1 Ramayanam · 1.1 Ramayanam
1.1.3 Ikshvaku and Videha dynasties, places and rivers
Rama belongs to the solar line of Ikshvaku that ruled Kosala from Ayodhya on the Sarayu, Sita to the Videha line of Nimi and Janaka that ruled from Mithila, and the exile carried Rama south from the Sarayu across the Ganga, Yamuna and Godavari to Kishkindha on the Pampa and over the sea to Lanka on Mount Trikuta.
- APPSC Paper I
- Standard level
- 13 min read
- Free
Core facts
Ikshvaku (solar) line
- Suryavamsha (solar dynasty): Brahma → Marichi → Kashyapa → Vivasvan (Surya) → Vaivasvata Manu → Ikshvaku, the founder.
- Main names (course book chart): Vaivasvata Manu → Ikshvaku → Kakutstha → Dilipa → Raghu → Aja → Dasharatha.
- Kingdom Kosala, capital Ayodhya on the Sarayu. Kulaguru: Vasishtha. Charioteer and minister: Sumantra.
- Trishanku: Vishwamitra sent him to heaven in his body. Mandhata, son of Yuvanashva: a great emperor.
- Sagara (an Ikshvaku king): horse of his Ashvamedha stolen by Indra; his 60,000 sons found it in Patala near sage Kapila and were burnt to ash.
- Sagara → Asamanja → Amshuman → Dilipa → Bhagiratha, who brought Ganga down. Hence Bhagirathi.
- Dasharatha's father is Aja; Aja's queen: Indumati of Vidarbha.
- Dasharatha's queens: Kausalya, Kaikeyi (daughter of Ashvapati of Kekaya), Sumitra.
Videha line (Janaka's family)
- Founder Nimi, son of Ikshvaku. His son Mithi gave his name to Mithila, capital of Videha.
- Devarata of this line was given Shiva's bow for safekeeping. Rama broke it.
- Hrasvaroma had two sons: Siradhvaja Janaka (Sita's father) and Kushadhvaja (younger). Janaka's queen: Sunayana.
- Kushadhvaja ruled Sankashya after Janaka killed its king Sudhanva, who had besieged Mithila for the bow and Sita.
- Janaka's priest: Shatananda, son of Gautama and Ahalya.
The four marriages
| Prince | Wife | Her father |
|---|---|---|
| Rama | Sita | Siradhvaja Janaka |
| Lakshmana | Urmila | Siradhvaja Janaka |
| Bharata | Mandavi | Kushadhvaja |
| Shatrughna | Shrutakirti | Kushadhvaja |
Lanka line
- Brahma → Pulastya → Vishrava, who married Kaikasi, daughter of Sumali: Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Vibhishana, Shurpanakha.
Places and rivers of the journey
| Kanda | Place or river | What happened there |
|---|---|---|
| Bala | Shona river | Vishwamitra tells his family history |
| Bala | Siddhashrama | Once Vamana's hermitage; Vishwamitra's yagna |
| Bala | Vishala | King Sumati welcomes the princes |
| Bala | Gautama's ashram | Ahalya freed |
| Bala | Mahendragiri | Parashurama goes there for tapas |
| Ayodhya | Tamasa | First night of the exile |
| Ayodhya | Vedashruti, Gomati, Syandika | Rivers crossed before the Ganga |
| Ayodhya | Shringaverapura (Ganga) | Guha; Sumantra sent back |
| Ayodhya | Prayaga | Bharadvaja's ashram; Yamuna crossed on a raft |
| Ayodhya | Chitrakuta (Mandakini) | Bharata takes the padukas |
| Ayodhya | Girivraja | Capital of Kekaya; Bharata's uncle's home |
| Ayodhya | Nandigrama | Bharata rules as regent |
| Aranya | Dandakaranya | Viradha; Sharabhanga, Sutikshna, Agastya |
| Aranya | Panchavati (Godavari) | Hut on Agastya's advice; Sita abducted |
| Aranya | Janasthana | Khara, Dushana, Trishira and 14,000 killed |
| Aranya | Matanga's ashram, Pampa | Shabari |
| Kishkindha | Rishyamuka | Sugriva's refuge; Matanga's curse bars Vali |
| Kishkindha | Kishkindha | Vali's, then Sugriva's capital |
| Kishkindha | Prasravana hill | Rama's monsoon stay |
| Kishkindha | Rikshabila | Swayamprabha feeds the search party |
| Kishkindha | Mahendra | Hanuman's leap to Lanka |
| Sundara | Trikuta, Ashoka vana | Lanka's hill; Sita held |
| Sundara | Arishta | Hanuman's leap back |
| Sundara | Madhuvana | Sugriva's honey-grove (Dadhimukha) |
| Yuddha | Nikumbhila | Indrajit's yaga; killed by Lakshmana |
| Yuddha | Herb mountain, Himalayas | Hanuman's herbs |
| Uttara | Naimisharanya (Gomati) | Rama's Ashvamedha |
| Uttara | Sarayu | Lakshmana's and Rama's end |
- Exile: 14 years. Return to Ayodhya in the Pushpaka vimana, via Bharadvaja's ashram.
