Deities and sacred beings
Deities, sages, kings, places and principles compiled from the Puranas. Search, filter and open each profile.
320 beings · page 7 of 16
Yajur Veda
यजुर्वेदThe Yajur Veda is the second Veda: the liturgical formulae (yajus) for sacrificial ritual, in two recensions (Shukla and Krishna). Drawn out…
Sama Veda
सामवेदThe Sama Veda is the third Veda: the musical chanting (sāman) of Rigvedic verses — the fountainhead of Indian music. Drawn out of the one Ve…
Atharva Veda
अथर्ववेदThe Atharva Veda is the fourth Veda, from the lineage of Atharvan and Angiras: mantras for everyday concerns (healing, astrology, protection…
Paila
पैलPaila is a disciple of Vyasa, the first custodian of the Rig Veda: 'ṛg-veda-dharaḥ pailaḥ' (SB 1.4.21).
Jaimini
जैमिनिJaimini is a disciple of Vyasa, custodian of the Sama Veda and traditional author of the Purva-mimamsa-sutras: 'sāmago jaiminiḥ kaviḥ' (SB 1…
Vaishampayana
वैशम्पायनVaishampayana is a chief disciple of Vyasa, custodian of the Yajur Veda (Taittiriya shakha): 'vaiśampāyana evaiko niṣṇāto yajuṣām' (SB 1.4.2…
Sumantu
सुमन्तुSumantu is a disciple of Vyasa, custodian of the Atharva Veda: 'atharvāṅgirasām āsīt sumantur dāruṇo muniḥ' (SB 1.4.22).
Mahabharata
महाभारतThe Mahabharata is the world's longest epic poem (≈100,000 verses): composed by Vyasa, the history of the Kuru-Pandava war containing the Bh…
Dvapara-yuga
द्वापरयुगDvapara-yuga is the third of the four ages, in which dharma stands on two legs: the era of Vyasa's birth (as a portion of Hari) and the Maha…
Sarasvati (river)
सरस्वती नदीThe Sarasvati River is the holiest river of Vedic times, praised throughout the Rig Veda; now identified with the dry bed of the Ghaggar-Hak…
Kuru-jangala
कुरुजाङ्गलKuru-jangala is the forest region of the Kuru kingdom (modern Haryana-Delhi area); Śuka entered it on his post-renunciation roam: 'saṁprāpta…
Hastinapura
हस्तिनापुरHastinapura is the Kuru capital and center of the Mahabharata war; an archaeological site in present-day Meerut district, UP. Cited as 'Gaja…
Abhimanyu
अभिमन्युAbhimanyu is the son of Arjuna and Subhadra, the young hero who pierced the chakravyuha, husband of Uttara; he fell on the thirteenth day of…
Pandavas
पाण्डवThe Pandavas are the five sons of Pandu (Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva): heroes of the Mahabharata, symbols of righteous rul…
Arjuna
अर्जुनArjuna is the third son of Pandu and Kunti, Krishna's dearest friend: hero of the Mahabharata war, disciple of the Bhagavad-gita; traditiona…
Bhimasena
भीमBhima (Bhimasena / Vrikodara) is the second son of Pandu and Kunti, a portion of Vayu; the mighty warrior who broke Duryodhana's thigh. SB 1…
Yudhishthira
युधिष्ठिरYudhishthira (Dharmasuta) is the eldest son of Pandu and Kunti, a portion of Dharma: the embodiment of truth and justice; emperor of Hastina…
Draupadi
द्रौपदीDraupadi (Krishna / Panchali) is the daughter of Drupada, wife of the five Pandavas; traditionally born of fire. Even after her five sons we…
Ashvatthama
अश्वत्थामाAshvatthama is the son of Dronacharya, a brahmana-kshatriya; at the end of the Mahabharata war he murdered the sleeping Pandava sons and lau…
Drona
द्रोणDronacharya is the son of Bharadvaja, the martial-guru of both sides of the Mahabharata; father of Ashvatthama. SB 1.7.45: 'sa esha bhagavan…