Characters of Hindu mythology

This article tries to compile and classify the prominent personalities of ancient India that find mention in more than one source of Sanskrit/Vedic literature like the two Hindu Ithihasas viz the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, the Puranas and the Vedas with their supplement texts. It also tries to clear the ambiguities arising from the names like Rama and Krishna.

Introduction

The exact date in which these personalities lived is not clear, owing to their antiquity. However it is possible to sequence their life-times based on the Yuga system of time reckoning, which was popular in ancient India. This system takes into account the precession of Vernal Equinox, which result in the relative movement of this astronomical-point against the background of stars in the sky. This movement is very slow, and takes many millennia of astronomical observation, to be noticeable. Ancient Indians aptly took this frame of reference of time, whenever they mention any event, to be remembered. Thus these references are found in Mahabharata and Puranas, while they mention historical events like the Kurukshetra War.

The Yuga System

The Yuga system speaks about four Yugas, or epochs of history. The first one being Krita Yuga, which was prehistory even to those ancient historians who authored the Sanskrit-Vedic literature. The second Yuga was Treta Yuga and the third Dwapara Yuga. These two Yugas were contemporary to the ancient historians, in the sense that, they explained events of those epochs as if it were happening during their own time. This is how the epic Ramayana describes the reign of Rama and the epic Mahabharata describes the Kurukshetra War. The last Yuga is Kali Yuga which is the period after the Kurukshetra War. No other Yugas were mentioned, because after this age, those ancient historians became extinct, and that ancient psyche no longer exists, except in modern day Hindu traditions, in a transformed state.

The extremities are those in which the four Yugas have to shrink into a short time span of 1500 BCE to 500 CE based on the much rejected Indic studies of Max Müller, and those modern studies based on the astronomical, geographical and linguistic evidence, in which it spans from 10000 BCE to 500 CE. See Kingdoms of ancient India.

The Three Ramas

The name Rama is very common in the ancient Indian literature. There is mention about three distinct Ramas. They were listed based on the order of their existence.

Bhargava Rama

This Rama was a Brahmin warrior also called Parashurama

Raghava Rama

Among all the Ramas of Sanskrit literature, Raghava Rama was the most famous. The epic Ramayana is all about this Rama. The word Ramayana means Rama's travels in Sanskrit. He was a Kshatriya king, in the Ikshwaku clan, in the lineage of a famous king Raghu, and hence called by the name Raghava Rama.

See the Main Article for this topic:- Raghava Rama

Bala Rama

This Rama was a Yadava. He was the brother of Krishna, the great political leader during the period of Kurukshetra War. He was also known as Valarama, Sankarshana and as the Son of Rohini and brother of Lord Krishna

See the Main Article for this topic:- Bala Rama

The Three Krishnas

Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa

This Krishna was a great sage, and the author of the epic Mahabharata.

See the Main Article for this topic:- Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa

Vasudeva Krishna

This Krishna was the most popular Krishna. He was the author of Bhagavat Gita, the charioteer of Arjuna, during the Kurukshetra War, a great political leader, with divine and ascetic dimensions.

See the Main Article for this topic:- Vasudeva Krishna

Krishna of Panchala

This Krishna was a woman, the wife of the Pandavas, who was also known as Panchali and Draupadi.

See the Main Article for this topic:- Princess Krishna

The Two Bhimas

The Pandava Bhima

This Bhima was younger brother of the Pandava King Yudhisthira. He was also known by the names Bhimasena, Vrikodara etc. He was an expert in mace fight and a rival to the Kuru King Duryodhana in mace fight. In Kurukshetra War Bhima killed Duryodhana in mace fight. Both were disciples of Bala Rama.

The Vidarbha King Bhima

Another Bhima mentioned in Mahabharata was Bhima, the king of Vidarbha Kingdom. He was the father of Damayanti, a popular princess and the wife of king Nala of Nishadha Kingdom.

The Two Arjunas

The Pandava Arjuna

This Arjuna was the second brother of the Pandava King Yudhisthira. He was also known by several names, like Phalguna, Dhanunjaya, Partha, Vijaya, Kiriti, Indrajit, Savyasachi etc. He was a great friend of Vasudeva Krishna, to whom he expounded the famous philosophy known as the Bhagavat Gita, during the Kurukshetra War. Arjuna was the greatest hero of the Kurukshetra War.

