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The [[Itihasa-Purana]], the '''Epic-Puranic''' narratives of the [[Sanskrit Epics]] ([[Mahabharata]] and the [[Ramayana]]){{sfnp|Klostermaier|2007|p=59}} and the [[Puranas]],{{sfnp|Klostermaier|2007|p=59}} contain '''royal genealogies''' of the [[lunar dynasty]] and [[solar dynasty]] which are regarded by Indian traditions as historic events, and used in the [[Epic-Puranic chronologies]] to establish a traditional timeline of Indian history.
==Vaivasvata Manu==
The traditions relate that the present Kalpa is called [[Varaha#Creation legend|Varaha]]. Out of the fourteen manvantaras in this Kalpa, six have passed. The current Manvantara is called [[Vaivasvata]] after the Manu who presides over it. It is to Vaivasvata Manu that the royal genealogies of the ''Itihasa'' trace their origin. It was in the Chakshusha manvantara, which immediately preceded the present manvantara, that king [[Prithu]], the great grandson of Chakshusha Manu, leveled the earth, built cities and villages and developed agriculture, trade, pasture and cattle-breeding. This cycle ended after only eight more generations with the [[List_of_flood_myths#India|Great Flood]].
==The Satya Yuga==
{{Main|Satya Yuga}}
The Great Flood at the end of Chakshusa [[manvantara]] wipes away all life forms. Only [[Vaivasvata Manu]] is saved by Lord [[Vishnu]], in the [[avatar]] of a fish, [[Matsya]] to repopulate the earth in the next cycle.<ref>Satapatha Brahmana, I.8.1</ref><ref>Mahabharata, III.185</ref><ref>Bhagavata Purana, VIII.24</ref> All royal lines in the present cycle are traced in the ''itihasas'' from Manu Vaivasvata's sons and his only daughter [[Ila (Hinduism)|Ila]]. [[Ikshvaku]], the eldest son of Manu, establishes the [[Solar_dynasty|Solar Line]] (from [[Vivasvan]], the sun-god, the father of Vaivasvata Manu) at [[Ayodhya]] in [[Kosala]]. Iksvaku's younger son [[Nimi (Mithila king)|Nimi]] migrates a little further east and founds the house of [[Videha]]. Its capital [[History of Mithila|Mithila]] is established by his son Mithi,<ref>Visnu Purana, IV.5</ref> also called [[Janaka]] which later becomes the generic name for the kings of Videha.
The [[lunar dynasty]] is established at about the same time, at [[Pratisthan Pur (Jhunsi)|Pratisthana]] (identified with a suburb of modern day [[Allahabad]]) in [[Madhyadesha]] (the [[doab]] between [[Ganges|Ganga]] and [[Yamuna]] rivers) by [[Pururavas]], the son of Ila and Budha, the illegitimate child of [[Soma (deity)|Soma]], the moon-god.<ref>Visnu Purana, IV.6</ref> The tale of his love for the nymph [[Urvasi]] is a tale that has caught the Indian imagination for generations. It is the subject of a famous classical work by [[Kalidasa]] called ''[[Vikramorvasiyam]]''. While Ayus, the elder son of Pururavas ascends the throne after him, his younger brother, Amavasu founds another [[Amavasu dynasty|dynasty]] that reigned over a kingdom, centred around Kanyakubja (modern [[Kannauj]]).<ref name="Visnu Purana, IV.7">Visnu Purana, IV.7</ref>
The lunar line again splits into two after the reign of Ayus, the eldest son of Pururavas. [[Nahusa]], the eldest son of Ayus, succeeds him, but obtains the position of [[Indra]] in the heaven but is banished from there when he lusts after [[Sachi]], the wife of Indra.<ref>Mahabharata, V.9-18</ref> Ksatravrddha, another son of Ayus, establishes the dynasty of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] (Varanasi). His descendants were called Kaseyas.<ref name="Visnu Purana, IV.7"/>
Nahusa's son and successor [[Yayati]] was a renowned conqueror and was reckoned as a [[Chakravarti (Sanskrit term)|''cakravartin'']]. He had two sons named [[Yadu]] and [[Turvasu]] from [[Devayani]], the daughter of [[Shukra|Sukra]], the preceptor of [[Asura|asuras]]. He also had three other sons, [[Druhyu]], [[Anu]] and [[King Porus|Puru]] from Sarmistha, the daughter of asura king Vrsaparva. Yayati installs Puru, the youngest. but the most dutiful son as his successor in the ancestral sovereignty in Pratisthana.<ref>Mahabharata, I.76-93</ref> The elder sons obtain the outlying areas. From the sons of Yayati, descend the five famous royal lines of the [[Yadava|Yadavas]], the Turvasus, the Druhyus, the Anavas and the [[Pauravas]], together called the [[List_of_ancient_Indo-Aryan_peoples_and_tribes#Pancha_Jana_(Five_tribes)|''Pancha Jana'' or the Five Tribes]].<ref>Visnu Purana, IV.10</ref>
Immediately after Yadu, the Yadava dynasty is bifurcated – the main line continued by Krosti and the independent line of [[Heheya Kingdom|Haihayas]] led by Sahasrajit. The Yadava branch first develops a great principality under king Sasabindu, who becomes a ''cakravrtin''. [[King Mandhata]], the son of Yuvansva,<ref>Mahabharata, III.126</ref> the king of Ayodhya marries his daughter Bindumati and rises to eminence. He follows in the footsteps of his father-in-law, extends his sway very widely and becomes a ''cakravrtin'' himself.<ref>Visnu Purana, IV.2</ref> His son Purukutsa marries [[Narmada]], the river goddess. Another son, also a famous king, called Mucukunda builds and fortifies a town on the bank of that river; it was [[Mahismati]].
