Sun Dynasty
The Sun Dynasty is one of the most prominent dynasties in the history of Hinduism. This clan is known to be the most long-lived and the most prosperous.
This clan is more associated with Rama, the King of Ayodhya. All of the Kings in this clan have started from the originiation of the world and the first king of the clan is Ikshvaku. Therefore, this dynasty is also known as the Iksvaku Dynasty.
The following is the list and order of the monarchs that have originated from this dynasty and most of them were the rulers of Ayodhya and therefore, King of Kosala.
- King Vivasvant - the Sun God, who commenced this clan.
- King Manu - the King of all mankind and the first human being.
- King Ikshvaku - 1st prominent monarch of this dynasty.
- King Kukshi - the only son of King Iksvaku.
- King Vikukshi - According to the Brahma Purana, Vikukshi was sent to fetch meat for the sacrifice to be performed by his father. While hunting game, the prince was overcome by hunger and ate some of the meat destined for the sacrifice. This was an act of sacrilege, therefore, Vashistha ordered King Kukshi to banish him from the kingdom. He is also known as "Sashada", one who has eaten the meat of a rabbit.
- King Bana
- King Anaranya
- King Prithu
- King Trishanku - His original name was Satyavrata. His son was Dhundumara. Satyavrata committed three sins, and hence he got the name Trishanku. First, while a prince, he misbehaved in the kingdom and was temporarily exiled. Next, he killed the milch cow of his perceptor Vasishta. His third sin was that he used the unsanctified meat of his kill as food. He also had a quench to ascend heaven in his mortal body. Since, Vashistha denied him this right, since it is against nature to ascend heaven as a mortal, Vishwamitra created a heaven for him, called "Trishank's Heaven", which is located in mid-air.
- King Dhundumara
- King Yuvanashva - He is referred to as the "speediest charioteer" (Rama 1.70.25)
- King Mandhata - One of the most illustrious monarchs. He was very powerful who was equally in power to the Lord of Lanka, Ravana. He wanted to attain the Kingdom of Heaven, ruled by Lord Indra, whoever, he was sent to fight Lavnasur, who eventually defeated him through his Trishul granted by Lord Shiva.
- King Sushandi - He had two sons, Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit.
- King Dhruvasandhi
- King Bharata
- King Asita - He was defeated by rival Kings from the clans of Haihayas, Talajanghas and Shashabindhus in battle. He fled to the Himalayas with his two wives. While there, he fell ill and died. At the time of his death, both his wives were pregnant. One of the wives, named Kalindi was given poison by the other, with the intention of inducing abortion. However, when both went to the hermitage of sage Chyavana, he blessed the poisoned wife, saying, "A highly illustrious son shall be born to you. He shall be born with the toxin in his body, but shall live a full life." He then gave her asylum. Sagara, was born to her, with poison in his body as foretold by the sage.
- King Sagara - When he grew up, Sage Chyavana told him of how his father had to flee from his enemies, three Kings from the clans of Haihayas, Talajanghas, and Sashabindhus. Sagara, who by then had become an accomplished warrior, amassed an army and succeeded in defeating his father's enemies and regained his kingdom. Due to his kindness, sea was given a vast place on Earth from the netherworld. Therefore, the sea is also known as Sagar, taken from the donater.
- King Asmanjya
- King Amshuman
- King Dilip
- King Bhagirath - The ancestors of King Bhageeratha had been burnt to ashes by the great sage Kapila in the netherworld. Since no one had performed their funeral rites, they could not ascend to heaven. When Bhagirath came to know of this, he saught the advise of learned men, as to the means by which his ancestors could be freed from this state. Their advice was unequivocal, "Only the Sacred river Ganga, that flows in the heavens can wash away the sins of your ancestors. Unless you bring her down to the earth to wet the ashes of your ancestors, they will be eternally cursed". Accordingly Bhagirath started to perform a terrible penance. He underwent many agonizing trials and set-backs, but he perservered. At last he obtained the boon that Ganga would flow on earth. However, the earth could not stand the force of her flow, so he sought the help of Lord Shiva to control the river's flow. Shiva arrested major portion of the river in his matted locks and let only a small portion flow to the earth, thereby making it possible for the earth to bear the burden. Ganga washed away the sins, and helped the ancestors of Bhagirath to ascend to heaven. Since she was brought to earth by the efforts of Bhagirath, she is also called Bhagirathi.
- King Kakutstha - son of Great King Sagar.
- King Raghu - Due to his extreme kindness and supreme valor, the Sun Dynasty is also known as Raghu Dynasty (Raghuvanshi).
- King Pravriddha - Once, he angered his perceptor Vasishta, who cursed him. Pravriddha wanted to curse him back, and took water from his vessel for that purpose. However, his queen Madayanti restrained him. The magical water fell on his feet, that became blemished as a result. From that day, he was known as Kalmashapada ('one of blemished feet'). Later, he got into an argument with Shakti regarding right-of-way in a forest lane. Vishwamitra, who was the rival of Vasishta, seized this opportunity and caused the spirit of a flesh-eating demon to enter the body of the King. Thus possessed, the King devoured Shakti alive. He also killed the other ninety-nine sons of Vasishta in a similar fashion. Later, he was freed from the curse, but could not father a child due to the curse uttered by a Brahmana woman. So, Vasishta went unto his queen Madayanti and begat Shankana.
- King Shankana
- King Sudarshana
- King Agnivarna
- King Shigragha
- King Maru
- King Prashushruka
- King Ambarisha
- King Nahusa
- King Yayati
- King Nabhaga
- King Aja - father of King Dashratha.
- King Dashratha - father of Lord Rama, Bharata, Lakshmana and Shatrugna. He is very well known for his encounter with the Asuras in the Deva-Asura Sangram (God-Demigod Fight) in which he helped Lord Indra.
- King Rama