mentioned. He is said to have ruled his kingdom for twenty-one […]

Ajāmukha (Ajamukh) was one of the sons fathered by Kaśyapa Prajāpati (Kashyapa Prajapati) to Danu, the daughter of King  Dakṣa (Daksha). 

Ajāmukha (Ajamukha), also known as Adhomukha, is one of the classes of piśāca (pishacha; a kind of ghouls).  

A place of pilgrimage suitable for performing the obsequies. A tree named Virajā (Viraja) is found here, on every node of which reflection of gods can be seen. The Pāṇdavas (Pandavas) performed the final rites of their father here.