Puru (Hinduism)

Puru
TextsMahabharata, Puranas
Personal information
Parents
DynastyChandravamsha

Puru (Sanskrit: पूरु, romanized: Pūru) is a legendary king in Hinduism. He is the youngest son of King Yayati and Sharmishtha,[1] and one of ancestors of the Pandavas and the Kauravas. King Puru marries Kausalya, and is succeeded by his son, Janamejeya.[2]

Legend[edit]

Bhagavata Purana[edit]

Puru enthroned by Yayati, made by Bhawani from Razmnama

In the nineteenth chapter of book nine of the Bhagavata Purana, Puru is described as having four brothers; Yadu, Turvasu, Druhyu, and Anu. He exchanges his youth for the old age of his father Yayati when the latter gets cursed by Shukracharya, allowing his father to enjoy his youth for a thousand years.[3] Afterwards, Yayati takes back his curse and makes Puru his heir, though he is the youngest of them all.[4] His successor is Práchinvat; his son is Pravíra; his son is Manasyu.

Mahabharata[edit]

In the Mahabharata's Adi Parva, he is said to have inherited his kingdom in the Gangetic plain. He is said to have three mighty heroes as sons by his wife Pauṣṭi; Pravīra, Īśvara, and Raudrāśva. Pravira succeeded Puru, and was in turn succeeded by his son, Manasyu.[5]

Puru's dynasty becomes the Puruvamsha, which was later renamed as Kuruvamsha, to which the Pandavas and the Kauravas belong.[3]

Rigveda[edit]

Another Puru is mentioned as a king in the Rigveda and as the father of Adityas, married to Aditi, living and ruling over and area of the Sarasvati river.[6]

See also[edit]

Further reading[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Mayank Srivastava (7 May 2020). "Story of Devayani, Yayati, Sharmishtha, Puru". newstrend,news (in Hindi). Retrieved 9 May 2020.
  2. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2012-06-16). "Puru, Pūru, Purū: 19 definitions". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  3. ^ a b David Frawley (1993). Gods, Sages and Kings: Vedic Secrets of Ancient Civilization. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 137–. ISBN 978-81-208-1005-1. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  4. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (2019-01-28). "Story of Pūru". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  5. ^ Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (31 March 2008). The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa First Book Adi Parva. Echo Library. pp. 214–. ISBN 978-1-4068-7045-9. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  6. ^ K. C. Singhal; Roshan Gupta (1 January 2003). The Ancient History of India, Vedic Period: A New Interpretation. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. pp. 48–. ISBN 978-81-269-0286-6. Retrieved 4 October 2012.

References[edit]

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