Epic-Puranic royal genealogies

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The

Sanskrit Epics (Mahabharata and the Ramayana)[1] and the Puranas,[1] 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 chronology
to establish a traditional timeline of Indian history.

Cyclic time and yugas

Main article:
Yuga Cycle

The Puranas are oriented at a cyclical understanding of time. They contain stories about the creation and destruction of the world, and the yugas (ages).[2] There are four yugas in one cycle:

According to the Manusmriti (c. 2nd CE),[3] one of the earliest known texts describing the yugas, the length of each yuga is 4800, 3600, 2400 and 1200 years of the gods, respectively, giving a total of 12,000 divine years to complete one cycle. For human years, they are multiplied by 360 giving 1,728,000, 1,296,000, 864,000 and 432,000 years, respectively, giving a total of 4,320,000 human years. These four yugas have a length ratio of 4:3:2:1.[4]

The Bhagavata Purana [3.11.18-20] (c. 500-1000 CE) gives a matching description of the yuga lengths in divine years.

The Kali Yuga is the present yuga. According to Puranic sources, Krishna's departure marks the end of Dvapara Yuga and the start of Kali Yuga,[note 1] which is dated to 17/18 February 3102 BCE,[5][6] twenty years after the Bharata War.[7]

Vaivasvata Manu and the Solar and Lunar Dynasties

The Solar dynasty and Lunar dynasty were two legendary principal dynasties of the Kshatriyas varna, or warrior–ruler class mentioned in the ancient Indian texts.

The present Kalpa 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.

According to

Sarayu (being the river that his mother Sanjana was the goddess of) and called it Ayodhya meaning the 'invincible city'. This city served as the capital of many kings from the solar dynasty and is also believed to be the birthplace of Rama.[8]

The Lunar dynasty (

Anu, and Puru. These seem to be the names of five Vedic tribes as described in the Vedas.[11]

Satya Yuga

Main article: Satya Yuga

The Great Flood at the end of Chakshusa

Mithila is established by his son Mithi,[15] also called Janaka
which later becomes the generic name for the kings of Videha.

The

Vikramorvasiyam. While Ayus, the elder son of Pururavas ascends the throne after him, his younger brother, Amavasu founds another dynasty that reigned over a kingdom, centred around Kanyakubja (modern Kannauj).[17]

The lunar line again splits into two after the reign of Ayus, the eldest son of Pururavas.

Kashi (Varanasi). His descendants were called Kaseyas.[17]

Nahusa's son and successor

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.[19] The elder sons obtain the outlying areas. From the sons of Yayati, descend the five famous royal lines of the Yadavas, the Turvasus, the Druhyus, the Anavas and the Pauravas, together called the Pancha Jana or the Five Tribes.[20]

Immediately after Yadu, the Yadava dynasty is bifurcated – the main line continued by Krosti and the independent line of

Mahismati
.

Soon thereafter, the Druhyu king Gandhara retires to the northwest (modern

Pundra.[23]

The Haihaya king Krtavirya had the

Visvamitra.[17][25]

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

brahmins, he resolves to become a brahmarsi and relinquishes his throne.[27] 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.[28]

The rivalry of Visvamitra and Vasistha continues even during the reign of

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.[29][30] 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.[31][32] Visvamitra, subsequently, obtains the position of a brahmarsi.[33]

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.[34]

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.

Sagara, and Sagara defeats all those enemies, regains his kingdom and destroys the Haihaya power for good.[35]

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.[37] With the reign of Sagara, the Satya Yuga comes to an end.

Treta Yuga

Main article: Treta Yuga

Ganges to earth to expiate the sins of the sons of Sagara.[38] 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.[39]

After a long eclipse (corresponding to the ascendency of the solar dynasty under Mandhata), the Paurava line is revived by

Hastinapura, after himself.[41]

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

Sambara.[42] His sister was Ahalya, the wife of Gautama Maharishi. She was deceived by Indra and expelled into the forest by her husband on account of her infidelity.[43]

The solar line once again ascends under the benevolent kingship of

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.

Dvapara Yuga

Main article: 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

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.[45] The bulk of hymns (Book II-IX) represents only 5 to 6 generations of kings (and of contemporary poets) of this dynasty.[46]

The Paurava line continues through Ajamidha, the son of Hasti. In his line, king

Kuru
and his descendants were called Kauravas. The line continues through Kuru's second son Jahnu.

Mathura. Krishna along with the Andhakas and Vrsnis migrate to the West coast and build a new capital Dvaravati (Dvaraka) in Saurastra. Krishna then abducts Rukmini, the princess of Vidarbha, defeating her brother and marries her.[48]
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.[49]

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.

Pariksita, the grandson of Arjuna on the throne of Hastinapura and retire to the forest. The Dvapara Yuga
closes with the departure of Krishna.

Kali Yuga

Main article: Kali Yuga

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.[52] Astika, (a half snake from his mother's side) who was begotten to save them,[53] 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.[54] It is during this rite that Vaisampayana, a disciple of Vyasa narrates the Mahabharata to Janamejaya.[55]

Nicaksu, sixth in line from Pariksita, transfers his capital from Hastinapura to

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

Maurya Dynasty
.