Soon thereafter, the Druhyu king Gandhara retires to the northwest (modern [[Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa]]) and establishes the kingdom of [[Gandhara]] there. His descendants scatter into the regions beyond India and establish many ''[[mleccha]]'' principalities.<ref name="Visnu Purana, IV.18">Visnu Purana, IV.18</ref> Later, the Anavas divide into two branches under Usinara and Titiksu. The sons of Usinara establish separate tribes of the [[Yaudheyas]], Ambasthas, Navarastras, Krimilas and Sivis in eastern [[Punjab region|Punjab]]. [[Sivi (king)|Sivi]], the son of Usinara and the originator of the Sivis in Sivapura, is celebrated in the Indian mythology for his generosity. His sons set up the kingdoms of Vrsadarbhas, [[Madra]]kas, [[Kekayas|Kaikayas]] and Sauviras, and occupy the whole Punjab. The other branch of the Anavas under Titiksu moved east and founded the principalities of [[Anga]], [[Banga, India|Banga]], [[Kalinga (historical kingdom)|Kalinga]], [[Suhma]] and [[Pundra]].<ref name="Visnu Purana, IV.18"/>
The Haihaya king Krtavirya had the [[Bhargava]]s as his priests and enriched them. His kinsmen tried to recover the wealth but the Bhargavas resisted. The Haihayas then maltreated them due to which they fled to different countries.<ref>Mahabharata, I.178</ref> Gadhi was then king of Kanyakubja and had a daughter Satyavati. The Bhargava rsi Rcika marries her and begets a son [[Jamadagni]]. About the same time Gadhi has a son [[Visvamitra]].<ref name="Visnu Purana, IV.7"/><ref>Mahabharata, III.115</ref>
In the solar line, Trayyaruna, a near contemporary of Gadhi and Krtavirya, ruled the kingdom of Ayodhya at this time. On the counsel of his priest [[Vasistha]], he exiles his son Satyavrata, also called [[Trisanku]]. After Trayyaruna, Vasistha refuses to perform Trisanku's consecration.<ref>Vayu Purana, 88.78-116</ref> A little later, [[Visvamitra]] of Kanyakubja tries to obtain the wishing cow [[Nandini]] of Vasistha. A fierce combat follows between the two, in which Visvamitra is defeated. Convinced of the superiority of [[brahmins]], he resolves to become a ''brahmarsi'' and relinquishes his throne.<ref>Ramayana, I.51-56</ref> When engaged in austerities, Visvamitra is befriended by Trisanku. He then champions Trisanku's cause, performs his royal consecration and on his death elevates him in his living body to heaven.<ref>Ramayana, I.57-60</ref>
The rivalry of Visvamitra and Vasistha continues even during the reign of [[Hariscandra]], Trisanku's son. Hariscandra had a son Rohita, whom he had vowed to sacrifice to [[Varuna]]. He postponed the sacrifice for many years due to which he is afflicted with dropsy. Rohita, on Vasistha's advice, to propitiate Varuna, buys Ajigarta's son [[Sunahsepa]] (who is Visvamitra's grandnephew) as sacrificial victim in his stead. When about to be killed, Sunahsepa chants the ''varunamantra'', taught to him by Visvamitra. Varuna appears, grants the boy his freedom and the king a cure from the disease. Visvamitra then adopts the boy as his chief son with the name Devarata.<ref>Aitareya Brahmana, VII.15-18</ref><ref>Ramayana, I.61-62</ref> A number of Visvamitra's sons, who protest against the status given to Devarata, are cursed by their angry father to become outcastes. They become the ancestors of Dasyu tribes, such as the Andhras, Mutibas, Pulindas, etc.<ref>Mahabharata, XIII.3</ref><ref>Aitareya Brahmana, VII.18</ref> Visvamitra, subsequently, obtains the position of a brahmarsi.<ref>Ramayana, I.65</ref>
In the Haihaya line, Krtavirya was succeeded by his son Arjuna Kartavirya, who was a mighty king. After a long reign he has dissension with Jamadagni. As a result, [[Parasurama]], the son of Jamadagni by [[Renuka]], the daughter of a minor Iksvaku king, kills Kartavirya Arjuna, whereupon Kartavirya's son's kill Jamadagni. In revenge, Parasurama resolves to slaughter the entire class of warriors (kshatriyas), and so far succeeds that only five survive to continue the great dynasties.<ref>Mahabharata, III.115-117</ref>
After Kartavirya, the Haihayas divided into five collateral tribes – the Talajanghas, the Vitihotras, the Avantyas, Tudikeras and Jatas. They attack Ayodhya and drive king Bahu from the throne.<ref name="Visnu Purana, IV.3">Visnu Purana, IV.3</ref> They also attack, defeat and drive the Kasi king Divodasa from Varanasi. Pratardana, the son of Divodasa subdues the Vitihotras and recovers the throne.<ref>Mahabharata, XIII.30</ref> A little later, Bahu begets a son [[Sagara (Vedic king)|Sagara]], and Sagara defeats all those enemies, regains his kingdom and destroys the Haihaya power for good.<ref name="Visnu Purana, IV.3"/>
Sagara had sixty thousand sons who insult Kapila rsi and are, in turn, reduced to ashes by him. Therefore, Sagara is succeeded by his grandson Amsuman on the throne of Ayodhya.<ref>Ramayana, I.38-41</ref> With the reign of Sagara, the [[Satya Yuga]] comes to an end.
