Vṛṣṇi (Vrishni) was the son of Sātvata (Satwata) of the Yadu lineage. Yudhājit (Yudhajit) was the youngest son of Vṛṣṇi. Śini (Shini) was elder and Anamitra was the younger of Yudhājit’s two sons. Anamitra had three sons— Nighna (alternatively, Nimna), Śini (Viṣṇupurāṇa or Vishnupurana, however, does not mention a Śini being Anamitra’s son), and Vṛṣṇi […]

In the hereditary line of Priyavrata, Ānanda (Ananda) was one of the seven sons of Medhātithi (Medhatithi). This Ānanda was also the ruler of Plakṣadvīpa (Plakshadwipa; the island of Plaksha) and reigned over the varṣa (varsha, a plot of land) known by his name.

The first kalpa (a measure of worldly time according to the time in Brahmaloka — the abode of God Brahmā) of the creation of the loka (people) is known as ‘Bhava’. The name of Bhagavān (Bhagavan; the Supreme Divinity) in this kalpa is Ānanda.

The varṣanāma (varshanama; name according to the location in a plot of land) of the Mountain Dundubhi in Plakṣdvīpa (Plakshadwipa; the island of Plaksha) is Ānanda (Ananda).

According to Vāyupurāṇa, Ānandajala (Anandajala) is a sacred sarovara ( a lake) associated with great puṇya (punya; virtue) situated in the Jārudhi (Jarudhi) mountain. A Nāga (Naga, Snake) called Caṇḍa (Chanda) lives in this lake.  

Ananta was the son of Vītihotra (Vitihotra) or Vīrahotra (Virahotra), a king belonging to the lineage of Kārtavīryārjuna (Kartaviryarjuna). Ananta had a son named Durjaya.

In Yayāti’s (Yayati’s) son Anu’s lineage, Aṅga (Anga) was the eldest of the sons born to King Bali of a male surrogate. Bali crowned Aṅga king of Aṅgadeśa (Angadesha; the land of Aṅga). Dadhivāhana (Dadhivahana) was Aṅga’s son. Under a curse placed on him by the great sage Dīrghatamā (Dirghatama), he was born without apāna […]

It is known from Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) that Kuṣmāṇḍa (Kushmanda) piṣācas (pishachas) were divided into sixteen sects or classes. Anarka was one of these groups.

Śaryāti (Saryati) is one of the sons of Vaivasvata Manu. Ānarta (Anarta) is the son of Śaryāti. The region ruled by Ānarta is known as the land of Ānarta. Reva (According to Viṣṇupurāṇa and Bhāgavatapurāṇa, the name is Revata) was the son of Ānarta. According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana) , Ānarta established Kuśasthalī (Kusasthali), capital of […]

Ānarta is a locality in the western part of India. The inhabitants of that region are also called Ānarta. Ānarta is the abode of Vāsudeva Kṛṣṇa. The alternative name of this place is Antargiri. The name of the son of Śaryāti is Ānarta. The land is named after him. Raivata is the son of Ānarta. […]

Anavadyā (Anavadya) was one of the eight heavenly apsarā (apsara) born to Ariṣtā (Arishta). However, according to Mahābhārata (Mahabharata), Anavadyā was one of the seven apsarā born of Prajāpati Kaśyapa (Prajapati Kashyapa) to Dakśa’s (Daksha’s) daughter Prādhā (Pradha). Anavadyā was also among those apsarā who presented a performance of dance at the celebration of Arjuna’s birth.

Anavaśā (Anavasha) was one of the eight apsarās (apsaras) born to Ariṣtā (Arishta).

