List of Ikshvaku dynasty kings in Hinduism explained

According to Hindu traditions, Shraddhadeva Manu (Sanskrit manuśraddhādeva) is the current Manu and the progenitor of the current manvantara. He is considered as the seventh of the fourteen Manus of the current kalpa (aeon).[1]

Shraddhadeva Manu was the king of the Dravida Kingdom[2] before the Pralaya, the great flood. Forewarned about the flood by the Matsya avatar of Vishnu, he saved humanity by building a boat that carried his family and the saptarishi to safety. He is the son of Vivasvana and is therefore also known as Vaivasvata Manu, and his dynasty as the Suryavaṃśa. He is also called Satyavrata (always truthful). Ikshvaku (Sanskrit; ikṣvāku, from Sanskrit ikṣu; Pali: Okkāka), is one of the ten sons of Shraddhadeva Manu, and is credited to be the founder of the Ikshvaku Dynasty.[3]

Suryavamsha kings

The genealogy of the Ikshvaku dynasty to Rama is mentioned in the Ramayana in two lists. The only difference between the two lists is that, Kukshi is mentioned only in the second list. In the first list, Vikukshi is mentioned as the son of Ikshavaku. The descendants of Vikukshi are known as Vikauva.[4]

  1. Vaivasvata Manu or Satyavrata or Nabhi
  2. Ikshvaku
  3. Kukshi[5] or Vikukshi or Śaśāda
  4. Bāna or Shakuni
  5. Kakutstha or Puranjaya (Purañjaya) or Anaranya I
  6. Anena (Anenā)
  7. Prithu (Pṛthu)
  8. Vishtarashva (Viṣṭarāśva), Visvarandhi, or Viśvagandhi
  9. Chandra (Cāndra-yuvanāśva)
  10. Yuvanashva I (Yuvanāśva)
  11. Shravasta (Śrāvasta)
  12. Brihadashva (Bṛhadaśva)
  13. Dhundumār (Dhundhumāra) or Kuvalayashva (Kuvalayāśva)
  14. Dhreedhashva (Dṛḍhāśva) or Kapilashva (Kapilāśva) or Bhadrashva (Bhadrāśva)
  15. Pramoda
  16. Haryashva I
  17. Nikumbha
  18. Baharnashva (Barhaṇāśva)
  19. Giritashva
  20. Amitashva (Amitāśva)
  21. Krishashva (Kṛśāśva) or Akrutashva
  22. Prasenajit I
  23. Yuvanashva II
    1. Mandhata Purukutsa I (or Vasuda) and Muchukunda
    2. Ambarisha Trasadasyu
  24. Sambhruta
  25. Anaranya II
  26. Preeshadashva
  27. Haryashva II
  28. Hastya
  29. Sumana
  30. Tridhanva
  31. Trayyaruni
  32. Trishanku or Satyavrata II
  33. Harishchandra
  34. Rohitashva
  35. Harita
  36. Chanchu
  37. Chakshu or Sudeva
  38. Vijaya
  39. Ruruka or Brahuka
  40. Pratapendra
  41. Bruka
  42. Sushandhi
  43. Bahuka
  44. Vrika or Bharata II
  45. Bahu or Asita
    1. Sagara Amshuman
  46. Dilipa I
    1. Bhagiratha Suhotra
  47. Shruti
  48. Kukutsa II
  49. Raghu I
  50. Nabhaga
  51. Ambarisha II
  52. Shindhudvipa
  53. Ayutayu
  54. Pratayu
  55. Rituparna
  56. Sarvakama I
  57. Sudasa
  58. Kalmashapada
  59. Asmaka (Aśmaka)
  60. Mulaka or Sarvakama II
  61. Dasharatha I
  62. Ilibil or Ananaranya III
  63. Vishvamashaha
  64. Nidhna
  65. Animitra (Anamitra)
  66. Duliduh or Mūlaka
  67. Dilipa II or Dirghabhahu or Khaṭvāṅga
  68. Raghu II
  69. Aja
  70. Dasharatha II
  71. Bharata III
  72. Rama

The other sons of Dasharatha; Lakshmana and Shatrughna were said to be the kings of Karupada and Malla, and Madhupuri and Vidisha respectively.

Suryavamsha kings after Rama

Rama and his brothers were succeeded by their respective sons; Kusha had inherited South Kosala and Lava had inherited North Kosala, while Bharata's children, Taksha and Pushkara, had inherited Takshashila and Pushkalavati respectively. Lakshmana's children, Angada and Chandraketu, had inherited Karupada and Malla respectively, and Shatrughna's children, Subahu and Shatrughati had inherited Madhupuri and Vidisha respectively.

