Genealogy of Rama

The Genealogy of Rama (ancestors as well as descendants) is found in Book IV of

Vishnu Purana,[1] the Shrimad Bhagavatam [2] and the Brahma Purana.[3]

Ancestors of Rama
Chapter 1 of Vishnupurana mentions that Brahma created Daksha out of his thumb.
Daksha had a daughter Aditi, who was mother of Sun. From the Sun was born Manu.
Since the Sun-god was Manu's father, his lineage came to be known as the Suryavansha
(the descendants of Sun).
Manu had many sons of which 50 perished quarelling with one another. Ten sons
survived, one of whom was Ikshvaku. The Brahma Purana (Chapters 7 and 8), provides
details on Manu's 10 sons and their descendents as follows [4]
·0 Ikshvaku
·1 Nriga
·2 Dhrishta - also called Rishta. He ruled over Dharstika. His son was first a
Kshatriya and then became a Vaishya. Subsequently he became a Brahmin.
·3 Saryati - he had twins, Anarta and Sukanya. Anarta's country was Anarta with
Kushasthali as its capital. Anarta's son was Raiva and grandson was Raivata.
Raivata's son was Kakudmin. Kakudmin returned after a few Yugas to
Kushasthali and found it changed to Dvaravati, ruled by Yadavas. He gave his
daughter Revati (aka Samudra) in marriage to Baladeva and retired to asceticm.
·4 Narishyanta - Narishyanta had a son named Yama and grandson named
Dhandhara. Narishyanta's sons were the Sakas.
·5 Pransu - Pramsu son was Prajapati.
·6 Nabhaga - had a son named Ambirasa who was first a Kshatriya and then became
a Vaishya. Subsequently he became a Brahmin.
·7 Nideshta
·8 Karusha - his sons Karushas became Kshatriyas.
·9 Prishadhra - he hurt his teacher's cow and hence was cursed to become a Shudra.
Manu also had a child named Ila (aka Sudyumna) who gave birth to Pururavas out of
wedlock after intercourse with Budha, the son of Soma. Pururavas was the first king of
Aila dynasty or the Somavamsha.
Rama was born in Ikshvaku's line. The lineage from Ikshvaku to Rama is as follows:
·10 Ikshwaku - Manu's successor was the founder of the Ikshvaku dynasty. Ikshwaku
fathered 101 children of whom most illustrious were Vikukshi, Nimi and Danda.
Ikshvaku's 50 children were protector of northern countries while 48 were prince
of southern countries. Nimi was ruler of Mithila region and started the kingdom of
Janaka. After death of Ikshwaku, his son Sasada succeeded him. According to Jain
sources, Ikshvaku was Rishab Deva.[5]
·11 Sasada - Named Vikuksi at birth, he was called Sasada after eating Hare-meat
meant for a rite himself (Sasada means Hare-eater). Though abandoned by
Ikshvaku, he became the successor due to Vasistha. Vikuksi had 500 sons who
guarded northern regions led by Sakuni and 58 sons who guarded southern
regions led by Visati. The Brahma Purana says Sasada's son was Kakutstha and
Kakutstha's son was Anenas. However, the Vishnu Purana says Sasada's son was
Puranjaya (Paranjaya in Shrimad Bhagavatham) and Puranjaya's son was Anenas.
From Puranjaya / Kakutstha and Anenas the lineage is as follows:
·12 Puranjaya (Vishnu Purana and Shrimad Bhagavatham / Kakutstha (Brahma
Purana)
·13 Anenas
·14 Prithu
·15 Viswagaswa, rendered Virasva and Vistarasva by Brahmapurana.
·16 Ardra
·17 Yuvanaswa
·18 Srasvata - He founded the city of Srasvati.
·19 Vrihadaswa (also spelled Brihad-Ashwa).
·20 Kuvalayswa - He defeated demon Asura Dhundu. His sons (2100 in number)
perished except three - Dridhaswa, Chadraswa and Kapliswa. Haryyaswa, the
eldest son of these three succeeded to the throne.
·21 Haryyaswa
·22 Nikumbha
·23 Sanhatswa - rendered Samhatasva in Brahma Purana. He had 2 sons, Akrasava
and Krisasva, and a daughter Haimavati whose son was Prasenajit. The Brahma
Purana proceeds with the genealogy tables from Prasenajit with the same names
as in Vishnu Purana and Shrimad Bhagavatam below. However, since Prasenajit is
the son of Haimavati in Brahma Purana, this would make the line to have
descended from Haimavati (a female) as per Brahma Purana.
·24 Krisaswa - The Vishnu Purana and Shrimad Bhagavatam says Prasenajit was
Krisasva's son.
·25 Prasenajit married Gauri. As per Brahmapurana, he had 2 sons Yuvanaswa and
Mandhatri. However, as per SB and Vishnu Purana, Mandhatri was Yuvanaswa's
son.
·26 Yuvanaswa (he was second Yuvanaswa)- According to Vishnu Puarana,
Yuvanaswa had no children, so the sages, took pity on Yuvanaswa and instituted a
Yagya to help him procure progeny. One night, Yuvanaswa feeling thirsty and not
wanting to disturb anybody, went in search of water. In darkness, he accidentally
drank the consecrated water. In the morning the sages found the vessel containing
the consecrated water to be empty and pronounced that a mighty son will be born
to the queen who has drunk this water. Then Yuvanaswa told the sages about he
having drunk the water. Accordingly, Yuvanaswa conceived a child in his belly.