Explained
Sagara and the descent of Ganga. Vishwamitra tells this to Rama in the Bala Kanda.
- Sagara's queens: Keshini bore one son, Asamanja; Sumati (sister of Garuda) bore the 60,000. The boon came from sage Bhrigu.
- Asamanja was cruel and was exiled. His son Amshuman became the heir.
- Indra stole the Ashvamedha horse. The 60,000 dug down to Patala, attacked Kapila and were burnt to ash.
- Amshuman brought back the horse. Garuda, the princes' maternal uncle, told him only Ganga's water could free their souls.
- Sagara, Amshuman and Dilipa failed. Bhagiratha did tapas; Brahma granted Ganga; Shiva caught her in his matted hair.
- She flooded sage Jahnu's sacrifice; he drank her and let her out again: Jahnavi. She reached the ashes and freed the souls.
Kings to know, one line each
| King | Remember |
|---|---|
| Ikshvaku | Son of Vaivasvata Manu; founder |
| Nimi | Son of Ikshvaku; founder of the Videha line |
| Trishanku | Bodily heaven through Vishwamitra |
| Harishchandra | Son of Trishanku in the Puranas; truthfulness |
| Mandhata | Son of Yuvanashva; world-ruler |
| Sagara | Ashvamedha; 60,000 sons |
| Bhagiratha | Brought Ganga down |
| Kakutstha | Rode on Indra in bull form ("kakud" = hump) |
| Raghu | Gave the line its name; gave away all in the Vishvajit sacrifice |
| Aja | Married Indumati; father of Dasharatha |
| Dasharatha | Three queens; Putrakameshti by Rishyasringa |
Valmiki's list is longer. At the wedding Vasishtha recites the Ikshvaku line and Janaka recites his own. In Valmiki Aja's father is Nabhaga; Kalidasa makes Aja Raghu's son. Both agree Aja is Dasharatha's father.
Janaka's line.
- Nimi lost his body by Vasishtha's curse; the line is Videha ("bodiless"). Mithi was produced from his body, hence Mithila and Janaka ("born of").
- After Hrasvaroma, Siradhvaja ("plough banner") ruled Mithila and Kushadhvaja got Sankashya.
- Sita: found in a furrow when Janaka ploughed the sacrificial ground; Janaki, Maithili, Vaidehi, Ayonija.
Vishwamitra's line and places. Kusha → Kushanabha → Gadhi → Vishwamitra. His sister Satyavati became the Kaushiki river. He saved Shunahshepa at Pushkara.
Ravana's family and Lanka.
- Lanka was built by Vishwakarma on Trikuta. Malyavan, Sumali and Mali lived there first; then Kubera ruled it until Ravana drove him to Alaka and took the Pushpaka.
- Ravana's wife Mandodari, daughter of Maya; son Indrajit. Kumbhakarna's wife Vajrajwala. Vibhishana's wife Sarama. Shurpanakha's husband Vidyujjihva, killed by Ravana.
The next generation and their cities (Uttara Kanda).
| Prince | Sons | Cities |
|---|---|---|
| Rama | Kusha, Lava | Kushavati, Shravasti |
| Bharata | Taksha, Pushkala | Takshashila, Pushkalavati (Gandhara) |
| Lakshmana | Angada, Chandraketu | Angadiya, Chandrakanta (Karupatha) |
| Shatrughna | Subahu, Shatrughati | Madhura (Mathura), Vidisha |
Places today, by tradition.
| Epic place | Placed today at | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ayodhya | Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh | On the Sarayu |
| Mithila | North Bihar and south Nepal | Videha country |
| Prayaga | Prayagraj | Triveni Sangama |
| Chitrakuta | Uttar Pradesh–Madhya Pradesh border | On the Mandakini |
| Panchavati | Nashik, Maharashtra | On the Godavari |
| Kishkindha, Pampa | Hampi–Anegondi, Karnataka | On the Tungabhadra |
| Setu (Indian end) | Rameswaram, on Pamban island | Rama worships Shiva after killing Ravana |
| Setu (Lankan end) | Talaimannar, on Mannar island | Adam's Bridge |
| Ravana's birthplace | Bisrakh, near Greater Noida | Local belief only |
| Mandodari's home | Mandsaur (ancient Dashapura), Madhya Pradesh | Local belief only |
AP angle
- Vontimitta (Ontimitta, YSR Kadapa district): Kodandarama temple; Rama, Sita and Lakshmana carved in one stone. Local tradition: Rama struck the ground with an arrow for thirsty Sita, and Ramatheertham and Lakshmanatheertham formed. Chola and Vijayanagara work; a 32-pillar ranga mandapa praised by the French traveller Tavernier. State Sri Rama Navami venue and under TTD since 2015.
- Lepakshi (Sri Sathya Sai district): local tradition says Jatayu fell here and Rama said "Le, pakshi" (rise, bird). The Veerabhadra temple is 16th-century Vijayanagara work by Virupanna and Veeranna.
