Introduction
One of the two main dynasties of ancient
(Their origin from Brahma, the creator, is mentioned as Brahma => Mareeci => kaSyapa => Vivasvaan (the sun) => Vaivasvata Manu => Iksvaaku)
There is repeated reference to two of the sacrificial rituals, Rajasooya and Aswamedha, which are done by great monarchs after they conquer vast tracks of land. Yudhishthira had already performed the first just before the game of dice. He is about to perform the second one soon after this. Their significance is the sovereignty of the performing king over a large number of kingdoms and the liberal gifts that are given to Brahmins during the ceremonies.
- Marutta
He belonged o the Iksvaaku dynasty. ( Ikshvaku => VimSa => KalyaaNa => Ghaneenetra => Suvarcas => Karandhama => Marutta )..
King Marutta wanted to perform a great sacrificial ritual (Yajna) and requested Brihaspati, the chief priest of gods, to preside over it. Sage Brihaspati knew that Indra did not approve of the ritual and hence, turned down the request.
But, Brihaspati had a brother by name Samvartta who had earned as much merit as his brother through long years of penance. Marutta approached Samvartta with the request which was duly accepted. The ritual took place in all its glory. All the important people from heaven and earth attended the ceremony. Timely rain and in the right quantity is said to be the immediate benefit from such rituals. As a result, the land became so fertile that it was possible to reap rich harvest from crops that grew on it even without tilling. The king’s fame spread over all the lands and reached even the
heaven.
Yet,
“He died, Srinjaya, who was four fold
As meritorious as you are
Even more blessed than your son
Do not feel sad for your son”
(There is a mention elsewhere in Mahabharata that Marutta won plenty of gold as gift from Lord Siva for the ritual. There was so much of it that a lot was left over even after spending it lavishly on the Yajna. It is said that the king buried the remaining riches on the
- Suhotra
He belonged to the Lunar Dynasty and had married a princess from the Ikshvakus.
When Suhotra ruled the land of the Kurus Indra was so pleased with him that he caused gold to pour down from the sky as rain which flowed through rivers and streams. Even the fishes and tortoises in them were of gold. The king, then, performed a ritual (Yajna) in which he gifted away (dakshiNa) all that gold to Brahmins.
Yet,
“He died, Srinjaya, who was four fold
As meritorious as you are
Even more blessed than your son
Do not feel sad for your son”
- Brihadratha of the Anga kingdom
Brihadratha performed rituals in which he gifted a million white horses, an equal number of maidens adorned in gold and as many elephants to Brahmins. He also gave away ten million gold decorated bulls and thousands of cows. It is said that Indra got intoxicated with Soma (that is offered as drink) and the Brahmins, as though, with the gifts.
Yet,
“He died, Srinjaya, who was four fold
As meritorious as you are
Even more blessed than your son
Do not feel sad for your son”
- Sibi of the Lunar Dynasty.
This Sibi had driven round the earth in his chariot after he brought all the lands under his rule. He conducted a sacrificial ritual in which he gifted away as much cattle as roamed about anywhere on earth.
Yet,
“He died, Srinjaya, who was four fold
As meritorious as you are
Even more blessed than your son
Do not feel sad for your son”
(Famous for the story of the hawk and the pigeon which appeared in Sanskruthi -www.kunjunny.blogspot.com – sometime in March last year)
- Bharata
(There were several famous Bharatas in ancient Indian history. The brother of Sreerama was one and sage Bharata famous for the science of acting and dance – NatyaSastra – was another, besides the Bharata mentioned here)
Bharata was the son of Dushyanta and Sakuntala (became famous especially because of the play, SaakuntaLam of Kalidasa) and belonged to the lunar dynasty.
He had conducted a thousand horse sacrifices and one hundred Rajasooya ceremonies and had given millions of animals as gift to Brahmins.
Yet,
“He died, Srinjaya, who was four fold
As meritorious as you are
Even more blessed than your son
Do not feel sad for your son”
- Mandhata
He belonged to the same Ikshvaku lineage of the solar dynasties as Marutta, the first king in our list. There was a reference to him earlier in our episodes.
There is a story that the earth developed cracks as a result of the twanging sound emerging from his bow strings in one of his battles. He ruled over all the lands over which the sun rose in the morning and set in the evening. It is said that he conducted one hundred each of the Aswamedha and Rajasooya sacrifices.
Yet,
“He died, Srinjaya, who was four fold
As meritorious as you are
Even more blessed than your son
Do not feel sad for your son”
(To be continued)
