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Krishna, a major king in the Lunar Dyanasty

Asia in 1200 AD, showing the Yadava Dynasty and its neighbors.

In Hindu mythology, the Lunar Dynasty (Chandravanshi or Somavanshi) is one of the three principal houses of the Kshatriya Varna, or warrior–ruling caste. The Dynasty claims descent from the Moon (Soma or Chandra), while the other principal houses, the Solar Dynasty (Suryavanshi) claims descent from the Sun (Surya) and the Agnivanshi claim to have been born to the fire God Agni. Vansh essentially translates to family tree, so Chandra-, Surya- or Agnivanshi means the family tree or genealogy of the descendants of the Moon, Sun and Fire gods. Within these family trees sub-branches such as Bharatvansh, Yaduvansh, Puruvansh, Kuruvansh, Pandavansh etc. emerged, named after a prominent progenitor of line line.

List of monarchs of the Lunar Dynasty

Shakuntala, the wife of King Dushyanta, in Abhijñānashākuntala of Kalidasa. A painting by Raja Ravi Varma.

According to Puranic legend, the origin of the Lunar Dynasty was ^[1]^[2]:

Brahma had Manasputra (Mind born son) Atri
Atri produced Chandra (Moon God) from his eyes. In the third leg of Treta Yuga, Indra sent Chandra, Rohini's husband, to Prithvi (Earth). His capital was Prayag and was a devout worshiper of Vishnu and Shiva. He performed 100 Yagyas (Oblations) to please Mahamaya (God). He ruled for 18,000 years and then ascended to Swarg.
His son was Budh.

(Gandharv and Swarg are different names of Heaven and Lok means place. Treta means third and Yug or Yuga means era.)

Chandra's line

Indra sent Chandra to Prithvi (18,000 yrs)
Chandra's son was Budh - from Ila (Female version of Earth)
Budh's son was Pururava (14,000 yrs)

Pururva's line

Pururava had six sons in the beginning of Treta Yuga.

Ayu
Shrutayu
Satyayu
Raya
Vijaya
Jaya

Vijaya Vansha

Vijaya's was Bheem
Bheem's son was Kanchan
Kanchan's son was Hotra
Hotra's his son was Jahnu - He drank all the water of the River Ganga.
Jahnu's son was Poru
Poru's son was Balak
Balak's son Ajak
Ajak's son was Kush
Kush had four sons

Kushambhu
Tanaya
Vasu
Kushnabh

Kushnabh's son was Gadhi.
- Gadhi had Vishwamitra. Born a Kshatriya, he became a Brahmarshi (Sage).
- He had a daughter named Satyavati, who married Rishi Richik.
- Satyavati had son Rishi Jamadagni who married Renuka, the daughter of Rishi Renu
- Jamadagni had several sons such as Vasuman, the youngest one was Parashurama. He emptied Prithvi (earth) from Kshatriyas 21 times.
- Vishwamitra had 100 sons, 99 of whom are considered the mythylogical progenitors of the Andhras

Ayu Vansh

Pururava's son was Ayu (36,000 yrs) - he was a devotee of Vishnu.
Ayu had 5 sons

Kshatravriddh
Raji
Rambh
Anena
Nahush

Kshatravriddh Vansha

Kshatravriddh's son Suhotra, had three sons

Kashya
Kush
Grihatsmad

Kashya Vansa

Kashya's son was Kashi, who ruled from the city of Kashi off the Ganga River (India)
Kashi's son was Rashtra
Rashtra's son was Dirghtama
Dirghtamaa's son was Dhanvantari - he is the same Dhanvantari who started Ayur Veda. He takes his share in Yagya and is the Ansh of Vasudeva. Only remembering him can cure all kinds of diseases.
Dhanvantari's son was Ketuman
Ketuman's son was Bheemarath
Bheemarath's son was Divodas
Divodas' son was Dyuman - his other names are Pratardan, Shatrujit, Vats, Ritdhwaj and Kuvalayaksh.
Dyuman's sons were Alark etc - Alark ruled for 66,000 years.
Alark's son was Santati
Santati's son was Suneeth
Suneeth's son was Suketan
Suketan's son was Dharmketu
Dharmketu's son was Satyaketu
Satyaketu's son was Dhrishtketu
Dhrishtketu's son was Sukumar
Sukumar's son was Veetihotra
Veetihotra's son was Bharg
Bharg's son was Bhargbhumi.