 Upon birth of a male child, he was worried as to who would nurse the child. Lord
Indra appeared and said - Mam Dhyasti i.e. I would be his nurse, and hence the
boy was named Mandhatri.
·27 Mandhatri - He married Chaitarathi / Bindumati, daughter of Sasabindu. He is
supposed to be a mighty monarch who conquered seven continent and bought
them under his dominion. A verse in Vishnu Purna is translated as "From the
rising to the going down of the sun, all that is irradiated by his light, is the laand
of Mandhatri* As per Brahmapurana he had 2 sons, Purukutsa and Mucukunda;
and Trasdasya was the son of Purukutsa. From Purukuta the line follows in the
same manner as SB and Vishnu Purana. However, SB and Vishnu Purana provide
additional names between Mandhatri and Purukutsa as below:
·28 Ambrisha (son of Yuvanaswa)
·29 Yuvanaswa (third)
·30 Purukutsa and Harita
·31 Trasadasya (Son of Purukutsa and Narmada). According to Brahmapurana
Narmada was Trasadasyu's wife. One Kurusravana is described as the son of
Trasadasyu in Rigveda 10.33 and hence Keith supposes that the Kurus existed in
the Rg-Veda.[6] It remains a controversy as to whether Vedic literature knows of
an enmity between the Kurus and the Pancalas, which we know of in the
Mahabharata. Trasadasyu's son was Sambuta.
·32 Sambhuta
·33 Anaranya - He was supposedly slain by Ravana.
·34 Prishadaswa
·35 Haryyaswa
·36 Sumanas
·37 Tridhanwan. In Brahmapurana, Tridhanwan is posited as the son of Sambuta, and
the names in between Sambhuta and Tridhanwan as provided by SB and
Vishnupurana are absent.
·38 Trayyaruna
·39 Satyavarta (also known as Trishanku). He was banished by his father Trayaruna
and went to live with Svapakas. He killed Vasistha's cow. Brahmpurana says
Vishwamitra made him ascend to heaven with his physical body.
·40 Harishchandra. Also called Traishankava as the son of Trisanku.
·41 Rohitaswa, also called Rohita.
·42 Harita (Second Harita)
·43 Chunchu, also spelled Chanchu, Cancu, Chamchu, Campa. Manusmrithi mentions
Chenchu who have been explored for their links with the tribe Andhras [7]
·44 Vijaya
·45 Ruruka
 ·46 Vrika
·47 Bahu (also known as Bathuka) - His kingdom was overrun by neighbouring
tribe of Haihayas and Talajangha. He was expelled to the jungle with his queens
where Sage Aurva gave them shelter. As per Brahmapurana, Bahu was not very
righteous. One of his queens, Yadavi, gave birth to Sagara together with poison
(gara).
·48 Sagara - he had 6001 sons. Sagara recaptured his father's kingdom and defeated
the tribes of Haiheyas, Talajhanghas, Sakas, Pahlavas and Paradas. He shaved off
the hair of Sakas halfway, that of Yavanas and Kambhojas totally, the Paradas had
to wear their hair loose, and the Pahlavas had to wear moustaches. All of the
following had to give up recitation; and were deprieved of their Kshatriya-hood
and their dharma: Sakas, Kambhojas, Yavanas, Paradas, Konisarpas (Kalasarpas),
Mahishakas, Cholas and Keralas. Sagara performed Ashvamedha and the horse
disappeared near the coast of the South-eastern ocean. There they found Sage
Kapila resting. According to the Vishnu Purana, Sagara's sons killed Kapila.
According to the Brahma Purana, Kapila is an avatara of Vishnu and burnt up
Sagara's sons and spared 4 of them—Barhiketu, Suketu, Dharmaratha,
Panchananda. Then Kapila blessed Sagara, who went on to perform 100
Asvamedhas and begot 60,000 sons. One of the sons, named Panchajana entered
the brilliance of Narayana and became King. His son Amsumat succeeded him.
·49 Ansumat - the grandson of Sagara and son of Asmanjas / Panchajana.
·50 Dilīpa.
·51 Bhagiratha - Bhagiratha bought the river Ganges to earth from Heaven.
·52 Sruta
·53 Nabhaga
·54 Ambarisha
·55 Sindhudwipa
·56 Ayutaswa
·57 Rituparna, a friend of Nala.
·58 Sarvakama
·59 Sudasa, supposedly a friend of Indra.
·60 Saudasa (also known as Mitrasaha, Kalmshapada and Kamlasapada Saudasa).
After Saudasa, the Brahmapurana gives the descent until Raghu as follows:
·61 Saudasa
·62 Sarvakarman
·63 Anaranya
·64 Nighna
·65 Anamitra and Raghu
·66 Dulidaha, the son of Anamitra
 ·67 Dilipa
·68 Raghu
After Saudasa, the Vishnupurana gives the descent until Raghu as follows:
·69 Saudasa
·70 Asmaka
·71 Mulaka - [8] (also derogatorily called Narikavacha (one who uses ladies for
armour) since he was surrounded and concealed by women when his enemies
came searching for him). [In present times Mulaka is (1) name of a jangam tribe
in Andhra Pradesh that claims to be Kapus / Balijas; and (2) alternate name used
by Mulakanadu Brahmins ]
·72 Dasratha (he was not the father of Rama)
·73 Viswasaha
·74 Khatwanga or Dileepa
·75 Dirghabahu
·76 Raghu
After Raghu, all the puranas give the descent as follows:
·77 Aja, son of Raghu.
·78 Dasaratha - He was father of Rama.
·79 Rama