==The Treta Yuga==
{{Main|Treta Yuga}}
[[Bhagiratha]], the great grandson of Sagara brings down the divine river [[Ganges in Hinduism|Ganges]] to earth to expiate the sins of the sons of Sagara.<ref>Ramayana, I.42-44</ref> Rtuparna is the next prominent king in the dynasty made famous by his association with [[Nala]], the king of Nisadas. Nala married [[Damayanti]], the daughter of Bhima, the Yadava king of Vidarbha. The delightful story of their marriage and the unhappy sequel of his subsequent temporary loss of his kingdom and destitution through gambling, is in the Mahabharata told to Yudhishthira suffering in similar circumstances.<ref>Mahabharata, III.50-78</ref>
After a long eclipse (corresponding to the ascendency of the solar dynasty under Mandhata), the Paurava line is revived by [[Dushyanta|Dusyanta]], a near contemporary of Bhagiratha. He marries [[Sakuntala]], the daughter of [[Visvamitra]] and begets [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Bharata]].<ref>Mahabharata, I.62-69</ref> Bharata is crowned as a cakravartin and later gives his name to the dynasty, to the great fratricidal war between the Kauravas and Pandavas, and to India itself (i.e. [[Names of India|Bharatavarsa]]). His fifth successor Hastin shifts the capital to a place in the upper doab and calls it [[Hastinapura]], after himself.<ref>Vishnu Purana, IV.19</ref>
Soon after Hastin, the Bharata dynasty is divided into four separate lines – the most well-known being the main Paurava line and the Pancala line. The Pancala king [[Divodasa]] is celebrated as the destroyer of 99 forts of the dasyu [[Sambara]].<ref>Rigveda, I.112.14; I.116.18</ref> His sister was [[Ahalya]], the wife of [[Gautama]]. She was deceived by [[Indra]] and expelled into the forest by her husband on account of her infidelity.<ref>Ramayana, I.48</ref>
The solar line once again ascends under the benevolent kingship of [[Raghu]], [[Aja (Hindu mythology)|Aja]] and [[Dasharatha]].<ref>Raghuvaṃśa of Kālidāsa - Edited with extracts & Notes etc by Narayan Ram Acharya Kavyatirtha, Chaukhambha Publishers, Varanasi, 2nd ed (2002)</ref> The story of Rama, Dasharatha's son, forms the subject of the poem Ramayana by [[Valmiki]]. The intrigues of his stepmother [[Kaikeyi]] result in the exile of [[Rama]], his wife [[Sita]] and his brother [[Laksmana]] to the forest. In the forest, Sita is abducted by [[Ravana]], the king of raksasas and imprisoned in Lanka, his capital. Rama forms an alliance with the monkeys and the bears of the forest and lays a siege of Lanka. Ravana is ultimately defeated and slain by Rama. He then returns to Ayodhya with his wife Sita and ascends the throne.
With Rama's disappearance, the [[Treta Yuga]] comes to a close and the [[Dvapara Yuga]] commences. After Rama the solar dynasty goes into permanent decline.
==The Dvapara Yuga==
{{Main|Dvapara Yuga}}
The Yadava line is once again split into two separate lines after the reign of Bhima, the son of Satvat by his sons [[Andhaka]] and [[Vrishni|Vrsni]], who style their dynasties after their respective names. [[Ugrasena]], the father of [[Kamsa]] was an Andhaka while [[Vasudeva Anakadundubhi]], the father of [[Krishna]] was a Vrsni.
The Pancala Bharata dynasty under its king Srnjaya now rises to prominence. His son Cyavana-Pijavana was a great warrior and the latter's son, [[Sudas]], annexed several kingdoms. A confederacy of the kings of the Pauravas, the Yadavas, the Sivis, the Druhyus, the Matsyas, the Turvasus and others, is formed against Sudas, who defeats them in a great battle near the river Parusni. This is called the [[Battle of the Ten Kings]].<ref>Rigveda, VII.18;VII.83</ref> The bulk of hymns (Book II-IX) represents only 5 to 6 generations of kings (and of contemporary poets) of this dynasty.<ref>Witzel, Michael. The Development of the Vedic Canon and its Schools: The Social and Political Milieu. Inside the Texts, Beyond the Texts. [[Harvard Oriental Series]] (1997)</ref>
The Paurava line continues through Ajamidha, the son of Hasti. In his line, king [[Samvarana]] was defeated and exiled to the forests on the bank of river Sindhu by the Pancalas. Pargiter identifies this Pancala king as Sudas but the exact relationship between the dynasties, chronological and political, is not recorded. Later, Samvarana reobtains his capital from the Pancalas and marries Tapati, a daughter of the Sun.<ref>Mahabharata, I.173-175</ref> The playwright Kulasekhara (c. 900AD) has immortalized their story in his play ''Tapatisamvarana''. Their son was [[Kuru (mythology)|Kuru]] and his descendants were called Kauravas. The line continues through Kuru's second son Jahnu.
[[Vasu]], a descendant of Kuru conquers the Yadava kingdom of [[Chedi Kingdom|Cedi]], and establishes himself there. His eldest son, Brhadratha founds [[Rajgir|Girivraja]] in [[Magadha]] as his capital. His son [[Jarasandha]] extends his power up to Mathura (ruled by Andhaka king, Kamsa, who acknowledged him as overlord) in the north and Vidarbha in the south. Kamsa was a tyrant. He had imprisoned his father and usurped the throne. His nephew Krishna kills him and restores the old king to his throne. This rouses Jarasandha's wrath and he attacks [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]]. Krishna along with the Andhakas and Vrsnis migrate to the West coast and build a new capital Dvaravati ([[Dvaravati|Dvaraka]]) in Saurastra. Krishna then abducts Rukmini, the princess of Vidarbha, defeating her brother and marries her.<ref>Visnu Purana, V</ref> In later life, Krishna becomes the friend of the Pandavas.