- Anjanadri: one of Tirumala's seven hills; in 2021 TTD declared it Hanuman's birthplace. Karnataka's tradition places Anjanadri near Anegondi (Hampi).
- Bhadrachalam and the Parnasala site are now in Telangana.
- Andhra Ikshvakus of Vijayapuri (Nagarjunakonda, 3rd century CE) share the name but are not Rama's line.
Common traps
- ✗ "Dasharatha's father was Raghu." ✓ It was Aja.
- ✗ "Sagara brought Ganga to earth." ✓ Bhagiratha, Sagara's great-great-grandson.
- ✗ "Ravana stole Sagara's horse." ✓ Indra stole it.
- ✗ "Sagara's 60,000 sons were born to Keshini." ✓ To Sumati; Keshini bore Asamanja.
- ✗ "Janaka's brother was Sudhanva." ✓ Kushadhvaja; Sudhanva was the king of Sankashya whom Janaka killed.
- ✗ "Ayodhya is on the Ganga." ✓ On the Sarayu.
- ✗ "The solar dynasty was founded by Raghu." ✓ By Ikshvaku; Raghu gave the name Raghuvamsha.
- ✗ "Hanuman leapt back from Mahendra." ✓ He left from Mahendra and returned from Arishta.
- ✗ "Kishkindha is on the Kaveri." ✓ Tradition places it near Hampi on the Tungabhadra.
- ✗ "Rameswaram is on Mannar island." ✓ On Pamban island; Talaimannar is on Mannar.
Quick revision
- Vaivasvata Manu → Ikshvaku → Kakutstha → Dilipa → Raghu → Aja (Indumati) → Dasharatha.
- Sagara: Indra stole the horse; Kapila in Patala; Sumati's 60,000; Garuda's advice; Bhagiratha; Jahnavi.
- Nimi → Mithi (Mithila) … Hrasvaroma → Siradhvaja Janaka (Sunayana) and Kushadhvaja (Sankashya).
- Brahma → Pulastya → Vishrava + Kaikasi (Sumali's daughter) → Ravana and siblings.
- Shona, Siddhashrama (Vamana), Vishala (Sumati), Pushkara (Shunahshepa), Kaushiki (Satyavati).
- Tamasa → Vedashruti, Gomati, Syandika → Shringaverapura (Guha) → Prayaga → Chitrakuta (Mandakini).
- Panchavati (Godavari), Janasthana, Matanga's ashram, Rishyamuka (Matanga's curse), Rikshabila.
- Mahendra out, Arishta back; Nikumbhila; herbs from the Himalayas; Ashvamedha at Naimisharanya (Gomati).
- Today: Panchavati Nashik; Kishkindha Hampi; Rameswaram on Pamban; Talaimannar on Mannar; Bisrakh.
- AP: Vontimitta (one stone, Ramatheertham, 32 pillars, TTD 2015); Lepakshi; Anjanadri (TTD, 2021).
Go deeper: Deeper, Mains writing (beyond what APPSC Paper I usually asks)
Deeper Advanced
- Two Dilipas. Bhagiratha's father in Valmiki is Dilipa, son of Amshuman. Kalidasa's Dilipa, who served the cow Nandini, is Raghu's father. For "who brought Ganga", the answer is always Bhagiratha.
- Indra's disguise. Valmiki says Indra took the horse disguised as a rakshasa; the EO 2023 key is simply Indra.
- Herb mountain. Valmiki places it in the Himalayas, between Rishabha and Kailasa; the APPSC 2026 key calls it Dronagiri.
- Mithila's gap. Valmiki lists many kings between Mithi and Hrasvaroma; charts show only the main names.
- Dandakaranya is the forest between the Vindhyas and the Godavari, named after King Danda of the Ikshvaku line, cursed by sage Shukra.
- Rameswaram and Talaimannar belong to later tirtha tradition; Valmiki speaks only of the setu on the southern shore.
- Count questions. Avoid "how many kings" counts: Valmiki, Kalidasa and the Puranas differ.
Mains writing Mains writing
- Frame: the two genealogies in the Bala Kanda bind the epic to the idea of a lawful, ancient kingship: Ayodhya stands for dharma in rule, Mithila for learning and detachment.
- Points:
- The descent of Ganga ties the solar kings to India's holiest river and to the rite of offering water to ancestors.
- The exile route links north Indian kingship to the forest peoples (Guha, Shabari, the vanaras) and to the sages of the south (Agastya).
- Sacred geography from the epic shapes pilgrimage today: Ayodhya, Chitrakuta, Nashik, Hampi, Rameswaram; in the Telugu lands Bhadrachalam and Vontimitta.
- Example: Agastya's role, giving weapons and directing Rama south, mirrors his place as the sage who carried Vedic culture across the Vindhyas.
Practise this topic. Questions on Dynasties, places and rivers, with answers explained.
All Ramayanam notes · APPSC Paper I syllabus · APPSC Paper I Mock 1 with answers · Start free
Medha AI writes its own notes and checks them against the sources listed. Medha AI is an independent preparation service. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to APPSC, TSPSC, MPSC, UPSC or any other commission or government body.