The
Sooryavamsham or
Suryavansh or
Suryavamsa or
Sun Dynasty or
Solar Dynasty was one of the most prominent dynasties in the mythical history of
IndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, along with the "Chandra-vaṃśa" or
Lunar DynastyIn Hindu mythology, the Lunar Dynasty is one of the three principal houses of the Kshatriya varna, or warrior–ruling caste...
.
Introduction
The term
Suryavanshi refers to a person belonging to the Suryvansha dynasty. This clan was the oldest and biggest
Kshatriya*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
clan of India which was also known by many synonyms as Adityavamsha (आदित्यवंश), Mitrawamsha (मित्रवंश), Arkawamsha (अर्कवंश), Raviwamsha (रविवंश), etc. The early Suryavanshis considered Sun-god ('Surya', 'Aditya' or 'Arka') as their kul-devta (clan God) and mainly practised sun-worship.The capital of Solar race was ancient
Ayodhya.The clan founder, Vivasvan or
Vaivaswat ManuIn various Hindu traditions, Manu is a title accorded to the progenitor of mankind, and also the very first brahman king to rule this earth, who saved mankind from the universal flood. He was absolutely honest which was why he was initially known as "Satyavrata"...
, also known as
ArkaArka is a village in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Hungary.- External links :* -See also:* Arka Gdynia...
-tanaya (अर्क तनय) or son of Arka (
SuryaSurya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
), is supposed to have lived coeval with the origin of the world. The name Vivaswan literally means master of the rays. That is, The Sun or Sun God. The first historically important king of this dynasty was Vivaswan's grandson
IkshvakuIkshvaku pāli: Okkāka) was the first king of the Ikshvaku dynasty and founder of the Solar Dynasty of Kshatriyas in Vedic civilization in ancient India.-In Hinduism:He is remembered in Hindu scriptures as a righteous and glorious king...
, so the dynasty is also known as the
Ikshvaku dynastyThe Ikshvaku dynasty, in Puranic literature, was a mythical dynasty founded by Ikshvaku, grandson of Vivasvan or Surya and son of Vaivasvata Manu. This dynasty is also known as . The important personalities belonging to this royal house are Harishchandra, Dilīpa, Sagara, Raghu, Rama and Prasenajit...
.
{{Cleanup|date=June 2011}}
The
Sooryavamsham or
Suryavansh or
Suryavamsa or
Sun Dynasty or
Solar Dynasty ({{IAST|Sūrya-vaṃśa}}) was one of the most prominent{{Peacock term|date=September 2011}} dynasties{{Definition|date=September 2011}} in the mythical history of
IndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
{{Chronology citation needed|date=September 2011}}, along with the "Chandra-vaṃśa" or
Lunar DynastyIn Hindu mythology, the Lunar Dynasty is one of the three principal houses of the Kshatriya varna, or warrior–ruling caste...
.
Introduction
The term
Suryavanshi refers to a person belonging to the Suryvansha dynasty. This clan was the oldest and biggest
Kshatriya*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
clan of India which was also known by many synonyms as Adityavamsha (आदित्यवंश), Mitrawamsha (मित्रवंश), Arkawamsha (अर्कवंश), Raviwamsha (रविवंश), etc. The early Suryavanshis considered Sun-god ('Surya', 'Aditya' or 'Arka') as their kul-devta (clan God) and mainly practised sun-worship.The capital of Solar race was ancient
Ayodhya.The clan founder, Vivasvan or
Vaivaswat ManuIn various Hindu traditions, Manu is a title accorded to the progenitor of mankind, and also the very first brahman king to rule this earth, who saved mankind from the universal flood. He was absolutely honest which was why he was initially known as "Satyavrata"...
, also known as
ArkaArka is a village in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Hungary.- External links :* -See also:* Arka Gdynia...
-tanaya (अर्क तनय) or son of Arka (
SuryaSurya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
), is supposed to have lived coeval with the origin of the world.{{Dubious|date=September 2011}}{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} The name Vivaswan literally means master of the rays. That is, The Sun or Sun God. The first historically important king of this dynasty was Vivaswan's grandson
IkshvakuIkshvaku pāli: Okkāka) was the first king of the Ikshvaku dynasty and founder of the Solar Dynasty of Kshatriyas in Vedic civilization in ancient India.-In Hinduism:He is remembered in Hindu scriptures as a righteous and glorious king...
, so the dynasty is also known as the
Ikshvaku dynastyThe Ikshvaku dynasty, in Puranic literature, was a mythical dynasty founded by Ikshvaku, grandson of Vivasvan or Surya and son of Vaivasvata Manu. This dynasty is also known as . The important personalities belonging to this royal house are Harishchandra, Dilīpa, Sagara, Raghu, Rama and Prasenajit...
