Professional Documents
Culture Documents
This article is about the Puranic Indian dynasty. For the dynasty which ruled in ancient Andhra Pradesh,
see Andhra Ikshvaku.
The Ikshvaku dynasty, in Puranic literature, was a mythical dynasty[1] founded byIkshvaku, grandson
of Vivasvan or Surya and son of Vaivasvata Manu. They ruled from the Kosala Kingdom, today known
as Oudh in the state of Uttar Pradesh along the banks of river Sarayu with saketa, Ayodhya today as their
capital. Ikshvaku is the first king who executed the Manusmrti or religious rules of Hindu living which were
composed by his father Manu. Ikshvaku, ruled as Monarch at the beginning of theTreta Yuga or second
yuga, had hundred sons. His estates descended to his eldest son Vikukshi.[2] The two Indian
epics, Ramayana and Mahabharata, have numerous mentions of this dynasty.
This dynasty is also known as Sryavaa (the Solar dynasty). The important personalities belonging to
this royal house are Harishchandra, Dilpa, Sagara,[3]Raghu, Rama and Prasenajit. Although, both the
Hindu Puranas and the Buddhisttexts include Shuddodhana, Gautama Buddha and Rahula in their
accounts of the Ikshvaku dynasty, but according to the Buddhist texts, Mahasammata, an ancestor of
Ikshvaku was the founder of this dynasty,[4] who was elected by the people as the first king of the present
era. The Ikshvaku dynasty of Jaina literature includes 22 JainaTirthankaras. According to the Puranas,
supreme preceptor of the Ikshvaku dynasty was sage Vashishta.
Contents [hide]
1 Ikshvaku dynasty lineage
1.1 To Kusha
1.2 Kusha to Brihadbala
1.3 Brihadbala to Sumitra
2 Ikshvaku dynasty in Buddhist tradition
3 Ikshvaku dynasty in Jaina tradition
4 See also
5 References
[edit]
The lists of kings of Ikvku or Aikvka dynasty are found in the Ramayana, theMahabharata,
the Harivamsha and the Puranas. The Raghuvamsha of Kalidasa also mentions the names of the kings of
this dynasty.[5][6]
To Kusha [edit]
The genealogy of the Ikshvaku dynasty to Rama is mentioned in the Ramayana in two lists (i.69.17-32 and
ii.102.4-29). The only difference 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.[7] The genealogy is
as follows:
1. Brahma
2. Marichi
3. Kashyapa
4. Vivasvan or Surya
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. Dileepa
24. Bhagiratha
25. Kakustha
26. Raghu
27. Kalmashapada
28. Shankhana
29. Sudarshana
30. Agnivarna
31. Shighra
32. Maru
33. Prashushruka
34. Ambarisha
35. Aja
36. Dasharatha
37. Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata andShatrughna are the sons ofDasaratha
In the Ramayana, we find that, Lava and Kusha were the sons of Rama.
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
[edit]
The Buddhist text, Mahavamsa (II, 1-24) traces the origin of the Shakyas to king Okkaka (Pali equivalent to
Sanskrit 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.[10] The genealogy according to the Mahavamsa is as follows:[11][12]
1. Okkaka
2. Okkamukha
3. Sivisamjaya
4. Sihassara
5. Jayasena
6. Sihahanu
7. Suddhodana
8. Siddhartha (Gautama Buddha)
9. Rahula
[edit]
See also
[edit]
Saka or Sacae
Shakya
Koliya
Hinduism
References
[edit]
1. ^ Geography of Rgvedic India, M.L. Bhargava, Lucknow 1964, pp. 15-18, 46-49, 92-98, 100-/1, 136
2. ^ http://www.gloriousindia.com/history/dynasties/ikshvaku/ikshvaku.html
3. ^ 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, a ruler of the earth
named Sagara, endued with beauty, and strength...".
4. ^ Malalasekera, G. P. (2007) [1937]. Dictionary of Pli Proper Names: A-Dh . Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.
pp. 4612. ISBN 978-81-208-3021-9.
5. ^ Pargiter, F.E. (1972). Ancient Indian Historical Tradition. New Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass. pp. 9091.
6. ^ Valmiki, Arshia Sattar (1996). The Ramayana. New Delhi: Penguin Books. ISBN 0-14-029866-5.
7. ^ Vyas, R.T. (ed.) (1992). Vlmki Rmyaa, Text as Constituted in its Critical Edition. Vadodara: Oriental
Institute, Vadodara. pp. 912, 25556.
8. ^ Pargiter, F.E. (1972). Ancient Indian Historical Tradition. New Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass. p. 149.
9. ^ Misra, V.S. (2007). Ancient Indian Dynasties, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,ISBN 81-7276-413-8,
pp.283-8, 384
10. ^ Law, B.C. (1973). Tribes in Ancient India, Bhandarkar Oriental Series No.4, Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental
Research Institute, p.246
11. ^ Misra, V.S. (2007). Ancient Indian Dynasties, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan,ISBN 81-7276-413-8, p.286
12. ^ Geiger, Wilhelm (tr.) (1912). "Mahavamsa, Chapter II"