Anāyu (Anayu) was daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha) Prajāpati (Prajapati) and wife of Kaśyapa (Kasyapa) Prajāpati. From Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), the text which identifies her as mother of all the maladies of the world, it appears that Anāyu was also known as Anāyuṣā (Anayusha). According to Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), Anāyuṣā is the mother of five powerful asura (a type of demons), […]

Commonly the term aṇḍa (anda) means ‘egg’ or ‘a bird’s egg’ to be specific. In a famous verse in Ṛgveda (Rigveda) we find a figure of speech based on comparison: “As a bird brings out its progeny breaking the egg…” — āṇḍeva bhitvā śakunasya garbham. This comparison considers the egg  or aṇḍa as another womb of the bird. In a […]

Andhaka was one of the sons born of the womb of Kauśalyā (Kausalya), and sired by Sātvata (Satwata), belonging to Yaduvaṃśa (Yaduvamsa; lineage of Yadu). According to Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana), daughter of Kaṅka (Kanka)was the wife of this Andhaka. She gave birth to four sons –Kukura, Bhajamāna (Bhajamana), Śaśī (Sasi) or Śuci (Suchi) and Kamvalavarhiṣa (Kamvalavarhisha). […]

In Vārāha (Varaha) Kalpa, there broke out twelve terrible battles between gods and demons. The eighth of these battles is known as Andhakāra (Andhakara) Yuddha. In this battle, the Asura army participated under the leadership of Andhakāsura (Andhakasura).

Andhakāraka (Andhakaraka)was one of the seven sons of King Dyutimāna (Dyutiman) of Krauñcadvīpa (Kraunchadwipa). Some Purāṇa(s) (Purana; Mythological Scriptures) have mentioned him as Anhakāra (Andhakara). Dyutimāna divided Krauñcadvīpa in seven varṣa(s) (varsha; a vast plot of land), and established his seven sons as rulers of these divisions. The varṣa where Andhakāraka ruled, came to be […]

Andhatāmisra is the name of a naraka (hell). If one takes away by deceit another person’s wife and property and enjoy them, one is thrown into this naraka.

In the genealogical line of Turvasu, the second son of Yayāti (Yayati), Marutta was without a son. So he adopts Duṣmanta (Dushmanta) of Puruvaṁśa (the hereditary line of Puru), as his son. According to Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), this adopted son is Duṣkṛta (Dushkrita). According to Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), Sarupya is the son of Duṣmanta. Āndīra (Andira) is […]

Aneka is one of the sons of Raucya(Rauchya) Manu, ruler of the thirteenth Manvantara. From the reading of Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana), it appears that this son of Raucya Manu is named Anekakṣatravaddha (Anekakshatravaddha). But this this reading does not seem to be valid.  

An ancient sage-king. Most Purāṇas (puranas) have identified him as a descendant of Svāẏambhuva Manu (Swayambhubha Manu). Aṅga (Anga) was the child of Ulmuka of Svāẏambhuva Manu’s lineage, conceived by Puṣkariṇī (Pushkarini). Another version, however, recognises Aṅga as the child borne of Agneẏī (Agneyi) and Uru. Some Purāṇas, on the other hand, identify him as […]

Vali was the son of Titikṣu (Titikshu) who belonged to the bloodline of Anu, Yayāti’s (Jajati) son. Aṅga (Anga) was the eldest of the kṣetraja (kshetraja; literally, child borne of a surrogate) sons conceived by King Vali’s wife Sudeṣṇā (Sudeshna) from Sage Dīrghatamā (Dirghatama). King Bali appointed Aṅga as the ruler of a newly formed kingdom […]

Aṅga (Anga) was the son of Viśvajit Janamejaya (Bishwajit Janamejaya) who belonged to the lineage of Vali’s son Aṇga. It is likely that this Aṅga was also renowned as the sūta (the caste of professional charioteers and storytellers) Adhiratha who adopted Karṇa (Karna) as his son.