Kartavirya Arjuna of Haihaya Tribe

Haihaya tribe was a branch of Yadavas, who ruled the Haihaya Kingdom. He was the first victim of Bhargava Rama, who destroyed the Kshatriya kings of ancient India. He was the king of Haiheyas, who almost got the status of an emperor. He was a devotee of Dattatreya, now worshipped as a deity, especially in Maharastra state of India. However, the encounter with the Bhargavas headed by Parasurama (Bhargava Rama) lead to Kartavirya's decline.

The Nakulas

The Pandava Nakula

This Nakula, was a Pandava and one among the twin sons of Pandu's second wife Madri. He was well versed in the Science of Horses. He authored a book on horse-training and horse-medicines.

The tribe called Nakulas

There was a tribe of kings called the Nakulas, as per the epic Mahabharata. They have taken part in the Kurukshetra War.

The Two Sahadevas

The Pandava Sahadevas

This Sahadeva, was a Pandava and one among the twin sons of Pandu's second wife Madri. He was a great warrior skilled in the use of sword. He also mastered the science of Astronomy and Astrology.

Sahadeva the King of Magadha

The king of Magadha Kingdom, Jarasandha had a son by the name of Sahadeva. After Jarasandha's death by the hands of the Pandava Bhima, Vasudeva Krishna installed Sahadeva on the throne of Magadha. He took part in the Kurukshetra War siding with Duryodhana.

The Janamejayas

Janamejaya IV

The most popular figure with the name Janamejaya in Mahabharata is the grand-grandson of Arjuna. The epic Mahabharata is structured as a narration of the history of the Bharatas (the kings of the Bharata Dyasty), told by Vaisampayana, a disciple of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa to this Janamejaya. He was the last popular king in the line of the Kuru Kings. His lineage extends from Arjuna as follows:- Arjuna -> Abhimanyu -> Parikshit II -> Janamejaya IV.

Other Janamejayas in the line of Puru kings

Three more kings with the name Janamejaya were mentioned in the Lunar Dynasty of kings. They were designated as Janamejaya I, Janamejaya II and Janamejaya III.

Janamejaya I

Janamejaya I was the son of Puru, the founder of Paurava Dynasty of kings. (Daksha -> Aditi -> Vivaswat -> Manu -> Ha (Vudha) -> Pururavas (Aila) -> Ayus -> Nahusha -> Yayati -> Puru -> Janamejaya I

Janamejaya II

Janamejaya II was the son of Kuru the founder of Kuru Dynasty. (Samvarana -> Kuru -> Janamejaya II)

Janamejaya III

Janamejaya III was born in the race of a Kuru king designated as Parikshit I. Kauravas and Pandavas both descended from him. (Samvarana -> Kuru -> Avikshit -> Parikshit I -> ... Janamejaya III). Janamejaya III's lineage leads to the Kauravas and Pandavas as follows:-

Janamejaya III -> Dhritarashtra I -> ? -> Pratipa -> Santanu -> Vichitravirya -> (Dhritarashtra II, Pandu II ) -> (Kauravas, Pandavas)

Janamejayas in unknown races mentioned by different people

Janamejaya mentioned by Bhishma

A king named Janamejaya is mentioned in the 12th volume (Santi Parva) of Mahabharata, by Bhishma in his narration to Yudhisthira. Bhishma describes the conversation between this Janamejaya and a sage named Indrota the son of Sunaka on the subject of expiation from sins. Indrota also assisted a horse sacrifice performed by this king. This narration extends into three chapters (Mbh 12.149, 12.150, 12.151).

Janamejaya mentioned by Vyasa

Vyasa mentions about a king Janamejaya to his son Suka. This conversation also comes in the 12th volume (Santi Parva) of Mahabharata, within the narration of Bhishma to Yudhisthira.

Mbh 12.233:- King Janamejaya, by giving away his own body, proceeded to high regions of felicity.

Janamejaya mentioned by Dhritarashtra

Dhritarashtra mentions to his son Duryodhana about a Janamejaya who conquered many kingdoms in three days. Mbh.12.123.

Janamejaya mentioned by Bhrama to Vasistha

Mbh.13.6:- Was not Janamejaya, who followed the foot-prints of Sakra, checked and put down by the gods for killing a Brahmana woman? ---Brahma to Vasistha.

Mention of 80 kings by the name of Janamejaya

Mbh.2.8 These kings were described to be dead and appear in the court of the lord of death, Yama.

Eklavya

Janamejaya, vanquished by Mandhatri

Mbh.7.60:- Mandhatri vanquished, by his bow Janamejaya and Sudhanwan and Jaya and Suna and Vrihadratha and Nriga.