Kush Vansha

Kush had Prati
Prati's son was Sanjay
Sanjay's son was Jaya
Jaya's was Krit
Krit's son was Haryavan
Haryavan's son was Sahadev
Sahadev's son was Heen
Heen's son was Jayasen
Jayasen's son was Sankriti
Sankriti's son was Jaya

Grihatsmad Vansh

Grihatsmad's son was Shunak
Shunak's son was Shaunakji - he is the same Shaunak who was acknowledged in Rig Veda.

Ayu Line 2 - by Anena

Anena's son was Shuddh
Shuddh's son was Shuchi
Shuchi's son was Trikud
Trikud's son was Dharmsarathi
Dharmsarathi's son was Shantiraya - Shantiraya was a knower of the Soul so he did not have any child.

Ayu Line 3 - by Rambh

Rambh's son was Rabhas
Rabhas' son was Gambheer
Gambheer's his son was Akriya. Akriya's wife started Brahman Vansh.

Ayu Line 4 - by Raji

Raji had 500 sons, all killed by Indra

Ayu Line 5 - by Nahush

Ayu's son was Nahush - he attained Indra's status and ruled the Three Lok, later he became a python because of Durvasa'a Shap (In MBH he became python because of Agastya Muni's Shap).

Ancient Migration Route of Yadavas

Nahush had 6 sons

Yati
Yayati
Sanyati
Ayati
Viyati
Kriti

Nahush's son Yayati's vansha

Nahush's son was Yayati
Yayati had five sons - three of them were the rulers of Mlechchh Desh (Their detailed description is available in the early chapters of Matsya Purana.) The other two became Arya. Among all the sons

The eldest son was Yadu
The youngest son was Puru (100,000 yrs) and then attained Vaikunth (Heaven).

Nahush -> Yayati -> Puru's Vansha

Puru's son was Janamejaya
Janamejaya's son was Prachinvan
Prachinvan's son was Praveer
Praveer's son was Namasyu
Namasyu's son was Sudyu
Sudyu's son was Bahugav
Bahugav's son was Sanyati
Sanyati's son was Ahanyati
Ahanyati's son was Raudrashwa
Raudrashwa had 10 sons from Ghritachi Apsara

Riteyu, who had Rantibhar
Kuksheyu
Sthandileyu
Kriteyu
Jaleyu
Santateyu
Dharmeyu
Satyeyu
Vriteyu
Vaneyu

Rantibhar had three sons:

Sumati
Dhruv
Apratirath.

Apratirath's son was Kanv and his son was Medhatithi who produced Prasakanv etc Brahman.

Dushyant's son was Bharat - from Shakuntala

Bharat's son was Bharadwaj
Bharadwaj's son was Manyu
Manyu had five sons

Brihatkshatra
Jaya
Mahavirya
Nar
Garg

- Mahavirya's son was Duritkshaya.
- Duritkshaya had three sons

Trayaruni
Kavi
Pushkararuni. All three became Brahmans.
1. Nar's son was Sankriti
2. Sankriti had two sons
  1. Guru
  2. Rantidev
3. Garg's son was Shini
4. Shini's son was Gargya.
5. Brihatkshatra's son was Hasti - who habited Hastinapur

Hasti had three sons

1. 1. Ajameedh
  2. Dwimeedh
  3. Purumeedh

Hasti Line 1 Ajameedh

Ajameedh's sons - Priyamedh etc became Brahmans. Among them one was Brihdishu
Ajameedh's second wife's name was Nalini. She gave birth to Neel.