A country or kingdom. The word Aṇga (Anga) is also used to refer to the citizens of the kingdom of Aṇga. Usually, it is mentioned along with four other kingdoms situated in eastern India—Aṇga, Vaṇga (Banga), Kaliṇga (Kalinga), Suhma (Suhma) and Puṇḍra (Pundra). Perhaps these five kingdoms formed a confederacy of which the capital was […]

One of the sons born of Sunaya to Vṛhatī (Brihati), daughter of Vṛhaduktha (Brihaduktha) of the Śini (Shini) lineage. In the text of Brahmāṇdapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), Aṅgada (Angada) has been identified as Ānanda.

In Brahmāṇdapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana) the kingdom of Lakṣmaṇa’s (Lakshmana’s) son Aṅgada (Angada) situated in Kārupatha (Karupatha) has been referred to as ‘Aṅgada’; ‘Aṅgadā’ (Angadaa) has been used as an adjective for the city—aṅgadasya aṅgadākhyātā deśe kārapathe purī. (the verse in the version of Brahmāṇdapurāṇa majorly followed by us is incorrect here — it reads kārayate in this version. […]

A prosperous city situated on the flanks of Himālaya (the Himalayas). It was ruled by Aṅgada (Angada), the son of Lakṣmaṇa (Lakshmana) in Rāmāyaṇa (Ramayana). The entire settlement was known as Kārupatha (Karupatha) or Kārapatha (Karapatha). During Rāmā’s (Rama’s) lifetime, Bharata took over the land of Kārupatha and established the city of Aṅgadīyā (Angadiya) according to […]

A part of the Jambu island, or an island more developed in all aspects than the Jambu island. It was home to many communities of Mlecchas (non-Aryan tribes). Mines of different precious gems were located on Aṅgadvīpam (Angadweepam). On this island bountiful with countless rivers, mountains and forests, there was a mountain named Cakragiri (Chakragiri). […]

A community alluded to in Purāṇas (Puranas). It is likely that Aṅgalokabaras (Angalokabaras) refers to Aṅgaloka (Angaloka) referred to in Matsyapurāṇa (Matsyapurana).

According to Purāṇas (Puranas), another name for Skanda Kārtikeya (Kartikeya). Skanda, the army general of the gods, as Aṅgāraka (Angaraka) is identified with the red-hued planet Maṅgala (Mangal; Mars).

One of the eleven Rudras (literally, ‘destroyers’). Meditating upon Mahādeva (Mahadeva), Suravi appeased him with her prayers and thus conceived eleven Rudra sons of Kaśyapa (Kashyapa). Aṅgāraka (Angaraka) was one of them.

A river flowing through Bhadrāśvavarṣa (Bhadrashwabarsha).

Aṅgirā (Angira) or Aṇgirasa (Angirasa) is one of the six sons born to Brahmā (Brahma) at the beginning of Creation— marīcyatryaṅgirasau pulastyaḥ pulahaḥ kratuḥ; ṣaḍete brahmaṇaḥ putrā bīryavanto maharṣayaḥ. Numerous tales can be found in Purāṇas (Puranas) about the birth of the great sage Aṅgirā. Apart from describing him as a spiritually conceived son of […]

It is chronicled in Purāṇas (Puranas) that the great sage Aṅgira (Angira) or Aṅgiras (Angiras) would be born in the second dvāpara (dwapara) age as Vyāsa (Vyasa), the one to divide the principal text of Vedas into four different parts.

According to Purāṇas (Puranas), when in the ninth dvāpara (dwapara) age, the great sage Sārasvata (Saraswata) is reincarnated as Vyāsa (Vyasa), the one to divide the principle text of Vedas into four parts, God Śiva (Shiva) would descend to the mortal world as Ṛṣabha (Rishabha). Aṅgira (Angira) or Aṅgiras (Angiras) would be one of the […]

A dānava (danava; a type of demon) born of Danu, daughter of Dakṣa (Daksha), and fathered by Kaśyapa Prājapati (Kashyapa Prajapati).