The next famous king in the Kaurava line is Pratipa. His son, [[Santanu]] supersedes his elder brother [[Devapi]] to the throne, whereupon no rain falls for twelve years. Devapi then acts as a Hotr (chief priest) and performs sacrifice for his brother and obtains rain.<ref>Brihaddevata, vii,155-7, viii.1-9</ref>
Santanu's grandsons were [[Dhrtarastra]] and [[Pandu]]. The former being blind, the latter ascends the throne. Dhrtarastra has many sons of whom [[Duryodhana]] is the eldest; and Pandu has five sons, [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. The sons of Dhrtarastra belonging to the elder branch were called Kauravas and Pandu's sons, the Pandavas. The question of succession to the throne results in a feud between the two families culminating in the appalling slaughter in the Bharata War. All the old kshatriya dynasties of India, it is said, took part in the great battle, fighting on one side or the other. In the battle, which lasts for eighteen days, the ruses of Krishna enable the hard pressed Pandavas to win. The ''Mahabharata'' narrates the story of this feud in detail.
Subsequently, the Yadavas are themselves engulfed in civil war, and Krishna withdraws to the life of an ascetic in the forest. Here he is accidentally shot and killed by a hunter.<ref>Mahabharata, XIX</ref> His grandson is re-established at Indraprastha by the Pandavas. Soon the Pandavas themselves crown [[Pariksita]], the grandson of Arjuna on the throne of Hastinapura and retire to the forest. The [[Dvapara Yuga]] closes with the departure of Krishna.
==The Kali Yuga==
{{Main|Kali Yuga}}
[[Pariksita]], on a hunting expedition, disrespects rsi Samika and is in turn, cursed by his son Srngin to die from snake [[Taksaka]]’s poison within seven days. Taksaka buys off Kasyapa, the only person who has an antidote to the poison. At the end of seven days, Pariksit dies from Taksaka's bite.<ref>Mahabharata, I.40-43</ref> His son [[Janamejaya II|Janamejaya]], who was a minor then, later hears his father's death from his ministers, and resolves on revenge. He organizes a rite (''sarpasatra'') to destroy all snakes. The snakes enter the sacrificial fire by the power of the rite.<ref>Mahabharata, I.49-53</ref> Astika, (a half snake from his mother's side) who was begotten to save them,<ref>Mahabharata, I.13-39</ref> enters the rite and wins a boon of his choice by singing the praises of Janamejaya. He demands the proceedings be halted. Janamejaya cannot refuse and concludes the rite.<ref>Mahabharata, I.54-58</ref> It is during this rite that [[Vaisampayana]], a disciple of [[Vyasa]] narrates the ''Mahabharata'' to Janamejaya.<ref>Mahabharata, I.60</ref>
Nicaksu, sixth in line from Pariksita, transfers his capital from Hastinapura to [[Kausambi]] in Vasta as the former city is ravaged by a flood of the Ganges.<ref>Visnu Purana, IV.21</ref> The line continues for many generations till [[Udayana]], the famous king of Vatsa (and a contemporary of [[Buddha]]) who carries off [[Svapnavasavadatta|Vasavadatta]], the princess of Avanti. Their tale is celebrated first by Gunadhya in his novel Brhatkatha and later by [[Bhasa]] and [[Shudraka]] in their dramas ''[[Svapnavasavadatta]]'' and ''[[Vinavasavadatta]]'', respectively.
In Magadha, the descendants of Brhadratha and Jarasandha retain the throne till they are replaced by the Sisunaga dynasty, which among others include the famous kings [[Bimbisara]] and [[Ajatashatru]]. [[Mahapadma Nanda]] usurps the throne from the last king of the Sisunaga line. He overthrows all old kshatriya dynasties - the Iksvakus, the Pancalas, the Kaseyas, the Haihayas, the Kalingas, the Asmakas, the Kurus, the Maithilas, the Surasenas and the Vitihotras – and subdues the whole central India. The Puranas, hence, call him the 'destroyer of all kshatriyas' and 'monarch of the whole earth which was under his sole sway'.<ref>Visnu Purana, IV.23-24</ref> After the sisunaga dynasty Magadha rule was carry on by the [[Maurya Dynasty]] .
According to the ''Mahabharata'', the [[Kali Yuga]] will close with the coming of [[Kalki]], at which point the [[Satya Yuga]] will recommence.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03189.htm|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|last=Vyasa|first=Krishna-Dwaipayana|pages=390–391|translator-last=Mohan Ganguli|translator-first=Kisari|chapter=SECTION CLXXXIX}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|"And when those terrible times will be over, the creation will begin anew. … the Krita age will begin again. … And commissioned by Time, a Brahmana of the name of Kalki will take his birth. And he will glorify Vishnu and possess great energy, great intelligence, and great prowess. … And he will restore order and peace in this world crowded with creatures and contradictory in its course. … And he will be the Destroyer of all, and will inaugurate a new Yuga."}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Sources==
{{refbegin}}
<!-- K -->
* {{Cite book |last=Klostermaier |first=Klaus K. |year=2007 |title=A Survey of Hinduism |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-7914-7082-4 |edition=3rd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E_6-JbUiHB4C }}
{{refend}}
==See also==
* [[Hindu mythology]]
* [[History of India]]
* [[Historicity of the Mahabharata]]
Okumaya devam et...
