Ikshvaku dynasty

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The Ikshvaku dynasty was a dynasty founded by Ikshvaku, grandson of Vivasvan or Surya and son of Vaivasvata Manu. This dynasty is also known as Sūryavaṁśa (the Solar dynasty). The supreme perceptor of the Ikshvaku dynasty is Sage Vashishta. The important kings of this dynasty are Harishchandra, Dileepa, Sagara,[1] Raghu, Rama and Pasenadi. The word Ikshvaku means "Sugarcane". Some scholars have pointed out that the legends of Ikshvaku and Sumati may have their origin in the Southeast-Asian myth of the birth of humanity from a Sugarcane. The more commonly accepted theory is a transference in the opposite direction, from India to Southeast Asia. [2]

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[edit] Ikshvaku Dynasty lineage

The lists of kings of Ikṣvāku or Aikṣvāka dynasty are found in the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Harivamsha and the Puranas. But the two lists found in the Ramayana vary significantly with all other lists. The Raghuvamsha of Kalidasa also mentions the names of some of the kings of this dynasty.[3][4]

[edit] Brahma to Kusha

The genealogy of the Ikshvaku dynasty from Brahma to Rama is mentioned in the Ramayana in two lists (i.69.17-32 and ii.102.4-29). The only differnece between the two lists is that, Kukshi is mentioned only in the second list (ii.102.4-29). In the first list (i.69.17-32), Vikukshi is mentioned as the son of Ikshvaku[5]. The genealogy is as follows:

  1. Brahma
  2. Marichi.
  3. Kashyapa
  4. Vivasvan
  5. Vaivasvata Manu
  6. Ikshvaku
  7. Kukshi
  8. Vikukshi
  9. Bana
  10. Anaranya
  11. Prithu
  12. Trishanku
  13. Dhundhumara
  14. Yuvanashva
  15. Mandhata
  16. Susandhi
  17. Dhruvasandhi and Presenajit were the sons of Susandhi
  18. Bharata, son of Dhruvasandhi
  19. Bahu (Asita)
  20. Sagara
  21. Asamanja
  22. Amsumana
  23. Dilipa
  24. Bhagiratha
  25. Kakustha
  26. Raghu
  27. Pravriddha
  28. Shankhana
  29. Sudarshana
  30. Agnivarna
  31. Shighra
  32. Maru
  33. Prashushruka
  34. Ambarisha
  35. Nahusha
  36. Yayati
  37. Nabhaga is the son of Yayati
  38. Aja
  39. Dasharatha
  40. Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna are the sons of Dasaratha

Elsewhere, in the Ramayana, we find that, Lava and Kusha were the sons of Rama.

[edit] Kusha to Brihadbala

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

  • Kusha
  • Atithi, the son of Kusha
  • Nishadha, the son of Atithi
  • Nala, the son of Nishadha
  • Nabhas, the son of Nala
  • Pundarika, the son Nabhas
  • Kshemadhanvan, the son of Pundarika
  • Devanika, the son of Kshemadhanvan
  • Ahinagu, the son of Davanika
  • Paripatra, the son of Ahinagu
  • Dala (or Bala), the son of Ahinagu
  • Uktha, the son of Dala
  • Vajranabha, the son of Uktha
  • Shankhana, the son of Vajranabha
  • Vyushitashva, the son of Shankhana
  • Vishvasaha, the son of Vyushitashva
  • Hiranyanabha, the son of Vishvasaha
  • Pushya, the son of Hiranyanabha
  • Dhruvasandhi, the son of Pushya
  • Agnivarna, the son of Dhruvasandhi
  • Shighra, the son of Agnivarna
  • Maru, the son of Shighra
  • Prasushruta, the son of Maru
  • Susandhi, the son of Prasushruta
  • Amarsha and Sahasvanta, the sons of Susandhi
  • Vishrutavanta, the son of Amarsha
  • Brihadbala, the son of Vishrutavanta.