While making offerings to the Ādityas (aditya) in Ṛgveda (Rigveda), Aṃśa has been mentioned as one of the many Ādityas — imā gira ādityebhyo ghṛitasnuḥ śṛiṇotu mitro/ aryamā bhago na stubijāto baruṇo dakṣo aṁśaḥ. Twelve ādityas were created after being cast from the mouth of Sun god Sūrya of Vivasvān— mukharāgaṁ tu yat pūrbat mārtaṇḍasya mukhacyutam. Aṃśa […]

According to some Purāṇas (Puranas), all but four of the sixty thousand sons born of King Sagara’s first wife perished by the fire of Sage Kapila’s wrath. Pañcajana (Panchajana)(Pañcavana or Panchabana according to Vāyupurāṇa or Vayupurana) was one of the sons of King Sagara who survived. Śivapuraṇa (Shivapurana) states that Pañcajana became king after Sagara. Aṃśumāna (Angshuman) was Pañcajana’s […]

The sagely king Hiraṇyanābha (Hiranyanabha), one of the most important disciples of the great sage Sukarmā (Sukarma), learnt five hundred Yajurveda saṁhitā (samhita) from Sukarmā, and taught his disciples the same. Aṅgulīya (Anguliya) is Hiraṇyanābha’s chief disciple.

Ānīkaṭa (Anikata) is one of the localities in the western part of India, as mentioned in Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa (Markandeyapurana). However, in the other Purāṇas (Purana; Mythical Scriptures), the place is referred to under different names. In Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) it is named Kālītaka (Kalitaka), in Brāhmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana), the place is called Kuntala, and in Vāmanapurāṇa (Vamanapurana) it […]

Anīkavān (Anikavan) was the eldest son of Tarka, a form of Agni, the Fire-god. 

An elephant famous in Purāṇas (Purana). He was fathered by the great elephant Airāvata (Airavata) to Abhramū (Abhramu) and lived in the netherworld (pātāla; patala). He was born in the lineage of another famous elephant Supratīka (Supratik). Rāmāyaṇa (Ramayana) categorises him as one of the dighastī (dighasti). [See Dighastī] In the battle of Kurukṣetra (Kurukshetra) […]

Son of Kuṇi [Kuni (or Kṛti; Kriti)], a descendant in the Nimi lineage. His son’s name was Ṛtujit (Ritujit). Wilson, citing Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) attempts to identify this Kuṇi with Śakuni; but in that case the name of his son in Vāyupurāṇa does not match with Ṛtujit.

Son of the elephants Sāma (Sama) and Añjanāvatī (Anjanavati). He was one of the major representative of elephants in classical Indian culture after whom a breed of elephants were named. But Vāyupurāṇa (Vayupurana) and Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana) are different in opinion regarding this topic. 

One of the snakes born by Kadru to Sage Kaśyapa (Kashyapa). 

Upon being cursed, apsarā (apsara) Puñjikasthalā (Punjikasthala), daughter of the Water-god Varuṇa (Varuna), was born as the daughter of Kuñjara (Kunjara), the vānara (vanara; monkey) king [here ‘monkey’ must be read in terms of the ethnic group of people who used to wear the totem of monkey] and married off to another vānara king, Keśarī (Kesari). This […]

A mountain called Trikakuda or Traikakuda has been referred to more than once in Atharvaveda and other Vedic literatures. Maybe the name was inspired by a presence of three peaks of the mountain (Sanskrit kakuda means ‘hump’ or ‘projection’). Atharvaveda was the first book to call this Trikakuda Hills Añjanaparvata (Anjanaparvata) —devāñjana traikakudaṃ pari mā […]

Añjanavatī (Anjanavati) was the daughter of Añjana the Elephant. She had two sons called Prathitāyu (Prathitayu) and Aja. Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa (Brahmandapurana) recounts their name as Pramāthi (Pramaathi) and Puruṣa (Purusha). They were two beautiful and strong beasts. 

Ānṛhavān was one of those rājarṣis (rajarshis; sagely kings) who were born as kṣatriya, but later achieved Brāhmaṇatva (Brahmanatva; the status of a Brahmana).