.
{{Cleanup|date=June 2011}}
The
Sooryavamsham or
Suryavansh or
Suryavamsa or
Sun Dynasty or
Solar Dynasty ({{IAST|Sūrya-vaṃśa}}) was one of the most prominent{{Peacock term|date=September 2011}} dynasties{{Definition|date=September 2011}} in the mythical history of
IndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
{{Chronology citation needed|date=September 2011}}, along with the "Chandra-vaṃśa" or
Lunar DynastyIn Hindu mythology, the Lunar Dynasty is one of the three principal houses of the Kshatriya varna, or warrior–ruling caste...
.
Introduction
The term
Suryavanshi refers to a person belonging to the Suryvansha dynasty. This clan was the oldest and biggest
Kshatriya*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
clan of India which was also known by many synonyms as Adityavamsha (आदित्यवंश), Mitrawamsha (मित्रवंश), Arkawamsha (अर्कवंश), Raviwamsha (रविवंश), etc. The early Suryavanshis considered Sun-god ('Surya', 'Aditya' or 'Arka') as their kul-devta (clan God) and mainly practised sun-worship.The capital of Solar race was ancient
Ayodhya.The clan founder, Vivasvan or
Vaivaswat ManuIn various Hindu traditions, Manu is a title accorded to the progenitor of mankind, and also the very first brahman king to rule this earth, who saved mankind from the universal flood. He was absolutely honest which was why he was initially known as "Satyavrata"...
, also known as
ArkaArka is a village in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Hungary.- External links :* -See also:* Arka Gdynia...
-tanaya (अर्क तनय) or son of Arka (
SuryaSurya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
), is supposed to have lived coeval with the origin of the world.{{Dubious|date=September 2011}}{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} The name Vivaswan literally means master of the rays. That is, The Sun or Sun God. The first historically important king of this dynasty was Vivaswan's grandson
IkshvakuIkshvaku pāli: Okkāka) was the first king of the Ikshvaku dynasty and founder of the Solar Dynasty of Kshatriyas in Vedic civilization in ancient India.-In Hinduism:He is remembered in Hindu scriptures as a righteous and glorious king...
, so the dynasty is also known as the
Ikshvaku dynastyThe Ikshvaku dynasty, in Puranic literature, was a mythical dynasty founded by Ikshvaku, grandson of Vivasvan or Surya and son of Vaivasvata Manu. This dynasty is also known as . The important personalities belonging to this royal house are Harishchandra, Dilīpa, Sagara, Raghu, Rama and Prasenajit...
.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}{{Dubious|date=September 2011}}
The last important king of
Ayodhya was Brihdbal, who was killed by
AbhimanyuAbhimanyu is a tragic hero in the Hindu epic, the Mahābhārata. He is the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, who is the half-sister of Lord Krishna...
in
the Kurukshetra warThe Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
. The last ruling king of the dynasty at Ayodhya was Sumitra in the 4th century BC, who, after being forced out of Ayodhya by emperor
Mahapadma NandaMahapadma Nanda was the first king of the Nanda dynasty. He was the son of Mahanandin, a Kshatriya father from the Shishunaga dynasty, with a shudra wife. Sons of Mahanandin from his Kshatriya wives opposed the rise of Mahapadma Nanda, on which he eliminated all of them to claim the throne...
of Magadha's
Nanda DynastyThe Nanda Empire originated from the region of Magadha in Ancient India during the 5th and 4th centuries BC. At its greatest extent, the Nanda Empire extended from Bengal in the east, to Punjab in the west and as far south as the Vindhya Range...
, continued the royal line at
RohtasRohtas can refer to:*Rohtas, Pakistan, a village located in Rohtas Fort, Pakistan*Rohtas Fort, Pakistan*Rohtas District, a district in Bihar, India*Rohtas Plateau in north-western Bihar...
.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
The Nairs of Kerala- like Nambiars, Menons,Pillai,Panikkar etc are the Sooryansha Kshathriyas. Most of the Gurjars (or Gujjars) believe themselves to have descended from Suryavanshi
Kshatriya*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
s (Sun Dynasty). Historically, the Gurjars were Sun-worshipers and are described as devoted to the feet of the Sun-god (God
SuryaSurya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
). The copper-plate grants of Gurjars bear an emblem of the Sun and on their seals too, this symbol is depicted. Also, the Gurjar title of honor is
MihirMihira is an ancient Indian word meaning "Sun".* It is another name for the Indo-Iranian sun god Mithra.* It is another name for the Indian astronomer Varahamihira.* It is part of the name of the Huna king Mihirakula....
which means
SunSurya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
.
