There were many great kings in Hindu mythology and they performed unsurpassed feats. Most kings were from the two main royal lineages: Chandravansha and Suryavansha.
The great epic of the Mahabharata spans many generations and dozens of kings. However, the king that started it all was Shantanu. Shantanu is one of the most important figures in the Mahabharata. He was the father of Bhishma, andthe grandfather of Dhritarashtra and Pandu. As you will read in this article, Shantanu wasn’t even …
Previous Read: Anshuman The river Ganga is the holiest river in India, possibly in the world. Located in the Gangetic plain in northern India, it begins in the Himalayas and ends in the Bay of Bengal. People in the thousands flock to this holy river for worship. It is said if one bathes in this …
Previous Read: Sagara Anshuman was a famous king from the Suryavansha dynasty. He ruled Kosala kingdom and had his capital as Ayodhya. He was the son of Asamanjas and the grandson of the renowned King Sagara. Family Father: Asamanjas Son: Dilipa I Background and Birth King Sagara married Keshini and Sumati. Keshini gave birth to …
Nahusha was a famous king of the Chandravansha. He was the son of Emperor Ayu. At one point, he had even become the Indra. In the end, he was cursed to become a snake by Agastya rishi. Family Father: Ayu Mother: Indumati Brothers: Kshatravriddha, Raji, Rabha, Anena Wife: Ashoksundari Sons: Yati, Yayati, Samyati, Ayati, Viyati, …
Daksha was a mind-born son of Brahma and a king. He had many daughters with his wife Prasuti, including Sati. At his yagna, he was decapitated by Virabhadra but then revived by Shiva. Later, Daksha was reborn in Chakshusha Manvantara (if you don’t know what a Manvantara is, visit Time in Hinduism) as a son …
Uparichara Vasu was a great king who was a contemporary of King Shantanu from the Mahabharata. He was of Puru lineage, but he conquered the Chedi kingdom. He was the father of Satyavati, along with others. He was very truthful and virtuous. Family Father: Kritaka Wives: Girika, Adrika Sons: Brihadratha, Pratyagraha, Kusamba (also called Manivahana), …
Ravana was a major character in the Ramayana. He was a great king. It is said that under his rule, even the poorest families in Lanka had gold vessels, meaning there was no poverty or starvation. He was originally called Dasamukha, meaning ten heads, but soon he became known as Ravana. He kidnapped Sita, so he …
Sagara was a great king of the Suryavansha. He was an ancestor of Bhagiratha and Rama. Family Father: Bahu Mother: Yadavi Wives: Sumati, Keshini Sons: 60,000 sons, Asamanja Background King Bahu was the king of Kosala, with his capital at Ayodhya. Lead by Talajangha, Kartavirya Arjuna’s grandson, the Haihayas and Talajanghas attacked King Bahu. Talajangha …
Yayati was a great king. He was the son of Nahusha (to read about the heroic exploits of Nahusha, visit the link) and one of the first kings of the Chandravansha. His sons started the main lines of Chandravansha, including the Yadava, Kuru, and Anava lines. He ruled from Pratisthana and ruled most of the …
Kartavirya Arjuna was a great king. He was from the Haihaya dynasty, a branch of the Yadava dynasty. He ruled from Mahishmati on the banks of the Narmada river. Kartavirya Arjuna was also known as Sahasrabahu Arjuna. He ruled the entire Earth and was a great conqueror. He was a great worshiper of Bhagvati Amba. …