The [[Itihasa-Purana]], the '''Epic-Puranic''' narratives of the [[Sanskrit Epics]] ([[Mahabharata]] and the [[Ramayana]]){{sfnp|Klostermaier|2007|p=59}} and the [[Puranas]],{{sfnp|Klostermaier|2007|p=59}} contain '''royal genealogies''' of the [[lunar dynasty]] and [[solar dynasty]] which are regarded by Indian traditions as historic events, and used in the [[Epic-Puranic chronologies]] to establish a traditional timeline of Indian history.
==Vaivasvata Manu==
The traditions relate that the present Kalpa is called [[Varaha#Creation legend|Varaha]]. Out of the fourteen manvantaras in this Kalpa, six have passed. The current Manvantara is called [[Vaivasvata]] after the Manu who presides over it. It is to Vaivasvata Manu that the royal genealogies of the ''Itihasa'' trace their origin. It was in the Chakshusha manvantara, which immediately preceded the present manvantara, that king [[Prithu]], the great grandson of Chakshusha Manu, leveled the earth, built cities and villages and developed agriculture, trade, pasture and cattle-breeding. This cycle ended after only eight more generations with the [[List_of_flood_myths#India|Great Flood]].
==The Satya Yuga==
{{Main|Satya Yuga}}
The Great Flood at the end of Chakshusa [[manvantara]] wipes away all life forms. Only [[Vaivasvata Manu]] is saved by Lord [[Vishnu]], in the [[avatar]] of a fish, [[Matsya]] to repopulate the earth in the next cycle.<ref>Satapatha Brahmana, I.8.1</ref><ref>Mahabharata, III.185</ref><ref>Bhagavata Purana, VIII.24</ref> All royal lines in the present cycle are traced in the ''itihasas'' from Manu Vaivasvata's sons and his only daughter [[Ila (Hinduism)|Ila]]. [[Ikshvaku]], the eldest son of Manu, establishes the [[Solar_dynasty|Solar Line]] (from [[Vivasvan]], the sun-god, the father of Vaivasvata Manu) at [[Ayodhya]] in [[Kosala]]. Iksvaku's younger son [[Nimi (Mithila king)|Nimi]] migrates a little further east and founds the house of [[Videha]]. Its capital [[History of Mithila|Mithila]] is established by his son Mithi,<ref>Visnu Purana, IV.5</ref> also called [[Janaka]] which later becomes the generic name for the kings of Videha.
The [[lunar dynasty]] is established at about the same time, at [[Pratisthan Pur (Jhunsi)|Pratisthana]] (identified with a suburb of modern day [[Allahabad]]) in [[Madhyadesha]] (the [[doab]] between [[Ganges|Ganga]] and [[Yamuna]] rivers) by [[Pururavas]], the son of Ila and Budha, the illegitimate child of [[Soma (deity)|Soma]], the moon-god.<ref>Visnu Purana, IV.6</ref> The tale of his love for the nymph [[Urvasi]] is a tale that has caught the Indian imagination for generations. It is the subject of a famous classical work by [[Kalidasa]] called ''[[Vikramorvasiyam]]''. While Ayus, the elder son of Pururavas ascends the throne after him, his younger brother, Amavasu founds another [[Amavasu dynasty|dynasty]] that reigned over a kingdom, centred around Kanyakubja (modern [[Kannauj]]).<ref name="Visnu Purana, IV.7">Visnu Purana, IV.7</ref>
The lunar line again splits into two after the reign of Ayus, the eldest son of Pururavas. [[Nahusa]], the eldest son of Ayus, succeeds him, but obtains the position of [[Indra]] in the heaven but is banished from there when he lusts after [[Sachi]], the wife of Indra.<ref>Mahabharata, V.9-18</ref> Ksatravrddha, another son of Ayus, establishes the dynasty of [[Kingdom of Kashi|Kashi]] (Varanasi). His descendants were called Kaseyas.<ref name="Visnu Purana, IV.7"/>
Nahusa's son and successor [[Yayati]] was a renowned conqueror and was reckoned as a [[Chakravarti (Sanskrit term)|''cakravartin'']]. He had two sons named [[Yadu]] and [[Turvasu]] from [[Devayani]], the daughter of [[Shukra|Sukra]], the preceptor of [[Asura|asuras]]. He also had three other sons, [[Druhyu]], [[Anu]] and [[King Porus|Puru]] from Sarmistha, the daughter of asura king Vrsaparva. Yayati installs Puru, the youngest. but the most dutiful son as his successor in the ancestral sovereignty in Pratisthana.<ref>Mahabharata, I.76-93</ref> The elder sons obtain the outlying areas. From the sons of Yayati, descend the five famous royal lines of the [[Yadava|Yadavas]], the Turvasus, the Druhyus, the Anavas and the [[Pauravas]], together called the [[List_of_ancient_Indo-Aryan_peoples_and_tribes#Pancha_Jana_(Five_tribes)|''Pancha Jana'' or the Five Tribes]].<ref>Visnu Purana, IV.10</ref>
Immediately after Yadu, the Yadava dynasty is bifurcated – the main line continued by Krosti and the independent line of [[Heheya Kingdom|Haihayas]] led by Sahasrajit. The Yadava branch first develops a great principality under king Sasabindu, who becomes a ''cakravrtin''. [[King Mandhata]], the son of Yuvansva,<ref>Mahabharata, III.126</ref> the king of Ayodhya marries his daughter Bindumati and rises to eminence. He follows in the footsteps of his father-in-law, extends his sway very widely and becomes a ''cakravrtin'' himself.<ref>Visnu Purana, IV.2</ref> His son Purukutsa marries [[Narmada]], the river goddess. Another son, also a famous king, called Mucukunda builds and fortifies a town on the bank of that river; it was [[Mahismati]].
