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]

Vaivasvata Manu or Satyavrata or Nabhi
Ikshvaku
Kukshi^[5] or Vikukshi or Śaśāda
Bāna or Shakuni
Kakutstha or Puranjaya (Purañjaya) or Anaranya I
Anena (Anenā)
Prithu (Pṛthu)
Vishtarashva (Viṣṭarāśva), Visvarandhi, or Viśvagandhi
Chandra (Cāndra-yuvanāśva)
Yuvanashva I (Yuvanāśva)
Shravasta (Śrāvasta)
Brihadashva (Bṛhadaśva)
Dhundumār (Dhundhumāra) or Kuvalayashva (Kuvalayāśva)
Dhreedhashva (Dṛḍhāśva) or Kapilashva (Kapilāśva) or Bhadrashva (Bhadrāśva)
Pramoda
Haryashva I
Nikumbha
Baharnashva (Barhaṇāśva)
Giritashva
Amitashva (Amitāśva)
Krishashva (Kṛśāśva) or Akrutashva
Prasenajit I
Yuvanashva II
1. Mandhata Purukutsa I (or Vasuda) and Muchukunda
2. Ambarisha Trasadasyu
Sambhruta
Anaranya II
Preeshadashva
Haryashva II
Hastya
Sumana
Tridhanva
Trayyaruni
Trishanku or Satyavrata II
Harishchandra
Rohitashva
Harita
Chanchu
Chakshu or Sudeva
Vijaya
Ruruka or Brahuka
Pratapendra
Bruka
Sushandhi
Bahuka
Vrika or Bharata II
Bahu or Asita
1. Sagara Amshuman
Dilipa I
1. Bhagiratha Suhotra
Shruti
Kukutsa II
Raghu I
Nabhaga
Ambarisha II
Shindhudvipa
Ayutayu
Pratayu
Rituparna
Sarvakama I
Sudasa
Kalmashapada
Asmaka (Aśmaka)
Mulaka or Sarvakama II
Dasharatha I
Ilibil or Ananaranya III
Vishvamashaha
Nidhna
Animitra (Anamitra)
Duliduh or Mūlaka
Dilipa II or Dirghabhahu or Khaṭvāṅga
Raghu II
Aja
Dasharatha II
Bharata III
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]

Kusha and Lava
Atithi
Nishadha
Nala II
Nabhas
Paundrika
Kshemadhanva
Devanika
Ahinagu
Ruru
Pariyatra
Sala
Dala
Bala
Uktha
Sahasrasva
Para II
Chandravaloka
Rudraksh
Chandragiri
Banuchandra
Srutayu
Uluka
Unnabha
Vajranabha
Sankhana
Vyusitasva
Visvasaha
Hiranyanabha Kausalya
Para III
Brahmistha
Putra
Pusya
Arthasidhi
Dhruvasandhi
Sudarsana
Agnivarna
Sighraga
Maru
Parsusruta
Susandhi
Amarsana
Mahasvana
Sahasvana
Visrutvana
Visvabhava
Visvasahva
Nagnajit
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-

Brihatkshaya (or Bruhadrunama)
Urukriya (or Gurukshepa)
Vatsavyuha
Prativyoma
Bhanu
Divakara (or Divaka)
Virasahadeva
Brihadashva II
Bhanuratha (or Bhanumana)
Pratitashva
Supratika
Marudeva
Sunakshatra
Pushkara (or Kinnara)
Antariksha
Suvarna (or Sutapa)
Sumitra (or Amitrajit)
Brihadraja (Okkaka)
Rudraksha

Descendants through the Shakya lineage-

Kritanjaya (Sivisamjaya)
Ranajjaya (Sihassara)
Jayasena (Mahakoshala or Sanjaya)
Sihahanu (Shakya)
Śuddhodana
Siddhartha Shakya (Gautama Buddha)
Rāhula

Later Ikshvakus, of the original lineage and rulers of Kosala-

Sanjaya Mahākosala
Prasenajit
Viḍūḍabha
Kshudraka (or Kuntala)
Ranaka (or Kulaka)
Suratha
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]

References

Sources

Notes and References

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