[edit] Valmiki Ramayana

The Genealogy of Rama is provided in the Ayodhya Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana as
follows:[9]:
·80 Brahma
·81 Marichi
·82 Kashyapa
·83 Vivasvan, the Sun-God, Surya
·84 Manu
·85 Ikshvaku
·86 Kukshi
·87 Vikukshi (Sasada)
·88 Bana
·89 Anaranya (Anenas)
·90 Prithu
·91 Trishanku
After Trishanku the Valmiki Ramayan continues with Yuvanasva as below:
 ·92 Yuvanasva
·93 Mandhata
·94 Susandhi. He had 2 sons Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit.
·95 Bharata, born to Dhruvasandhi
·96 Asita - Haihayas, Talajanghas and Shashibindavas became his enemies and drove
him away. Asita became a Sage and took asylum in the Ashrama of Rishi
Chyavana (a Bhrigu descendent). Asita's wife Kalindi gave birth to Sagara
together with the poison that she was given to destroy her foetus.
·97 Sagara - excavated the ocean
·98 Asamanja - banished by his father Sagara for wrongdoings. Asamanja's son
Amshuman succeeded him.
·99 Amshuman
·100 Dilipa
·101 Bhagiratha
·102 Kakutstha - his sons were called Kakutsthas. In the line of Kakutsthas was
born a son called Raghu, from whence sprang the Raghavas.
·103 Raghu
·104 Pravriddha - he is also known as Purushadaka, Kalmashapada and
Soudasa.
·105 Shankhana
·106 Sudarshana
·107 Agnivarna
·108 Shighraga
·109 Maru
·110 Prashushruva
·111 Ambarisha
·112 Nahusha
·113 Nabhaga - had 2 sons Aja and Suvrata.
·114 Dasartha, son of Aja.
·115 Rama