Hasti -> Ajameedh Line 1-> Priyameedh

Brihdishu's son was Brihatkaya
Brihatkaya's son was Jayadrath
Jayadrath's son was Vishad
Vishad's son was Senjit
Senjit had four sons

Ruchirashwa
Dridhanu
Kashya
Vats.

Ruchirashwa's son was Par
Par had two sons

Prithusen
Neep

Neep had 100 sons plus a son Brahmdat - from Chayashuk's daughter Kritwee. He was a Yogi.
Brahmdat's son was Vishwaksen - from his wife Saraswati. Vishwaksen wrote Yog Shastra
Vishwaksen's son was Udakswan
Udakswan's son was Bhalad.

Hasti -> Ajameedh Line 2-> Neel

Neel's son was Shanti
Shanti's son was Sushanti
Sushanti's son was Puruj
Puruj's son was Ark
Ark's son was Bharmyashwa
Bharmyashwa had five sons

Mudgal
Yavenar
Brihdishu
Kampilya
Sanjay. Bharmyashwa said - "My all these five sons are worthy to rule five countries (Panch Alam), therefore they were known as Panchal. Among them Mudgal started Maudgalya Brahman Gotra.

Hasti Line 2 Dwimeedh

Dwimeedh's son was Yaveenar
Yavenar's son was Kritiman
Kritiman's son was Satyadhriti
Satyadhriti's son was Dridhnemi
Dridhnemi's son was Suparshwa
Suparshwa's son was Sumati
Sumati's son was Sanatiman
Sanatiman's son was Kriti - Kriti attained the knowledge of Yog from Hiranynabh and told six Sanhita of "Prachyasam" Richa.
Kriti's son was Neep
Neep's son was Ugrayudh
Ugrayudh's son was Kshemya
Kshemya's son was Suvir
Suvir's son was Ripunjay
Ripunjaya's son was Bahurath.

Hasti Line 3 Purumeedh - No child

No Child

Nahush -> Yayati -> Yadu's Vansha - (Yadu to Sanvaran)

Yadu's son was Kroshtu (60,000 yrs)
Kroshtu's son was Vrijinaghn (20,000 yrs)
Vrijinaghn's son was Swaharchan
Swaharchan's son was Chitrarth
Chitrarath's son was Arvind
Arvind's son was Shravas
Shravas' son was Tamas
Tamas' son was Ushan
Ushan's son was Sheetanshu
Sheetanshuk's son was Kamalanshu
Kamalanshu's son was Paravat
Paravat's son was Jyamagh
Jyamagh's son was Vidarbh
Vidarbh's son was Krath
Krath's son was Kuntibhoj - He married the daughter of Purudaitya who lived in Patal.
Kuntibhoj's son Vrishparva (10,000), was a great devotee of Devi. He ruled in Pratishthanpur (Jhansi) of Prayag.
Mayavidya's son was Janamejaya I
Janamejaya I's son was Prachinvan
Prachinvan's son was Praveer
Praveer's son was Nabhasya
Nabhasya's son was Bhavad
Bhavad's son was Sudyumn
Sudyumn's son was Bahugar
Bahugar's son was Sanyati
Sanyati's son was Dhanayati
Dhanayati's son was Aindrashwa
Aindrashwa's son was Rantinar
Rantinar's son was Sutapa
Sutapa's son was Sanvaran - he did Tapas for 100 years. Surya married his daughter Tapati to him.

Here ended Treta Yuga.

Map of India during Mahabharata.