As laid down by
ManuIn various Hindu traditions, Manu is a title accorded to the progenitor of mankind, and also the very first brahman king to rule this earth, who saved mankind from the universal flood. He was absolutely honest which was why he was initially known as "Satyavrata"...
, the kings of the Solar dynasty followed the rule of
primogeniturePrimogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
. Only the eldest male offspring of the king could succeed to the throne, unless disqualified by the priests for being physically disabled or some other reason. The younger sons also produced many prominent historical
Kshatriya*For the Bollywood film of the same name see Kshatriya Kshatriya or Kashtriya, meaning warrior, is one of the four varnas in Hinduism...
s and Vaishyas, but these are not included in the following list of monarchs. The list, however, does include some rightful heirs who were disqualified by the priests.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
Source of the lineage
The Puranas, particularly
Vishnu PuranaThe Vishnu Purana is a religious Hindu text and one of the eighteen Mahapuranas. It is considered one of the most important Puranas and has been given the name Puranaratna...
,
RamayanaThe Ramayana is an ancient Sanskrit epic. It is ascribed to the Hindu sage Valmiki and forms an important part of the Hindu canon , considered to be itihāsa. The Ramayana is one of the two great epics of India and Nepal, the other being the Mahabharata...
by
ValmikiValmiki is celebrated as the poet harbinger in Sanskrit literature. He is the author of the epic Ramayana, based on the attribution in the text of the epic itself. He is revered as the Adi Kavi, which means First Poet, for he discovered the first śloka i.e...
and the
MahabharataThe Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
by
VyasaVyasa is a central and revered figure in most Hindu traditions. He is also sometimes called Veda Vyasa , or Krishna Dvaipayana...
gives accounts of this dynasty. The
Raghuvamsha of
KalidasaKālidāsa was a renowned Classical Sanskrit writer, widely regarded as the greatest poet and dramatist in the Sanskrit language...
also mentions the names of some of the kings of this dynasty.
Communities claiming Solar origin
- Jamwal
Jamwal is a suryavanshi Rajput clan of Chattari lineage in Jammu and Kashmir that claims solar origin by direct descent from Sri Rama Chandra of Raghav Rajput clan. Jamwal traditions state that their ancestor, Raja Agnigarba, came from Ayodhya and founded a small state on the banks of River Tawi...
- Katoch
Katoch is the name of a Rajput clan belonging to the Chandervanshi kshatriya lineage. Their traditional areas of residence was Trigarta Kingdom, Jalandhar, Multan i.e...
- Cholas
- Gujjar
The Gurjar are an ethnic group in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Alternative spellings include Gurjara, Gujar, Gurjjara and Gūrjara. The spelling Gurjara or Gurjar is preferable to the rest....
- Khatri
Khatri is a caste from the northern Indian subcontinent. Khatris in India are mostly from Punjab, region but later they migrated to regions like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu, Uttarkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber...
- Kurmi
The Kurmi are a Hindu agricultural Jāti in India.The group has been associated with the Kunbi, though scholars differ as to whether the terms are synonymous. In 2006, the Indian government announced that Kurmi was considered synonymous with the Kunbi and Yellam castes in Maharashtra...
- Bisen
Bisen/Vishen are the Suryavanshi Rajput clan found in North India, mainly in the state of Uttar Pradesh.They trace their descent from Raja Prithvi Mull of Majhaul, and get their name from the Sanskrit words visva meaning "entire" and sena means an "army".In other words it connotes those who have...
- Sikarwar
Sikarwar is a clan of Rajputs found around Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Sikarwars were the founders of Vijaypur Sikri by Babur.Some Jatt clans have adopted 'Sikarwar' as their Gotras....
- Rathore
The Rathore is a Suryavanshi Rajput clan same caste as Lohana. Their Kuldevi is Nagnechiya Mata and "Karani Mata". Rathores are originally from Kannauj in Uttar Pradesh. Rathores are historically considered the samurais of India...
- Kushwaha
Kushwaha is a community of the Indian subcontinent, which has traditionally been involved in agriculture and farming.- Demographics :The Kushwahas are found in large numbers in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh as well as in Nepal and Mauritius....
- Kachwaha
Kachwaha are a Suryavanshi Kshatriya clan who ruled a number of kingdoms and princely states in India such as Alwar, Maihar, Talcher, while the largest kingdom was Jaipur which was founded by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in 1727...
External links