[edit] Brihadbala to Sumitra

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

  • Birhadbala
  • Brihatkshaya
  • Urukshaya
  • Vatsavyuha
  • Prativyoma
  • Divakara
  • Sahadeva
  • Brihadashva
  • Bhanuratha
  • Pratitashva
  • Supratika
  • Marudeva
  • Sunakshatra
  • Kinnara
  • Antariksha
  • Suvarna
  • Sumitra Amitrajit
  • Dharmin
  • Kritanjaya
  • Sanjaya Mahakoshala
  • Prasenajit (c. 6th century BCE)
  • Kshudraka
  • Kulaka
  • Suratha
  • Sumitra, defeated by Mahapadma Nanda

However, the Nepalese and Buddhists continue the dynasty further.

[edit] Lineage Descrepencies

The Ramayana lists and the Puranic lists have major differences. The following is the list of descrepencies[8]:

  1. Valmiki Ramayana lists mention only 36 kings from Vaivasvata Manu to Rama, whereas the Puranas mention 63 kings in that period.
  2. Valmiki Ramayana lists omit many kings who are well known in Vedic literature and the Mahabharata as Ikshvaku dynasty kings. These names are found in the Puranic lists.
  3. Valmiki Ramayana lists comprise names of several kings, who did not belong to the Ikshvaku dynasty according to the Puranas.
  4. Valmiki Ramayana lists include certain kings as the ancesotrs of Rama, but they are mentioned as the descendants of Rama in the Puranic lists.
  5. The order of the Valmiki Ramayana lists of kings is different from the Puranic lists.

[edit] Ikshvaku dynasty in Buddhist tradition

The Buddhist text, Mahavamsa (II, 1-24) traces the origin of the Shakyas to king Okkaka (Ikshvaku) and gives their genealogy from Mahasammata, an ancestor of Okkaka. This list comprises the names of a number of prominent kings of the Ikshvaku dynasty, namely, Mandhata and Sagara[9]. The genealogy according to the Mahavamsa is as foolows[10][11]:

  1. Okkaka
  2. Okkamukha
  3. Sivisamjaya
  4. Sihassara
  5. Jayasena
  6. Sihahanu
  7. Suddhodana
  8. Siddhattha (Gautama Buddha)
  9. Rahula

[edit] Ikshvaku dynasty in Jaina tradition

The Ikshvaku dynasty has a significant place in Jaina tradition, as 22 Tirthankaras were born in this royal house. The first Tirthankara Rishavadeva was son of Ikshvaku King Nabhi. The second Tirthankara, Ajitanatha, son of Ikshvaku King Jitashatru was cousin of Sagara

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Ikshaku tribe The Mahabharata translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli (1883 -1896), Book 3: Vana Parva: Tirtha-yatra Parva: Section CVI, p. 228 'There was born in the family of the Ikshaku tribe, a ruler of the earth named Sagara, endued with beauty, and strength...".
  2. ^ Sergent, Bernard: Genèse de l'Inde, 1997.
  3. ^ Pargiter, F.E. (1972). Ancient Indian Historical Tradition. New Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass. pp. 90–91. 
  4. ^ The Ramayana. New Delhi: Penguin Books. 1996. ISBN 0140298665. 
  5. ^ Vyas, R.T. (ed.) (1992). Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Text as Constituted in its Critical Edition. Vadodara: Oriental Institute, Vadodara. pp. 91–2, 255-56. 
  6. ^ Pargiter, F.E. (1972). Ancient Indian Historical Tradition. New Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass. p. 149. 
  7. ^ Misra, V.S. (2007). Ancient Indian Dynasties, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ISBN 81-7276-413-8, pp.283-8, 384
  8. ^ Misra, V.S. (2007). Ancient Indian Dynasties, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ISBN 81-7276-413-8, p.210
  9. ^ Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient India, Bhandarkar Oriental Series No.4, Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, p.246
  10. ^ Misra, V.S. (2007). Ancient Indian Dynasties, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ISBN 81-7276-413-8, p.286
  11. ^ Geiger, Wilhelm (tr.) (1912). "Mahavamsa, Chapter II". Ceylon Government Information Dept.,Colombo (in lakdvia.org website). http://lakdiva.org/mahavamsa/chap002.html. Retrieved 2009-10-26. 
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