All four seas crossed their limits and presented a scene of Pralaya. For two years, Prithvi (Earth) was under the sea. Then came storms with strong winds and the sea started to regress and Prithvi reappeared by the grace of Maharshi Agastya. Within five years Prithvi grew all vegetations back and all the Varnas by the grace of Surya, Sanvaran and Maharshi Vashishtha, came back to Prithvi. Sanvaran came to Pratishthanpur (Jhansi) on Friday, Trayodashi (13th day) of Krishnapaksh of Bhadrapadmas. Vishwakarma built a palace there which was 1/2 a Kos (1 1/2 miles) high. Sanvaran inhabited Pratishthanpur in the area of 5 Yojan or 20 Kos. Budhvanshi Prasenjit and Yaduvanshi (Yadav) Satwat Shoorsen became the rulers of Mathura. Mlechchhvanshi Shmshrupal (who has a beard) was the ruler of Marudesh (Arabia, Iran, Iraq). As the number of people grew, the number of kings also increased. Sanvaran ruled for 10,000 years.

Sanvaran's son was Archagya (10,000 yrs)
Archagya's son was Suryajapi (5,000 yrs)
Suryajapi's son was Suryayagya
Suryayagya's son was Adityavardhan
Adityavardhan's son was Dwadashatma
Dwadashatma's son was Divakar
Divakar's son was Prabhakar
Prabhakar's son was Bhaswadatma
Bhaswadatma's son was Vivaswaj
Vivaswaj's son was Haridashwarchan
Haridashwarchan's son was Vaikartan
Vaikartan's son was Arkeshtiman
Arkeshtiman's son was Martandvatsal
Martandvatsal's son was Mihirarth
Mihirarth's son was Arunposhan
Arunposhan's son was Dyumani
Dyumani's son was Taraniyagya
Taraniyafgya's son was Maitreshtivardhan
Maitreshtivardhan's son was Chitrabhanorjak
Chitrabhanorjak's son was Vairochan
Vairochan's son was Hansnyayi
Hansnyayi's son was Vedpravardhan
Vedpravardhan's son was Savitra
Savitra's son was Dhanapal
Dhanapal's son was Mlechchhanta
Mlechchh-hanta's son was Anandvardhan
Anandvardhan's son was Dharmpal
Dharmpal's son was Brahmbhakt
Brahmbhakt's son was Brahmeshtivardhan
Brahmaeshtivardhan's son was Atmprapojak
Aatmprapojak's son was Parameshthi
Parameshthi's son was Hairanyavardhan
Hairanyavardhan's son was Dhatrayaji
Dhatrayaji's son was Vidhatraprapojak
Vidhatraprapujak's son was Druhinkratu
Druhinkratu's son was Vairanchya
Vairanchya's son was Kamalasan
Kamalasan's son was Shamvarti
Shamvarti's son Shraddhdev
Shradhdev's son was Pitravardhan
Pitravardhan's son was Somdat
Somdat's son was Somvardhan
Somvardhan's son was Avatans
Avatans' son was Pratans
Pratans' son was Paratans
Paratans' son was Ayatans
Ayatans' son was Samatans
Samatans' son was Anutans
Anutans' son was Adhitans
Adhitans' son was Abhitans
Abhitans' son was Samuttans
Samuttans' son was Tans
Tans' son was Dushyant
Dushyant's son was Bharat (36,000 yrs) - from his wife Shakuntala.
Bharat was a great devotee of Surya Dev. He was a Chakravarti (noble) king.
Bharat's son was Mahabal
Mahabal's son was Bharadwaj
Bharadwaj's son was Manyuman (18,000 yrs)
Manyuman's son was Brihatkshatra
Brihatkshatra's son was Suhotra
Suhotra's son was Veetihotra (10,000 yrs)
Veetihotra's son was Yagyahotra
Yagyahotra's son was Shakrahotra - pleased with him, Indra gave him Swarg (heaven).