According to the Mahabharata, the Kali Yuga will close with the coming of Kalki, at which point the Satya Yuga will recommence.[58][note 2]

Genealogies as a source of actual history

Historian

Painted Grey Ware or Chalcolithic
Black and Red Ware), understanding the Puranic genealogies as "records of a general pattern of settlements and migrations", rather than "factual information on history and chronology". She tries, however, to associate the chronology of the "obviously more significant lineages, that of the Puru and the Yadavas" with different archaeological layers.

Like Pargiter, she divides the Puru lineage into three distinct phases, connecting phase I (from Manu to Bharata) with the

Ochre Coloured Pottery
, phase II (after a break, from Bharata's "adopted sons" to Kuru) with the Painted Grey Ware; phase III (starting from Kuru) being terminated by the Mahabharata war. The Yadava line is associated with the Black and Red ware, the geographical distribution of which is traced in connection with the different branches and migrations of the Yadava tribe, according to the Puranic sources.

Thapar concludes, however more cautiously,[note 3] by considering the problem of chronology (archaeological evidence versus "traditional" chronology) and the question of identifying the Indo-Aryan speakers, phase I (up to Bharata) being understood as a pre-Indo-Aryan lineage, which was taken over later into the tradition of the Aryan-speaking people.[59]

Notes

  1. Wilson, H. H. (1895). The Vishnu Purana. S.P.C.K. Press. p. 61. (5.38.8) The Parijata tree proceeded to heaven, and on the same day that Hari [Krishna] departed from the earth the dark-bodied Kali age descended.
    * Brahma Purana Part 2
    . Motilal Banarsidass. 1955. p. 515. (2.103.8) It was on the day on which Krishna left the Earth and went to heaven that the Kali age, with time for its body set in.
  2. ^ "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."
  3. ^ Thapar: "The attempt to link the Puru and Yadava lineages with certain archaeological cultures ... has resulted in some echoes of identification, but nothing more definite than that can be said at this point. The identification remains speculative"

References

  1. ^ a b Klostermaier (2007), p. 59.
  2. ^ Rocher 1986, pp. 123–124.
  3. ^ Olivelle 2005, pp. 24–25.
  4. ^ Olivelle 2005, pp. 90, 240 (1.61), 241 (1.70-71).
  5. ^ Matchett, Freda. "The Puranas". In Flood (2003), p. 139.
  6. ^ Yano, Michio. "Calendar, astrology and astronomy". In Flood (2003), p. 390.
  7. ^ Singh 2008, p. 22.
  8. ^ Mazumdar 2008, p. 161.
  9. ISBN 978-8-12881-174-6
    .
  10. ^ Thapar 2013, p. 308.
  11. ^ A. K. Warder (1972). An Introduction to Indian Historiography. Popular Prakashan. pp. 21–22.
  12. ^ Satapatha Brahmana, I.8.1
  13. ^ Mahabharata, III.185
  14. ^ Bhagavata Purana, VIII.24
  15. ^ Visnu Purana, IV.5
  16. ^ Visnu Purana, IV.6
  17. ^ a b c Visnu Purana, IV.7
  18. ^ Mahabharata, V.9-18
  19. ^ Mahabharata, I.76-93
  20. ^ Visnu Purana, IV.10
  21. ^ Mahabharata, III.126
  22. ^ Visnu Purana, IV.2
  23. ^ a b Visnu Purana, IV.18
  24. ^ Mahabharata, I.178
  25. ^ Mahabharata, III.115
  26. ^ Vayu Purana, 88.78-116
  27. ^ Ramayana, I.51-56
  28. ^ Ramayana, I.57-60
  29. ^ Aitareya Brahmana, VII.15-18
  30. ^ Ramayana, I.61-62
  31. ^ Mahabharata, XIII.3
  32. ^ Aitareya Brahmana, VII.18
  33. ^ Ramayana, I.65
  34. ^ Mahabharata, III.115-117
  35. ^ a b Visnu Purana, IV.3
  36. ^ Mahabharata, XIII.30
  37. ^ Ramayana, I.38-41
  38. ^ Ramayana, I.42-44
  39. ^ Mahabharata, III.50-78
  40. ^ Mahabharata, I.62-69
  41. ^ Vishnu Purana, IV.19
  42. ^ Rigveda, I.112.14; I.116.18
  43. ^ Ramayana, I.48
  44. ^ Raghuvaṃśa of Kālidāsa - Edited with extracts & Notes etc by Narayan Ram Acharya Kavyatirtha, Chaukhambha Publishers, Varanasi, 2nd ed (2002)
  45. ^ Rigveda, VII.18;VII.83
  46. ^ 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)
  47. ^ Mahabharata, I.173-175
  48. ^ Visnu Purana, V
  49. ^ Brihaddevata, vii,155-7, viii.1-9
  50. ^ Mahabharata, XIX
  51. ^ Mahabharata, I.40-43
  52. ^ Mahabharata, I.49-53
  53. ^ Mahabharata, I.13-39
  54. ^ Mahabharata, I.54-58
  55. ^ Mahabharata, I.60
  56. ^ Visnu Purana, IV.21
  57. ^ Visnu Purana, IV.23-24
  58. ^ Vyasa, Krishna-Dwaipayana. "SECTION CLXXXIX". The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa. Translated by Mohan Ganguli, Kisari. pp. 390–391.
  59. ^ Thapar, Romila Puranic Lineages and archaeological cultures in Ancient Indian Social History: some interpretations. New Delhi. Orient Longmans. 1978.

Sources

See also
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