Prithu and Soorya Vansh (Lineage)

Bheeshm asked - "Many kings have enjoyed this Prithvi and because of this relationship with Prithvi they were called Paarthiv or Prithvi Pati (Lord of Prithvi) but how did this land got the name Prithvi, I wish to know that."

Pulastya Jee said - "There was one Ang named Prajaapati in Swaayambhuv Manu's [the 1st Manu] lineage. He married Mrityu's [Bhaya and Maayaa's son] daughter Suneethaa. She was very ugly she gave birth to a son named Vane. He was very cruel, so Rishi killed him through their Shaap. Then because of agitation in the public Braahman churned his body. First some Mlechchh people appeared, then appeared a very gracious man with bow, arrow and Gadaa in his hands. In fact he was the Avataar of Vishnu. His name was Prithu. Braahman coronated him as king. He found that there was no Dharm on Prithvi so he got ready to shoot an arrow at Prithvi. Then Prithvi prayed him and at his order gave everything to public. He made Prithvi even and people started living happily on her. That is why this Prithvi was considered Prithu's daughter and was named as Prithvi.

Bheeshm said - "Now you tell me about Soorya and Chandra Vansh." Pulastya Jee said - "In earlier times Kashyap and Aditi had a son named Vivaswaan. He had three wives - Sangyaa, Raagyee and Prabhaa. Raagyee had a son named Raivat, Prabhaa gave birth to Prabhaat, and Sangyaa gave birth to Vaivaswat who became Manu. Sangyaa was the daughter of Vishwakarmaa. After some time, Sangyaa gave birth to a twins - Yam and Yamunaa. After this she could not tolerate the grace of Soorya, so she produced a woman like herself from her own body, and named her Chhaayaa. Sangyaa asked her to take care of her husband and children. Chhaayaa obeyed her.

Chhaayaa produced a son from Soorya named Saavarn who also became Manu. After that Chhaayaa produced Shanaishchar named son and Tapatee and Vishti named two daughters. Once Yam Raaj went to Pushkar Teerth for Tap. Pleased with him Brahmaa Jee appointed him as Lokpaal of south direction and gave him the kingdom of Pitar Lok. Chhaayaa's son Shanaishchar also became planet because of his Tap. Yamunaa and Tapatee became rivers. Vishti had a very terrible look, so she became Kaal.

Vaivaswat Manu had ten sons - (1) Il, (2) Ikshwaaku, (3) Kushnaabh, (4) Arisht, (5) Dhrisht, (6) Narishyant, (7) Karoosh, (8) Sharyaati, (9) Prishadhra and (10) Naabhaag. All were Divine men. Manu coronated his eldest son Il and went for Tap. He asked a Var from Brahmaa Jee that he should be the king of all kings. After saying "So be it" Brahmaa Jee went away. Manu came back to his city and started ruling as before.

Once Il went with the desire to win other kings. He came to a forest - Shar Van, which belonged to Shiv Jee. Shiv Jee had already said about that Van, that "whosoever male will come here he will become female". So as Il entered this forest, he along with his army became female. He got very sad. Now he started living as Ilaa. As she was roaming around thinking that who she was, that Chandramaa's son Budh saw her and got attracted to her. Ilaa also got attracted to him. At that time Budh was in the guise of a Brahmchaaree. He called her and asked her to clean his house. She said - "I do not know, who I am, from where I have come, who are in my family?" Budh said - "You are Ilaa, I am Budh and I am the son of Chandramaa." Ilaa entered Budh's house which was more comfortable than Indra's house. She stayed there for some time and enjoyed Budh's company.

Il's brothers came there looking for him. They prayed Shiv and Paarvatee with several Stotra. Shiv appeared and said - "My vow cannot be broken, but you may do an Ashwamedh Yagya and offer its fruit to us, this will turn Il into a "Kimpurush", that is all I can do." Il's brothers did Ashwamedh Yagya and offered its fruit to Shiv and Paarvatee. Thus Il became a Kimpurush and started living as a woman for one month and as a man for another month. As she lived with Budh as a woman, she produced a son named Pururavaa from him. Thus he became the first child of Chandramaa on Earth. Il used to be known as Sudyumn also. Later he had three more sons - Utkal, Gaya and Haritaashwa.

Haritaashwa was was very mighty. He got Kuru area and southern area to rule. Utkal's capital was Utkalaa (present Orissa) and Gaya's capital was Gayaa (presently in Bihaar). Sudyumn gave Pratishthaanpur to his son Pururavaa and went to Ilaavrit Varsh to enjoy the fruits of his Karm.

After Il, Ikshwaaku was the eldest son of Vaivaswat Manu. He was given the kingdom of middle area. Ikshwaaku had 100 sons among whom 15 were good. They became the kings of northern part of Meru. Besides them he had 114 more sons who became the kings of southern part of Meru. The son of his eldest son was Kakutsth. Read the lineage of Kakutsth or Soorya Vansh on Next Page.