At that time there was a great king named --

Pratapendra (10,000 yrs)
Pratapendra's son was Mandaleek
Mandaleek's son was Vijayendra
Vijayendra's son was Dhanurdeept
Shakrahotra came again on Prithvi at the order of Indra along with Ghritachi Apsara. He defeated Dhanurdeept and ruled Prithvi. *Shakrahotra's son was Hasti (10,000 yrs) - from Ghritachi. Hasti rode the son of Airavat elephant and built a city named Hastinapur on his name. This city is 10 Yojan long and is situated on the bank of Swarganga.
Hasti's son was Ajmeedh
Ajmeedh's son was Rakshpal
Rakshpal's son was Sushamyarn
Sushamyarn's son was Kuru - He went to Swarg with his physical body by the Var of Indra.

At that time, in Satwat Vansh, there was the king named Vrishni (5,000 yrs) - by the Var of Vishnu.
Vrishni's son was Niravritti (5,000 yrs)
Niravritti's son was Dashari (5,000 yrs)
Dashari's son was Viyamun (5,000 yrs)
Viyamun's son was Jeemoot (5,000 yrs)
Jeemoot's son was Vikriti (5,000 yrs)
Vikriti's son was Bheemarath (5,000 yrs)
Bheemarath's son was Navarath (5,000 yrs)
Navarath's son was Dasharath (5,000 yrs)
Dasharath's son was Shakuni (5,000 yrs)
Shakuni's son was Kushumbh (5,000 yrs)
Kushumbh's son was Devarath (5,000 yrs)
Devarath's son was Devkshatra (5,000 yrs)
Devkshatra's son was Madhu (5,000 yrs)
Madhu's son was Navarath (5,000 yrs)
Navarath's son was Kuruvats (5,000 yrs) – 5,000 × 16 = 80,000 years passed
Kuruvats' son was Anurath (5,000 yrs)
Anurath's son was Puruhotra (5,000 yrs)
Puruhotra's son was Vichitrang (5,000 yrs)
Vichitrang's son was Satwatvan (5,000 yrs)
Satwatvan's son was Bhajman (5,000 yrs)
Bhajman's son was Vidoorath (5,000 yrs)
Vidoorath's son was Surbhakt (5,000 yrs)
Surbhakt's son was Sumana (5,000 yrs) – 5,000 × 8 = 40,000 years passed.
Sumana's son was Tatikshetra
Tatikshetra's son was Swayambhuv
Swayambhuv's son was Harideepak
Harideepak's son was Devmedha
Devmedha's son was Surpal—The Second leg of Treta Yug ended here.

Kurus' Vansha

After the second leg of Dwapar was over, Sukeshi came to Earth and married Kuru. He built Kurukshetra, which was 20 Yojan long.

Kuru (12,000 yrs)
Kuru's son was Jahnu
Jahnu's son was Surath
Surath's son was Vidoorath
Vidoorath's son was Sarvbhaum
Sarvbhaum's son was Jayasen
Jayasen's son was Arnav (12,000 yrs) - Arnav's kingdom spread to the four seas.
Arnav's son was Ayutayu (10,000)
Ayutayu's son was Akrodhan
Akrodhan's son was Riksh
Riksh's son was Bheemsen
Bheemsen's son was Dileep
Dileep's son was Prateep (5,000 yrs)
Prateep's son was Shantanu (1,000 yrs)
Shantanu's on was Vichitraveerya (200 yrs)
Vichitraveerya's son was Pandu (500 yrs)
Pandu's son was Yudhishthir (50 yrs).
Duryodhan (Dhritrashtra's son) ruled for 60 years and was killed by Yudhishthir's brother Bheemsen in Kurukshetra.

In ancient times Daityas were also killed in a huge number by Devta. All Daityas were reborn in Shantanu's kingdom. Afflicted by Duryodhan's army, Prithvi went to Indra and then Hari (Krishna), who took Avatar (Incarnation) in Vasudev and Devaki's house. He lived on Prithvi for 135 years, then went to His Go Lok.*

Note - Different Puranas tell different ages of Krishna, especially Mahabharat, Bhagvat, Harivansh, Vishnu, Brahma Vaivart and Garg Sanhita also describe His life in detail. Most books tell His age as 125 years.