Janamejaya mentioned by Drupada

Drupada, in his list of kings to be summoned to aid Pandavas in Kurukshetra War mentioned about a Janamejaya. Mbh.5.4

Janamejayas in known races

Janamejaya of Solar Dynasty mentioned by Bhishma

Mbh.13.137:- King Janamejaya of the solar race, went to the highest heaven by making a gift of ear-rings, fine vehicles, and cows to Brahmanas. -- Bhishma to Yudhisthira

Janamejaya of hilly country, took part in Kurukshetra War

Mbh.8.6:- Janamejaya of the hilly country, endued with great prowess and accomplished in encounters with the mace, hath, O king, been slain by Dhritarashtra's son Durmukha.

The Panchala prince, Janamejaya in Kurukshetra War

Mbh.8.49:- The Pancala prince Janamejaya then pierced Karna with many arrows. Mbh.8.82:- Felling Janamejaya’s driver with broad-faced shafts called Anjalikas, Karna next slew the steeds of that Pancala warrior. Karna then pierced Shikhandi with a dozen keen shafts, and Uttamauja with half a dozen, and Yudhamanyu with three, and then each of the other two, viz., Somaka Janamejaya and Dhrishtadyumna with three shafts.

Janamejaya of Nepa mentioned by Bhima

This Janamejaya is mentioned by Bhima, as a king of Nepa, who caused the destruction of his own race. Mbh.7.74

The Naga named Janamejaya

Mbh.2.9 This Janamejaya was a Naga listed among the Naga Kings who attended the court of Varuna. He was mentioned by Narada to Yudisthira.

Mention of an Asura King Janamejaya

Mbh.1.67 A king Janamejaya is said to be born of the Asura class called Krodhaveshas.

The Parikshits

Parikshit II

The most popular figure with the name Parikshit in Mahabharata is the grandson of Arjuna. His lineage extends from Arjuna as follows:- Arjuna -> Abhimanyu -> Parikshit II. He was born as a dead child to princess Uttara, the wife of Abhimanyu. Later Vasudeva Krishna revived him and gave him the name, Parikshit. The famous king Janamejaya IV was his son, onto him the epic Mahabharata was narrated by Vaisampayana the disciple of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa.

Parikshit I

He was a king mentioned in the long lineage of Kuru kings. One version of the lineage leading to Parikshit I, goes as follows:-

Samvarana -> Kuru -> Avikshit -> Parikshit I -> (Kakshasena, Ugrasena, Chitrasena, Indrasena Sushena and Bhimasena).

The other version is slightly different.

Samvarana -> Kuru -> Viduratha -> Anaswan -> Parikshit I. which extends to the Kauravas and Pandavas as follows:-

Parikshit I -> Bhimasena -> Pratisravas -> Pratipa -> Santanu -> Vichitravirya -> (Dhritarashtra II, Pandu II) -> (Kauravas, Pandavas).

The Two Bharatas

Bharata, the brother of Raghava Rama

Raghava Rama had three brothers, viz, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Bharata ruled the Kosala kingdom, temporarily in the absence of Rama. Bharata also had conquered the Gandhara Kingdom, which was close to Kekeya Kingdom

Bharata, the great king of Lunar Dynasty

The Emperor Bharata was the son of the King Dushyanta and Sakuntala. Dushyanta was a king in the line of Puru Dynasty, which itself was a branch of the Lunar Dynasty. The Kuru dynasty as well as the Srinjaya dynasty of the Panchala kings was derived from the Puru Dynasty. After the rule of Bharata, who almost became a great emperor, the dynasty came to be called as the Bharata Dynasty. The name Bhaarata, an official name of India, with equal status, was derived from this dynasty name.

The Two Lakshmanas

Lakshmana, the brother of Raghava Rama

Raghava Rama had three brothers, viz, Bharata, Lakshmana and Sathrughna. Lakshmana was the closest brother to Rama, his companion in all the sojourns, that was described in the epic Ramayana. Lakshmana had undertaken many conquests for the sake of Rama.

Lakshmana the son of Kuru king Duryodhana

This Lakshmana was the son of Duryodhana the enemy of Pandavas as per the epic Mahabharata. Lakshmana took part in the Kurukshetra War. His main antagonist was Abhimanyu the son of the Pandava, Arjuna.

See also

• Kingdoms of ancient India

References

• Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa
• Ramayan of Valmiki