Soon thereafter, the Druhyu king Gandhara retires to the northwest (modern [[Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa]]) and establishes the kingdom of [[Gandhara]] there. His descendants scatter into the regions beyond India and establish many ''[[mleccha]]'' principalities.<ref name="Visnu Purana, IV.18">Visnu Purana, IV.18</ref> Later, the Anavas divide into two branches under Usinara and Titiksu. The sons of Usinara establish separate tribes of the [[Yaudheyas]], Ambasthas, Navarastras, Krimilas and Sivis in eastern [[Punjab region|Punjab]]. [[Sivi (king)|Sivi]], the son of Usinara and the originator of the Sivis in Sivapura, is celebrated in the Indian mythology for his generosity. His sons set up the kingdoms of Vrsadarbhas, [[Madra]]kas, [[Kekayas|Kaikayas]] and Sauviras, and occupy the whole Punjab. The other branch of the Anavas under Titiksu moved east and founded the principalities of [[Anga]], [[Banga, India|Banga]], [[Kalinga (historical kingdom)|Kalinga]], [[Suhma]] and [[Pundra]].<ref name="Visnu Purana, IV.18"/>
The Haihaya king Krtavirya had the [[Bhargava]]s as his priests and enriched them. His kinsmen tried to recover the wealth but the Bhargavas resisted. The Haihayas then maltreated them due to which they fled to different countries.<ref>Mahabharata, I.178</ref> Gadhi was then king of Kanyakubja and had a daughter Satyavati. The Bhargava rsi Rcika marries her and begets a son [[Jamadagni]]. About the same time Gadhi has a son [[Visvamitra]].<ref name="Visnu Purana, IV.7"/><ref>Mahabharata, III.115</ref>
In the solar line, Trayyaruna, a near contemporary of Gadhi and Krtavirya, ruled the kingdom of Ayodhya at this time. On the counsel of his priest [[Vasistha]], he exiles his son Satyavrata, also called [[Trisanku]]. After Trayyaruna, Vasistha refuses to perform Trisanku's consecration.<ref>Vayu Purana, 88.78-116</ref> A little later, [[Visvamitra]] of Kanyakubja tries to obtain the wishing cow [[Nandini]] of Vasistha. A fierce combat follows between the two, in which Visvamitra is defeated. Convinced of the superiority of [[brahmins]], he resolves to become a ''brahmarsi'' and relinquishes his throne.<ref>Ramayana, I.51-56</ref> When engaged in austerities, Visvamitra is befriended by Trisanku. He then champions Trisanku's cause, performs his royal consecration and on his death elevates him in his living body to heaven.<ref>Ramayana, I.57-60</ref>
The rivalry of Visvamitra and Vasistha continues even during the reign of [[Hariscandra]], Trisanku's son. Hariscandra had a son Rohita, whom he had vowed to sacrifice to [[Varuna]]. He postponed the sacrifice for many years due to which he is afflicted with dropsy. Rohita, on Vasistha's advice, to propitiate Varuna, buys Ajigarta's son [[Sunahsepa]] (who is Visvamitra's grandnephew) as sacrificial victim in his stead. When about to be killed, Sunahsepa chants the ''varunamantra'', taught to him by Visvamitra. Varuna appears, grants the boy his freedom and the king a cure from the disease. Visvamitra then adopts the boy as his chief son with the name Devarata.<ref>Aitareya Brahmana, VII.15-18</ref><ref>Ramayana, I.61-62</ref> A number of Visvamitra's sons, who protest against the status given to Devarata, are cursed by their angry father to become outcastes. They become the ancestors of Dasyu tribes, such as the Andhras, Mutibas, Pulindas, etc.<ref>Mahabharata, XIII.3</ref><ref>Aitareya Brahmana, VII.18</ref> Visvamitra, subsequently, obtains the position of a brahmarsi.<ref>Ramayana, I.65</ref>
In the Haihaya line, Krtavirya was succeeded by his son Arjuna Kartavirya, who was a mighty king. After a long reign he has dissension with Jamadagni. As a result, [[Parasurama]], the son of Jamadagni by [[Renuka]], the daughter of a minor Iksvaku king, kills Kartavirya Arjuna, whereupon Kartavirya's son's kill Jamadagni. In revenge, Parasurama resolves to slaughter the entire class of warriors (kshatriyas), and so far succeeds that only five survive to continue the great dynasties.<ref>Mahabharata, III.115-117</ref>
After Kartavirya, the Haihayas divided into five collateral tribes – the Talajanghas, the Vitihotras, the Avantyas, Tudikeras and Jatas. They attack Ayodhya and drive king Bahu from the throne.<ref name="Visnu Purana, IV.3">Visnu Purana, IV.3</ref> They also attack, defeat and drive the Kasi king Divodasa from Varanasi. Pratardana, the son of Divodasa subdues the Vitihotras and recovers the throne.<ref>Mahabharata, XIII.30</ref> A little later, Bahu begets a son [[Sagara (Vedic king)|Sagara]], and Sagara defeats all those enemies, regains his kingdom and destroys the Haihaya power for good.<ref name="Visnu Purana, IV.3"/>
Sagara had sixty thousand sons who insult Kapila rsi and are, in turn, reduced to ashes by him. Therefore, Sagara is succeeded by his grandson Amsuman on the throne of Ayodhya.<ref>Ramayana, I.38-41</ref> With the reign of Sagara, the [[Satya Yuga]] comes to an end.
