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Wheel of Konark Sun Temple in Orissa, India

The Sooryavamsham or Suryavansh or Suryavamsa or Sun Dynasty or Solar Dynasty (Sūrya-vaṃśa) was a mythological dynasty of ancient India.

Introduction[link]

The term Suryavanshi refers to a person belonging to the Suryvansha dynasty. This clan was the oldest and biggest Kshatriya clan of India, which was also known by many synonyms as Ādityavanśa (आदित्यवंश), Mitravanśa (मित्रवंश), Arkavanśa (अर्कवंश) and Ravivanśa (रविवंश).^{[citation needed]}

The early Suryavanshis considered the sun god (Surya, Aditya or Arka) as their kuladevata and mainly practised sun-worship.^{[citation needed]}

The Gurjars believe themselves to have descended from Suryavanshi & Chandravanshi Kshatriyas.^[1] The copper-plate grants of Gurjars bear an emblem of the Sun and on their seals too, this symbol is depicted.^[2] Also, the Gurjar title of honor is Mihir which means Sun.^[3][4]

Source of the lineage[link]

Frieze of King Sagar's great-great-grandson, Bhagiratha in penance.

The Puranas, particularly Vishnu Purana, Ramayana by Valmiki and the Mahabharata by Vyasa gives accounts of this dynasty. The Raghuvamsha of Kalidasa also mentions the names of some of the kings of this dynasty.^[5][6][7]

List of Monarchs[link]

The following is the list, in chronological order, of the monarchs of the solar dynasty.^{[citation needed]}

1. Manu or Vaivasvata Manu - the King of all mankind and the first human being on Earth. (According to Hindu belief there are 14 Manvantaras; in each, Manu rules. Vaivasvata Manu was the seventh Manu.^[8] Manu is referred to as a Rajan (King) in the Shatapatha Brahmana scripture. He had nine sons, Vena, Dhrishnu, Narishyan, Nabhaga, Ikshvaku, Karusha, Saryati, Prishadhru, Nabhagarishta and one daughter, Ila, who was married to Budha of the Lunar Dynasty). He left the kingdom to the eldest male of the next generation, Ikshvaku, who was actually the son of Manu's brother Shraaddev.
2. Ikshvaku - the first prominent monarch of this dynasty, giving the dynasty its another name the Ikshvaku dynasty.
3. Bhagiratha - Sagara's great-grandson, after strenuous penances, at last succeeded in bringing Ganges down from Heaven. When she flowed over the remains of his ancestors, their souls were redeemed, and the ocean was refilled. Ganges also bears the name "Bhagirathi", in honour of his deed.
4. Aja
5. Dasaratha
   

   

   The epic story of Ramayana was adopted by several cultures across Asia. Shown here is a Thai historic artwork depicting the battle which took place between Rama and Ravana.
6. Rama - He is considered the seventh Avatar of the god Vishnu. He is worshiped by every Hindu. Many Hindus include his name in either their first or last name. Rama's story before he became king of Ayodhya is recounted in the Ramayana. After he ascended the throne, he performed the Ashwamedha Yajna. Bharata, his younger brother, won the country of Gandhara and settled there.
7. Lava and Kusha - They were the twin sons of Rama and his wife Sita. Lava ruled south Kosala while Kusha ruled north Kosala, including Ayodhya. Kusha married "Nagkanya" "Kumuddhati", sister of Kumuda. After Kusha the following kings of the solar dynasty ruled Ayodhya:
8. Śuddhodana
9. Siddhartha (Gautama Buddha)
10. Prasenjit II (Pasenadi)
11. Sumitra — He was the last king of Ayodhya from solar dynasty. In the fourth century BC, emperor Mahapadma Nanda of the Nanda Dynasty forced Sumitra to leave Ayodhya. He went to Rohtas with his sons. His son Kurma established his rule over Rohtas.^{[where?][when?]}

References[link]

1. ^ Kamal Prashad Sharma; Surinder Mohan Sethi (1997). Costumes and ornaments of Chamba. ISBN 978-81-7387-067-5. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=TQwKtSFn9FMC&pg=PA57&lpg. 
2. ^ Lālatā Prasāda Pāṇḍeya (1971). Sun-worship in ancient India. Motilal Banarasidass. p. 245. 
3. ^ Bombay (India : State) (1901). Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, Volume 9, Part 1. Govt. Central Press. p. 479. 
4. ^ Chandrasekharendra Saraswati (Jagatguru Sankaracharya of Kamakoti); Śaṅkarācārya, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (2001). Śri Śaṅkara Bhagavatpādācārya's Saundaryalaharī. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. p. 339. 
5. ^ Pargiter, F.E. (1922). Ancient Indian Historical Tradition. Oxford University Press. pp. 90–91. 
6. ^ Ramakatha Rasavahini. Prasanthi Nilayam: Sri Sathya Sai Books and Publications Trust. 2002. ISBN 81-7208-132-4. 
7. ^ The Ramayana. New Delhi: Penguin Books. 1996. ISBN 0-14-029866-5. 
8. ^ List of Manus

External links[link]

• The Valmiki Ramayana
• Ayodhya