Epic-Puranic royal genealogies

Lore & Background

The genealogies begin with Vaivasvata Manu, who survived the Great Flood at the end of the Svayambhuva manvantara and repopulated the earth. His eldest son Ikshvaku established the Solar dynasty (Suryavamsha) at Ayodhya, while his child Ila—originally his son Sudyumna, who was transformed into a woman—through her son Pururavas, is associated with the founding of the Lunar dynasty (Candravaṃśa). The solar line includes kings such as Mandhata and Hariscandra, while the lunar line splits into clans—Yadavas, Turvasus, Druhyus, Anavas, and Pauravas—descended from Yayati's sons.

Reader's Guide

The Epic-Puranic royal genealogies serve as a foundational framework for traditional Indian chronology, linking the present age (Kali Yuga) to events such as Krishna's departure and the Bharata War. They are not historical records in the modern sense but are regarded by Indian traditions as authentic accounts of ancient kings and dynasties. The genealogies illustrate the cyclical concept of time in the Puranas, with the four yugas (Satya, Treta, Dvapara, Kali) structuring the narrative. They also reflect the cultural and geographical spread of legendary kingdoms, from Ayodhya and Mithila in the east to Gandhara in the northwest. The rivalry between the sage Visvamitra and Vasistha, and the stories of kings like Yayati and Hariscandra, are embedded in these lineages, which continue to influence Indian cultural memory and religious literature.

Did You Know?

• The solar dynasty was founded by Ikshvaku, the eldest son of Vaivasvata Manu, at Ayodhya.
• Ila, originally the son Sudyumna who was transformed into a woman, is the parent of Pururavas, a key figure in the lunar dynasty.
• Yayati's five sons became the ancestors of specific clans: the Yadavas, Turvasus, Druhyus, Anavas, and Pauravas.
• The genealogies are used in Epic-Puranic chronology to date the start of Kali Yuga to 3102 BCE.