One of the ashtavasus. Aapa, Dhruva, Soma, Dharma, Anila, Agni, Pratyusha, Prabhasa were the vasus. Aapa’s sons were Vaithanda, Shrama, Shanta, Shwani, as per Vishnupurana Ansh 1 Chapter 15.
Author Archives: manuscrypts
Andhra
A state in southern India. During the time of the Mahabharata Sahadeva won this kingdom in a game of dice as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 31 verse 71.
Aanushasanikaparva
A parva in the Mahabharata.
Aanarta (2)
A grandson of Vaivaswatamanu and the son of Sharyati.
Antecedents: Vishnu – Brahma – Marichi – Kashyapa – Vivasvan – Vaivaswatamanu – Sharyati – Aanarta. Vaivaswatamanu had 16 sons – Manu, Yama, Yami, Revanta, Ashwinis, Sudyumna, Ikshvaku, Nriga, Sharyati, Dishta, Dhrishta, Karusha, Narishyanda, Nabhaga, Prishadhra, Kavi. Sharyati had two children – Aanarta and Sukanya. Sukanya was the wife of Chyavana.
Aanarta built forts in Kushasthali (Dwaraka) which were submerged by Varuna and the place later became a jungle. Later Krishna rebuilt the city as per Bhagavata Dashamaskanda. The kingdom during Aanarta’s time was named after himself and a famous brahmin named Vedaratha lived there as per Shivapurana Umeshanavrata.
Aanarta (1)
A place in ancient India which was conquered by Arjuna as per Mahabharata Sabhaparva Chapter 26 verse 4.
Aananda (2)
The son of the sage Anamitra who was born as Chakshusha, the sixth Manu.
When Aananda was a child, his mother was playing with him when he suddenly laughed. When his mother asked him for the reason, he pointed to two cats and said that while his mother was playing with him, the cats considered him their food. Later, one of the cats carried him away. Meanwhile, a child was born to the king Vikranta. The cat replaced that child with Aananda. The king raised him and called him Aananda. During his upanayana ceremony, the purohit asked him to pay obeisance to his mother. Aananda revealed that he was not the prince and the king’s son lived elsewhere. He also said that thanks to many births, a person would have several mothers. He then left for the jungles to meditate. After a long time, Brahma appeared, blessed him and said that he would be born as the sixth Manu and lead the world. Aananda ended his meditation and later, as per Brahma’s blessing, was born as Chakshusha, according to Markandeyapurana.
Aananda (1)
A huge jungle in the Meru mountains. Apsaras, devas, gandharvas, kinnaras, nagas and sages reside there, as per Padmapurana Bhumikhanda Chapter 93.
Aanaka
A Yadava.
Gaja
Elephant. The origins of the elephant is indicated in the Ramayana. Brahma’s son marichi had a son named Kashyapa. Kashyapa married Daksha prajapati’s daughters – Diti, Aditi, Anala, Danu, Kalika, Tamra, Krodhavasha, and Manu. Krodhavasha had ten daughters – Mrigi, Mrigamanda, Hari, Bhadramada, Matangi, Sharduli, Shweta, Surabhi, Surasa, Kadru. As per Ramayana Aranyakanda Sarga 14, elephants were the offspring of Matangi.
Once Bhrigu cursed Agni, and Agni roamed the three worlds dejected. The devas searched for him and the elephants pointed out his hiding place to them. Agni cursed them that their tongue would fold inwards, as per Mahabharata Anushasanaparva Chapter 85 verse 35. The agnipurana gives the characteristics of elephants
Adyakattha
An ancient sage, who attended a sacrifice conducted by the king Uparichara as per Mahabharata Shantiparva Chapter 336 verse 9.