Lord Sri RAMA's Geneaology

We have all read excerpts of the Ramayana in books, as children. Our grandparents have told us lovely stories about how Rama was born, his toddler tales and all about the valour of Lord Sri Rama, too. We all refer to him as Suryavanshi, Raghuvanshi Sri Rama but do you all know how and why, his lineage was called so?  Who were Lord Rama's forefathers after all? Do you know how Ramayana down the line ended with the great epic of the Mahabharata?

Here, let me start at the very beginning and present before you a Family Tree of sorts. Lord Rama's history, isn't that intriguing?

As per Hindu Mythology it is believed that there is primarily the Holy Trinity-three major God's running our show, Lord Vishnu-the creator, Lord Shiva- The destructor and Lord Brahma- the one who writes all our destinies.

The birth of Lord Sri Rama marks the 39th generation in Lord Brahma's lineage.

It is believed that Lord Sri Rama is the 7th Avatar of the great God Vishnu.

Surya-Dev or the Sun-God gave birth to the first Manu- the progenitor of the human race on Earth. The descendants of this Vaivasvat Manu- the son of the great Surya, his descendants came to be referred to as the Suryavanshis.

 Vaivasvat Manu also known as Satyavrata had 10 sons namely Ill, Ikshavaku, Kushnaam, Arishta, Dhrushta, Narishyanta, Kurush, Mahabali, Sharyaati and Prushadh.

Lord Sri Rama was born in Manu's second son Ikshavaku's lineage. It is not known to many that the great Jain Tirthankara Nimi is also the scion of the same lineage. Vikukshi, Nimi and Dandak were the three grandsons who gained prominence, of the 101 children born to Ikshavaku.

The genealogy thus proceeds down to the kings Harishchandra, Rohit, Vrusha, Bahu, and Sagar before Lord Rama.

Ikshavaku was one of the earliest monarchs of India at the head of the Solar Dynasty. He ruled over the kingdoms of Kaushal with Ayodhya as its Capital.

Referring to the Balkand of Ramayana as narrated by the great sage Vashishta, we find a complete mention of the hierarchy in Lord Sri Ramas lineage which is as folows:-

1. Marichi (Son of Lord Brahma)

2. Vivasvan or the Sun-God 

3.Vaivasvat Manu (Lord Vishnu in his first Matsya Avatar had forewarned him of the great deluge.)

5.Ikshavaku-the 2nd son established his kingdom with a capital in Ayodhya and thus started the Ikshavaku clan

6.Kukshi (son of Ikshavaku)

7. Vikukshi

8. Baan

9. Anaranya

10. Pruthu.

It was after him that this Earth is believed to have been named as Pruthvi)

11. Trishanku

12. Dhundhumaar

13. Yuvanaashva

14.Maandhaata

15. Susandhi

16. Dhruvasandhi and Prasenjit were the 2 sons in this generation of the lineage.

17. Bharat was born to Dhruvasandhi

18. Asit

19.Sagar

20. Asammaj

21. Anshuman

22. Dilip

23. Bhagirath

It was Bhagirath who was believed to have brought the great River Ganga flowing across the Indian peninsula

24. Kukutstha

25. Raghu. 

This scion of the Ikshavaku dynasty proved to be the most glorious of all kings in many generations. It was rule that not only brought prosperity to the monarchy but also changed the name by which his lineage came to be recognised. His descendants thereafter were referred to as the Raghuvanshis

26. Pravruddha

27. Shankhan

28. Sudarshan

29.Agnivarna

30. Shighrag

31. Maru

32. Prashushruk

33. Ambarish

34. Nahush

35. Yayati

36. Nabhag

37. Aja

38. Dasharath

39. King Dashrath had four sons- Rama, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughna.

Lord Sri Rama was considered an Avatar of Sri Vishnu and his descendants also made an interesting lineage.

Lord Sri Rama had 2 sons, Luv and Kush. The lineage thereafter from Kush ended with Brihadbala- the last king of the dynasty who was killed in the epic battle of the Mahabharataa by Abhimanyu, the son of Arjun.

English Transliteration:

॥ Sri Ramachandra kripalu ॥

Shri Ramacandra kripalu bhaju, mana, harana bhava bhaya darunam ।

navakanja-lochana kanja-mukha, kara-kanja pada-kanjarunam ॥1॥

Kandarpa aganita amita chavi, navalnila niraj sundaram ।

patapita manahu tarita ruchi suchi, naumi Janaka-sutavaram ॥2॥

Bhaju Dinabhandu Dinesha danava-daitya-vansha nikandanam ।

Raghunanda anandakanda, Kaushalachanda Dasharatha-nandanam ॥3॥

Sira mukuta kundala tilaka charu, udaru anga vibhushanam ।

ajanu bhuja shara chapadhar, sangrama-jita Khara-Dhushanam ॥4॥

Iti vadati Tulasidasa Shankara, Shesha munimana ranjanam ।

mama hridaya-kanja nivasa kuru, kamadi khaladala ganjanam ॥5॥

Manju jahin racheu milih so baru sahaj sundar sanwro ।

karuna nidhan sujan silu sanehu janat ravanro ॥6॥

ehi bhanti gauri aseesh sun siya sahit hiyen harsheen ali ।

tulsi bhawanih pooji puni puni mudit man mandir chali ॥7॥

jani gauri anukul siye hiye harashi na jai kahi ।

manjul mangal mool bam ang farkan lage ॥

Goswami Tulsidas

Meaning of the song in English

O mind! Revere the benign Shree Ramachandra, who can remove the fear of rebirths ।

Who has fresh lotus eyes, lotus face and lotus hands, feet like lotus and like the rising sun ॥1॥

His image exceeds myriad Cupids, like a fresh, blue-hued cloud — magnificent ।

His amber-robes appear like lightning, pure, captivating. Revere this groom of Janaka’s daughter ॥2॥

Sing hymns of the brother of destitute, Lord of the daylight, the destroyer of the clan of Danu-Diti demons ।

The progeny of Raghu, limitless 'joy', the moon to Kosala, sing hymns of Dasharatha’s son ॥3॥

His head bears the crown, ear pendants, tilak on forehead, his adorned, shapely limbs are resplendent

Arms extend to the knees, studded with bows-arrows, who won battles against Khara and Dooshana ॥4॥

Thus says Tulsidas, O joy of Shankara, Shesh (Nag), Mind and Sages ।

Reside in the lotus of my heart, O slayer of the vices-troops of Kaama and the like ॥5॥

Goswami Tulsidas

Shri_RamChandra_Kripalu

It is important that we educate our children about our rich Indian heritage, mythology, spiritualism and give them the treasure of morals and values that our parents bestowed upon us..