An ancient holy place. Bathing here rids one of misfortune and has the same effect as conducting a Vajapeyayajna as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 83 verses 77-78.

A region. See Bhugunita.

The central portion of Jambudwipa as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 28.

A descendant of Priyavrata, who was the son of Swayambhuvamanu.

A river who presented offerings on the birth of Subramanya as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 86 verse 24. Yudhishtira, along with several brahmins bathed here, as per Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 156 verse 8.

The daughter of Vaivaswatamanu.

Antecedents: Vishnu – Brahma – Marichi – Kashyapa – Vaivaswatamanu – Ila.

Vaivaswatamanu was born to Kashyapa and Aditi, and Ila was born to him and Shradha. Ila’s brother was Ikshvaku, the forefather of the Suryavanshi kings. Manu and Shradha remained childless for a long time. Once Manu got Vasishta to do a yajna to appease Mitra and Varuna for a son. The head priest was Agastya. Soon a daughter was born to him and this was Ila. Manu asked Vasishta why a girl was born when he had wanted a boy. Vasishta immediately used his energy to change the girl into a  boy and named him Sudyumna.

Once, after Sudyumna had grown up, he went into the forests for a hunt. Near Kailash, there is a forest named Kumaravana. Once Shiva and Parvati were copulating there. Without knowing that, Shunaka and other sages decided to pay them a visit. They came across the naked pair, who weren’t pleased by the intrusion. Parvati decreed that whoever entered the forest henceforth would become a woman. Sudyumna didn’t know this and entered the forest with his friends. They all became women, and were disappointed. After staying there for a few days, they decided to return.

Sudyumna had become a beautiful woman named Ila. On her way back she met Budha. They fell in love and got married. Their son was Pururavas, as per Bhagavata. But Ila was not happy about her form and made her grief known to Vasishta. Vasishta prayed to Shiva for Ila to get her previous form back. Shiva blessed that Ila would spend alternate months as male and female for the rest of her life. As a male, he would rule over the kingdom and would then retire for a month in her female form. As per the Brahmandapurana Chapter 32, Ikshvaku ruled as regent until Pururavas came of age. As soon as Pururavas took over the running of the kingdom, Sudyumna went off to the forests to meditate. There he learned the Navakshara mantra from Narada, and with this, prayed to Devi. As per the Bhagavata, Devi appeared and gave him moksha. Pururavas married Urvashi as per Bhagavata Navamaskanda, Devibhagavata Prathamaskanda, Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 75, and Anushasanaparva Chapter 147 verse 26.

A king lauded in the Rigveda. He conducted many yajnas as per Rigveda Mandala 1 Anuvaka 19 Sukta 124.

A king lauded in the Rigveda. He conducted many yajnas as per Rigveda Mandala 1 Anuvaka 13 Sukta 123.

An asura, who was born to Kashyapa and Danu as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 65 verse 25. He was reborn as the famous warrior king Yagnajit as per Mahabharata Adiparva Chapter 67 verse 20-21.

An asura who lived in Manimatinagara. Ilvala had a younger brother called Vatapi. Once Ilvala went to a Brahmin and asked to be blessed with a boy who would equal Indra. The Brahmin refused. From that day, the brothers treated brahmins as their sworn enemies. Ilvala transformed Vatapi into a goat. Whenever brahmins visited them, Ilvala would cut the goat into pieces and feed the brahmins. When the meal was completed, Ilvala would say ‘Vatapi, come out’. Vatapi would tear through the brahmins’ stomach and emerge. Thus the brothers killed many brahmins. This was when Agastya and his group reached Ilvala’s abode. As usual, Ilvala prepared the meat and gave it to Agastya. As soon as the meal was over, he said “Vatapi, come out”, but Agastya calmly said “Vatapi Jeerno bhava”, and Vatapi was immediately digested. According to the Mahabharata Vanaparva Chapter 99, a frightened Ilvala gave each Brahmin 10000 cows and an equal amount of gold coins. he gave double that to Agastya, and in addition, also gave him a chariot with two horses named Viravan and Suravan.