[edit] Descendants of Rama

The lineage of Rama starting from him is as under:
·116 Rama had two sons, Kusha and Lava
·117 Kusa. Kusha married a Naga princess and held sway over Dakshina
Kosala that roughly corresponds to present day Chattisgarh.[10]
·118 Atithi
 ·119 Nishadha
·120 Nala
·121 Nabhas, also known as Nabha
·122 Pundarika
·123 Kshemadhanwan, also spelled Kshemadanvan
·124 Devanika
·125 Ahinagu or Ahinaga, which the Shrimad Bhagvatam renders as Ahina.[11]
Alternate Pali sources mention that Ahinaga, the King of Ayodhya was one of the
Naga Kings ruling with great power and majesty who was converted to Buddha's
faith.[12] Ahinaga is also portrayed in Buddhist literature as an initial adversary
of Buddha, and sometimes as Vritra or as a descendent of the Vedic Ahi-Vritra.
However, this version does not coroborrate with the version given by Bhavishya
Purana where Gautama Buddha is born in the line of Brihadbala as mentioned in
the tables below. Bhandarkar mentions pre-Buddhist literature which tells that
there were four families of the Ahi ( Naga ) kings around the regions of Kampilya,
while making mention that in the Mahabharat, Bhishma and Krishna stayed with
the Sarpa and Naga families for sometime.[13] Ahinaga's son was Pariyatra.
The Brahma Purana gives the descent from Ahinaga to Vajranabha as follows:
·126 Ahinaga
·127 Sala
·128 Ukhya, also known as Uktha
·129 Vajranabha - had a son named Nala.
The Vishnu Purana gives the descent from Ahinaga to Vajranabha as follows:
·130 Ahinaga
·131 Paripatra, also rendered as Pariyatra.
·132 Dala
·133 Chhala, also rendered as Bala and Vacchala. The Shrimad-Bhagavatam
calls him Balasthala [14]
·134 Uktha, also known as Ukhya
·135 Vajranabha. In The Shrimad-Bhagavatam Vajranabha is listed as the son of
Balasthala.[15]
From Vajranabha to Brihadbala the genealogy given by the Vishnu Purana differs from
the one given in the Shrimad-Bhagavatam.
Vishnu Purana provides the genealogy as follows:
·136 Vajranabha
·137 Sankhanabha
·138 Abhyutthitaswa
·139 Viswasaha
 ·140 Hiranyanabha - He was pupil of Sage Jaimini and is considered to be a
Sage King. He communicated the knowledge of spiritual exercises to
Yajnavalkya.
·141 Pushya, also known as Pushpa.
·142 Dhruvasandhi
·143 Maru
·144 Prasusruta
·145 Susandhi
·146 Amarsha
·147 Mahaswat
·148 Visrutavat
·149 Vrihadbala - Brihadbala was the last king in this dynasty. He was killed in
battle by Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna.
The Shrimad-Bhagavatam gives the genealogy from Vajranabha to Brihadbala as follows
[16]:
·150 Vajranabha - said to have been born from the effulgence of the sun-god.
·151 Sagana
·152 Vidhriti.
·153 Hiranyanabha, who became a disciple of Jaimini and became a great
acarya of mystic yoga. It is from Hiranyanabha that the great saint Yajnavalkya
learned the highly elevated system of mystic yoga known as adhyatma-yoga. His
son was Puspa.
·154 Pushya, also known as Pushpa.
·155 Dhruvasandhi
·156 Sudarsana
·157 Agnivarna
·158 Sighra
·159 Maru
·160 Prasusruta
·161 Sandhi, also known as Susandhi
·162 Amarsha, also known as Amarshana
·163 Mahaswat, also known as Mahasvan
·164 Visvabahu
·165 Prasenajit
·166 Takshaka - a Naga king banished by the Pandava, Arjuna, from the
Khandava forest.
 ·167 Vrihadbala - Brihadbala was the last king in this dynasty. He was killed in
battle by Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna.