==The Treta Yuga==
{{Main|Treta Yuga}}
[[Bhagiratha]], the great grandson of Sagara brings down the divine river [[Ganges in Hinduism|Ganges]] to earth to expiate the sins of the sons of Sagara.<ref>Ramayana, I.42-44</ref> Rtuparna is the next prominent king in the dynasty made famous by his association with [[Nala]], the king of Nisadas. Nala married [[Damayanti]], the daughter of Bhima, the Yadava king of Vidarbha. The delightful story of their marriage and the unhappy sequel of his subsequent temporary loss of his kingdom and destitution through gambling, is in the Mahabharata told to Yudhishthira suffering in similar circumstances.<ref>Mahabharata, III.50-78</ref>
After a long eclipse (corresponding to the ascendency of the solar dynasty under Mandhata), the Paurava line is revived by [[Dushyanta|Dusyanta]], a near contemporary of Bhagiratha. He marries [[Sakuntala]], the daughter of [[Visvamitra]] and begets [[Bharata (Mahabharata)|Bharata]].<ref>Mahabharata, I.62-69</ref> Bharata is crowned as a cakravartin and later gives his name to the dynasty, to the great fratricidal war between the Kauravas and Pandavas, and to India itself (i.e. [[Names of India|Bharatavarsa]]). His fifth successor Hastin shifts the capital to a place in the upper doab and calls it [[Hastinapura]], after himself.<ref>Vishnu Purana, IV.19</ref>
Soon after Hastin, the Bharata dynasty is divided into four separate lines – the most well-known being the main Paurava line and the Pancala line. The Pancala king [[Divodasa]] is celebrated as the destroyer of 99 forts of the dasyu [[Sambara]].<ref>Rigveda, I.112.14; I.116.18</ref> His sister was [[Ahalya]], the wife of [[Gautama]]. She was deceived by [[Indra]] and expelled into the forest by her husband on account of her infidelity.<ref>Ramayana, I.48</ref>
The solar line once again ascends under the benevolent kingship of [[Raghu]], [[Aja (Hindu mythology)|Aja]] and [[Dasharatha]].<ref>Raghuvaṃśa of Kālidāsa - Edited with extracts & Notes etc by Narayan Ram Acharya Kavyatirtha, Chaukhambha Publishers, Varanasi, 2nd ed (2002)</ref> The story of Rama, Dasharatha's son, forms the subject of the poem Ramayana by [[Valmiki]]. The intrigues of his stepmother [[Kaikeyi]] result in the exile of [[Rama]], his wife [[Sita]] and his brother [[Laksmana]] to the forest. In the forest, Sita is abducted by [[Ravana]], the king of raksasas and imprisoned in Lanka, his capital. Rama forms an alliance with the monkeys and the bears of the forest and lays a siege of Lanka. Ravana is ultimately defeated and slain by Rama. He then returns to Ayodhya with his wife Sita and ascends the throne.
With Rama's disappearance, the [[Treta Yuga]] comes to a close and the [[Dvapara Yuga]] commences. After Rama the solar dynasty goes into permanent decline.
==The Dvapara Yuga==
{{Main|Dvapara Yuga}}
The Yadava line is once again split into two separate lines after the reign of Bhima, the son of Satvat by his sons [[Andhaka]] and [[Vrishni|Vrsni]], who style their dynasties after their respective names. [[Ugrasena]], the father of [[Kamsa]] was an Andhaka while [[Vasudeva Anakadundubhi]], the father of [[Krishna]] was a Vrsni.
The Pancala Bharata dynasty under its king Srnjaya now rises to prominence. His son Cyavana-Pijavana was a great warrior and the latter's son, [[Sudas]], annexed several kingdoms. A confederacy of the kings of the Pauravas, the Yadavas, the Sivis, the Druhyus, the Matsyas, the Turvasus and others, is formed against Sudas, who defeats them in a great battle near the river Parusni. This is called the [[Battle of the Ten Kings]].<ref>Rigveda, VII.18;VII.83</ref> The bulk of hymns (Book II-IX) represents only 5 to 6 generations of kings (and of contemporary poets) of this dynasty.<ref>Witzel, Michael. The Development of the Vedic Canon and its Schools: The Social and Political Milieu. Inside the Texts, Beyond the Texts. [[Harvard Oriental Series]] (1997)</ref>
The Paurava line continues through Ajamidha, the son of Hasti. In his line, king [[Samvarana]] was defeated and exiled to the forests on the bank of river Sindhu by the Pancalas. Pargiter identifies this Pancala king as Sudas but the exact relationship between the dynasties, chronological and political, is not recorded. Later, Samvarana reobtains his capital from the Pancalas and marries Tapati, a daughter of the Sun.<ref>Mahabharata, I.173-175</ref> The playwright Kulasekhara (c. 900AD) has immortalized their story in his play ''Tapatisamvarana''. Their son was [[Kuru (mythology)|Kuru]] and his descendants were called Kauravas. The line continues through Kuru's second son Jahnu.
[[Vasu]], a descendant of Kuru conquers the Yadava kingdom of [[Chedi Kingdom|Cedi]], and establishes himself there. His eldest son, Brhadratha founds [[Rajgir|Girivraja]] in [[Magadha]] as his capital. His son [[Jarasandha]] extends his power up to Mathura (ruled by Andhaka king, Kamsa, who acknowledged him as overlord) in the north and Vidarbha in the south. Kamsa was a tyrant. He had imprisoned his father and usurped the throne. His nephew Krishna kills him and restores the old king to his throne. This rouses Jarasandha's wrath and he attacks [[Mathura, Uttar Pradesh|Mathura]]. Krishna along with the Andhakas and Vrsnis migrate to the West coast and build a new capital Dvaravati ([[Dvaravati|Dvaraka]]) in Saurastra. Krishna then abducts Rukmini, the princess of Vidarbha, defeating her brother and marries her.<ref>Visnu Purana, V</ref> In later life, Krishna becomes the friend of the Pandavas.