Krishn's avatar was in the end of fourth leg of Dwapar Yuga.

After Yudhishthir
Abhimanyu's son Pareekshit
Pareekshit's son was Janamejaya
Janamejaya's son was Shatanek
Shatanek's son was Yagyadat (Sahastranek)
Yagyadat's son was Nishchakra*
- Note - During his rule, Ganga flowed away from Hastinapur, therefore he made Kaushambi which was 4 Yojan long and west to Prayag, as his capital. [Vishnu Purana, 4/15]
Nishchakra's son was Ushtrapal (Ushtrapal)
Ushtrapal's son was Chitrarath
Chitrarath's son was Dhritiman
Dhritiman's son was Sushen
Sushen's son was Sunith
Sunith's son was Makhpal
Makhpal's son was Chakshu
Chakshu's son was Sukhvant (Sukhaval)
Sukhvant's son was Pariplav
Pariplav's son was Sunaya
Sunaya's son was Medhavi
Medhavi's son was Nripanjaya
Nripanjaya's son was Madu
Madu's son was Tigmjyoti
Tigmjyoti's son was Brihdrath
Brihdrath's son was Vasudan
Vasudan's son was Shatanek
Shatanek's son was Udayan
Udayan's son was Ahenar
Ahenar's son was Niramitra
Niramitra's son was Kshemak
Kshemak abandoned his kingdom and went to Kalapgram. He was killed by Mlechchhs. By the grace of Narad he had a son named Pradyot. Prodyot did Mlechchh Yagya in which many Mlechchhs were killed.

Yadav lineage

A portrait of Maharaja Šúraséna or Shoorsena, the grandfather of both Krisna and Pandavas.

Of the many branches of the Chandravansh line that has been briefly enumerated, the Yadava lineage is a major branch. This branch is an offshoot of the Bharatvansh which started with the eldest son of Yayati, Yadu. All his descendants are known as Yadavas of Yaduvansh, meaning descendants of Yadu. Another son of Yayati, Puruvas started the Puruva branch who were the progenitors of the Kuru and Pandava line of Chandravanshi line of Kshatriyas.^[3] Based on the writings of the Rig Veda and other Puranas, such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Raghuvamsa, Lord Krishna was born into the Yadava branch and is considered an ancestor by Yadav Kshatriyas ^[3]. During the Mahabharat Vedic period, Chandravansh was only associated with Yadavas and Soorsaini's. The Bhati, Chandela (Who built Khajuraho) and Jadaun/Jadeja clans claim that they are Chandravansis. Several Indian castes such as the Sainis of Punjab^[4]^[5] and contiguous regions, and the Jats of Mathura and Bharatpur, claim descent from the Yaduvanshi lineage.^[3]. In sanskrit, Arnav means the 'Ocean'.

The Yaduvanshis (aka Shoorsainis), and the Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri^[6] claim descent from the Hindu God Krishna.

References

^ Chandravansh - Treta Yug, 2nd Leg
^ Bhavishya Purana, 3-Pratisarg, p 274-275
^ ^a ^b ^c http://www.answers.com/topic/kshatriya#Chandravanshi
^ ^ a b People of India: Haryana, pp 430, Kumar Suresh Singh, Madan Lal Sharma, A. K. Bhatia, Anthropological Survey of India, Published by Published on behalf of Anthropological Survey of India by Manohar Publishers, 1994
^ ^ a b "In the Punjab in the sub- mountainous region the community came to be known as 'Saini'. It maintained its Rajput character despite migration." Castes and Tribes of Rajasthan, pp108,Sukhvir Singh Gahlot, Banshi Dhar, Jain Brothers, 1989
^ Robin James Moore. Tradition and Politics in South Asia. 1979. Vikas Publishing House.

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