The Puranas provide a genealogical list from Kusha to Brihadbala, who was killed by Abhimanyu in the Kurukshetra War. This list is corroborated by the Raghuvamsha till Agnivarna.[6]

  1. Kusha and Lava
  2. Atithi
  3. Nishadha
  4. Nala II
  5. Nabhas
  6. Paundrika
  7. Kshemadhanva
  8. Devanika
  9. Ahinagu
  10. Ruru
  11. Pariyatra
  12. Sala
  13. Dala
  14. Bala
  15. Uktha
  16. Sahasrasva
  17. Para II
  18. Chandravaloka
  19. Rudraksh
  20. Chandragiri
  21. Banuchandra
  22. Srutayu
  23. Uluka
  24. Unnabha
  25. Vajranabha
  26. Sankhana
  27. Vyusitasva
  28. Visvasaha
  29. Hiranyanabha Kausalya
  30. Para III
  31. Brahmistha
  32. Putra
  33. Pusya
  34. Arthasidhi
  35. Dhruvasandhi
  36. Sudarsana
  37. Agnivarna
  38. Sighraga
  39. Maru
  40. Parsusruta
  41. Susandhi
  42. Amarsana
  43. Mahasvana
  44. Sahasvana
  45. Visrutvana
  46. Visvabhava
  47. Visvasahva
  48. Nagnajit
  49. Brihadbala

Suryavamsha kings after Mahabharata

The Puranas also provide the list of the kings from Brihadbala to the last ruler Sumitra. But these lists mention Shakya as an individual, and incorporate the names of Shakya, Shuddodhana, Siddhartha (Gautama Buddha), and Rahula between Sanjaya and Prasenajit. The names of the kings are:[7]

Successors of Brihadbala-
  1. Brihatkshaya (or Bruhadrunama)
  2. Urukriya (or Gurukshepa)
  3. Vatsavyuha
  4. Prativyoma
  5. Bhanu
  6. Divakara (or Divaka)
  7. Virasahadeva
  8. Brihadashva II
  9. Bhanuratha (or Bhanumana)
  10. Pratitashva
  11. Supratika
  12. Marudeva
  13. Sunakshatra
  14. Pushkara (or Kinnara)
  15. Antariksha
  16. Suvarna (or Sutapa)
  17. Sumitra (or Amitrajit)
  18. Brihadraja (Okkaka)
  19. Rudraksha
Descendants through the Shakya lineage-
  1. Kritanjaya (Sivisamjaya)
  2. Ranajjaya (Sihassara)
  3. Jayasena (Mahakoshala or Sanjaya)
  4. Sihahanu (Shakya)
  5. Śuddhodana
  6. Siddhartha Shakya (Gautama Buddha)
  7. Rāhula
Later Ikshvakus, of the original lineage and rulers of Kosala-
  1. Sanjaya Mahākosala
  2. Prasenajit
  3. Viḍūḍabha
  4. Kshudraka (or Kuntala)
  5. Ranaka (or Kulaka)
  6. Suratha
  7. Sumitra

According to Bibek Debroy, King Sumitra claimed to be the last ruler of the Suryavamsha dynasty of Kosala, as he was defeated by Mahapadma Nanda of Magadha in 362 BCE. However, he wasn't killed, and fled to Rohtas, located in present-day Bihar, where his son Kurma had established his reign.[8]

See also

References

Sources

Notes and References

  1. V. R. Ramachandra Dikshitar (1935). The Matsya Purana: A Study. University of Madras. p. 5.
  2. Book: Noah as Antihero: Darren Aronofsky's Cinematic Deluge. Rhonda Burnette-Bletsch, Jon Morgan. Taylor & Francis, 2017. 45.
  3. The Hare Krsnas - The Manus - Manus of the Present Universe
  4. Book: Vyas . R. T. . . 1992. Oriental Institute, Vadodara. Vadodara. 91–92, 255–56.
  5. [Ramayana]
  6. Book: Surya Dynasty:Name of Kings. 81-269-0616-2. J.P Mittal. 2006 . Atlantic Publishers & Distributors.
  7. Misra, V.S. (2007). Ancient Indian Dynasties, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,, pp.283-8, 384
  8. Book: The Valmiki Ramayana, Volume 3. 9789387326286. Debroy. Bibek. 25 October 2017. Penguin Random House India Private Limited .