Pururavas (Devanagari:पुरूरव) was the first king of the Aila dynasty or the Somavamsha. According to the Vedas, he is a mythological entity associated with the Surya (the sun) and Usha (the dawn), and is believed to resided in the middle region of the cosmos. The Rig Veda (X.95.18) states that he was a son of Ila[1] and was a pious king. However, the Mahabharata states that Ila was both his mother and his father. According to the Vishnu Purana, his father was Budha, and he was ancestor of the tribe of Pururavas, from whom descended the Kauravas and Pandavas.
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Narrative of Urvashi and Pururavas
The earlier version of the narrative of Urvashi and Pururavas is found in the Rigveda (X.95.1-18) and the Shatapatha Brahmana (XI.5.1). The later versions are found in the Mahabharata, the Harivamsa, the Vishnu Purana and the Matsya Purana[2]
In Vedic literature
The narrative in the Vedic literature tells us that Urvashi, a Gandharvi or Apsara (celestial nymph), having being united with a human king, Pururavas, and after living together for four autumns, suddenly left him on his unintentional violation of the stipulated conditions of the union. Later Pururavas made futile entreaties to her to return to him.[2]
In classical Sanskrit literature
The love story of king Pururavas and celestial nymph Urvashi is found in the Sanskrit drama, Vikramōrvaśīyam, written by the celebrated poet Kalidasa.
Life and descendants
According to the Puranas, Pururavas reigned from Pratisthana (Prayaga). He had six (or seven or eight according to different accounts) sons. The names of these sons are, Ayu (or Ayus), Amavasu,[3] Vishvayu, Shrutayu, Shatayu and Dridhayu. Nahusha, the son of Ayu, is a well-known name in the Rigveda[4]
Notes
- ^ Misra, V.S. (2007). Ancient Indian Dynasties, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ISBN 81-7276-413-8, p.57
- ^ a b Dandekar, R.N. (1962). Indian Mythology in S. Radhakrishnan ed. The Cultural Heritage of India, Calcutta: The Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture, ISBN 81-85843-03-1, pp.229-30, 230ff
- ^ Pargiter, F.E. (1972). Ancient Indian Historical Tradition, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, pp.85-6.
- ^ Misra, V.S. (2007). Ancient Indian Dynasties, Mumbai: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, ISBN 81-7276-413-8, pp.59-61
References
- A Dictionary of Hindu Mythology & Religion by John Dowson
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