[edit] Descendents of Brihadbala

The descendents of Brihadbala is given by the Shrimad Bhagavatam, Canto 9 as follows.
[17] Their alternate names as mentioned in the Bhavishya Purana are provided in brackets
[18]:
·168 Vrihadbala / Brihadbala. At the beginning of Kali-Yuga Brihadbala was
ruling Kosala. He was killed by the Pandava, Abhimanyu.
·169 Brihadrana (Brihatshaya)
·170 Urukriya (Urukshaya)
·171 VatsaVriddha (Vatsavyooha)
·172 Prativyoma (Prativyom)
·173 Bhanu
·174 Divaka. The Bhavishya Purana states Divakara as the son of Prativyoma.
·175 Sahadeva
·176 Brihadasva
·177 Bhanuman (Bhanuratha)
·178 Pratikasva (Pratitashva)
·179 Supratika
·180 Marudeva (Merudeva)
·181 Sunakshatra
·182 Pushkara
·183 Antariksha. There is a variation in the Bhavishya Purana as Antariksha is
stated to be descended from Sunakshatra as follows: Sunakshatra -> Kinnarashva
-> Antariksha.
·184 Sutapa (Suparna)
·185 Amitrajit (Amitarajit)
·186 Brihadraja (Brihadbhrija)
·187 Barhi (Dharmin)
·188 Kritanjaya
·189 Rananjaya
·190 Sanjaya
·191 Sakya (Shakya)
·192 Suddhoda. The Bhavishya Purana states that he was Suddodhana, the
father of Gautama Buddha and since Buddha abdicated the throne the lineage
continued with his son Rahula.[19]
 ·193 Langala (Rahula)
·194 Prasenajit (Prasenjit)
·195 Kshudraka (Kshudvaka)
·196 Ranaka (Kulaka)
·197 Suratha
·198 Sumitra.
The Ikshvakus were a coveted line. After Sumitra there were no more sons in the dynasty
of the sun-god, and thus the dynasty is said to end. [became matrilineal?, note line starts from female Aditi-
Kashyapa]
. The following excerpts are mentioned by KR Subramanian in the book "Buddhist
remains in Āndhra and the history of Āndhra between 224 & 610 A.D." from page 82-87:
Many south Indian dynasties chose to be associated with them in some form or the other.
The Cholas and Gangas claimed descent from them. The Pallava chief of Kanchipuram,
Tondaman Ilam Tiraiyan is given a similar pedigree of descent from the Ikshvakus in the
Perumbanarruppatai. The Kekeyas of the deccan were proud of their marriage alliance
with the Iksvakus. By a Nagarjunakonda inscription, an Ikshvaku princess is said to have
married the King of Banavasi, before Banavasi came to be ruled by the Kadambas, and
hence the wedding is taken to be with a Bana king. The Satavahanas were linked to
Ikshvakus. The Ikshvakus were the most famous family of Andhra-desa, north of
Krishna, in the 3rd century AD, and were great patrons of Buddhism.
It has been suggested that the following dynasties were historically Jain Clans:
Rashtrakuta Dynasty, Western Ganga Dynasty, Magadha Kingdom, Solankis, Ikshvaku
Dynasty, Andhra Ikshvakus and Nanda Dynasty.