The next famous king in the Kaurava line is Pratipa. His son, [[Santanu]] supersedes his elder brother [[Devapi]] to the throne, whereupon no rain falls for twelve years. Devapi then acts as a Hotr (chief priest) and performs sacrifice for his brother and obtains rain.<ref>Brihaddevata, vii,155-7, viii.1-9</ref>
Santanu's grandsons were [[Dhrtarastra]] and [[Pandu]]. The former being blind, the latter ascends the throne. Dhrtarastra has many sons of whom [[Duryodhana]] is the eldest; and Pandu has five sons, [[Yudhishthira]], [[Bhima]], [[Arjuna]], [[Nakula]] and [[Sahadeva]]. The sons of Dhrtarastra belonging to the elder branch were called Kauravas and Pandu's sons, the Pandavas. The question of succession to the throne results in a feud between the two families culminating in the appalling slaughter in the Bharata War. All the old kshatriya dynasties of India, it is said, took part in the great battle, fighting on one side or the other. In the battle, which lasts for eighteen days, the ruses of Krishna enable the hard pressed Pandavas to win. The ''Mahabharata'' narrates the story of this feud in detail.
Subsequently, the Yadavas are themselves engulfed in civil war, and Krishna withdraws to the life of an ascetic in the forest. Here he is accidentally shot and killed by a hunter.<ref>Mahabharata, XIX</ref> His grandson is re-established at Indraprastha by the Pandavas. Soon the Pandavas themselves crown [[Pariksita]], the grandson of Arjuna on the throne of Hastinapura and retire to the forest. The [[Dvapara Yuga]] closes with the departure of Krishna.
==The Kali Yuga==
{{Main|Kali Yuga}}
[[Pariksita]], on a hunting expedition, disrespects rsi Samika and is in turn, cursed by his son Srngin to die from snake [[Taksaka]]’s poison within seven days. Taksaka buys off Kasyapa, the only person who has an antidote to the poison. At the end of seven days, Pariksit dies from Taksaka's bite.<ref>Mahabharata, I.40-43</ref> His son [[Janamejaya II|Janamejaya]], who was a minor then, later hears his father's death from his ministers, and resolves on revenge. He organizes a rite (''sarpasatra'') to destroy all snakes. The snakes enter the sacrificial fire by the power of the rite.<ref>Mahabharata, I.49-53</ref> Astika, (a half snake from his mother's side) who was begotten to save them,<ref>Mahabharata, I.13-39</ref> enters the rite and wins a boon of his choice by singing the praises of Janamejaya. He demands the proceedings be halted. Janamejaya cannot refuse and concludes the rite.<ref>Mahabharata, I.54-58</ref> It is during this rite that [[Vaisampayana]], a disciple of [[Vyasa]] narrates the ''Mahabharata'' to Janamejaya.<ref>Mahabharata, I.60</ref>
Nicaksu, sixth in line from Pariksita, transfers his capital from Hastinapura to [[Kausambi]] in Vasta as the former city is ravaged by a flood of the Ganges.<ref>Visnu Purana, IV.21</ref> The line continues for many generations till [[Udayana]], the famous king of Vatsa (and a contemporary of [[Buddha]]) who carries off [[Svapnavasavadatta|Vasavadatta]], the princess of Avanti. Their tale is celebrated first by Gunadhya in his novel Brhatkatha and later by [[Bhasa]] and [[Shudraka]] in their dramas ''[[Svapnavasavadatta]]'' and ''[[Vinavasavadatta]]'', respectively.
In Magadha, the descendants of Brhadratha and Jarasandha retain the throne till they are replaced by the Sisunaga dynasty, which among others include the famous kings [[Bimbisara]] and [[Ajatashatru]]. [[Mahapadma Nanda]] usurps the throne from the last king of the Sisunaga line. He overthrows all old kshatriya dynasties - the Iksvakus, the Pancalas, the Kaseyas, the Haihayas, the Kalingas, the Asmakas, the Kurus, the Maithilas, the Surasenas and the Vitihotras – and subdues the whole central India. The Puranas, hence, call him the 'destroyer of all kshatriyas' and 'monarch of the whole earth which was under his sole sway'.<ref>Visnu Purana, IV.23-24</ref> After the sisunaga dynasty Magadha rule was carry on by the [[Maurya Dynasty]] .
According to the ''Mahabharata'', the [[Kali Yuga]] will close with the coming of [[Kalki]], at which point the [[Satya Yuga]] will recommence.<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03189.htm|title=The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa|last=Vyasa|first=Krishna-Dwaipayana|pages=390–391|translator-last=Mohan Ganguli|translator-first=Kisari|chapter=SECTION CLXXXIX}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|"And when those terrible times will be over, the creation will begin anew. … the Krita age will begin again. … And commissioned by Time, a Brahmana of the name of Kalki will take his birth. And he will glorify Vishnu and possess great energy, great intelligence, and great prowess. … And he will restore order and peace in this world crowded with creatures and contradictory in its course. … And he will be the Destroyer of all, and will inaugurate a new Yuga."}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Sources==
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* {{Cite book |last=Klostermaier |first=Klaus K. |year=2007 |title=A Survey of Hinduism |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=978-0-7914-7082-4 |edition=3rd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E_6-JbUiHB4C }}
{{refend}}
==See also==
* [[Hindu mythology]]
* [[History of India]]
* [[Historicity of the Mahabharata]]
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