Pandu

Pandu Pandu (Sanskrit: पंडू Pāṇḍu, lit. yellowish, whitish, pale), was the king of Hastinapur, the son of Ambalika, Vichitravirya’s wife and Vyasa. He is more popularly known as the earthly father of the Pandavas, who were called so after him. He was said to be responsible and a great warrior, who expanded his kingdom during his rule. With Vichitravirya having died…

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Pradyumna

Pradyumna Pradyumna (Sanskrit: प्रद्युम्न) was the son of Krishna and Rukmini. Pradyumna is considered as one of the four vyuha avatars of Vishnu. According to some accounts, Pradyumna was an incarnation of Kamadeva or Manmatha, the god of love. The Harivamsa describes intricate relationships between the Vrishni heroes – Krishna,Balarama, Pradyumna and…

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Pratipa

Pratipa Pratipa (Sanskrit: प्रतीप, pratīpa.) was a Kuru king, the father of Shantanu and grandfather of Bhishma. He was the son of king Bhimasena of Hastinapur and princess Sukumari of the Kaikeyas. He married Sunanda of the Shibis, on whom he begot Devapi, Shantanu and Bahlika. Once when King Pratipa was meditating on the banks of…

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Punnagas

Punnaga Tree Punnaga or Calophyllum inophyllum is a large evergreen plant, commonly called Alexandrian laurel, ball tree, beach calophyllum, beach touriga, beauty leaf, Borneo-mahogany, Indian doomba oil tree, Indian-laurel, laurelwood, red poon, satin touriga, and tacamahac-tree. It is native from East Africa, southern coastal India and Australia. Calophyllum inophyllum is a low-branching and slow-growing tree with a broad and irregular crown. It usually reaches 8 to 20 m (26 to 66 ft) in height.…

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Parashara

Parashara was a Maharishi and the author of many ancient Indian texts. He is accredited as the author of the first Purana, the Vishnu Purana, before his son Vyasa wrote it in its present form. He was the grandson of Vasishtha and the son of Śakti. There are several texts which give…

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Parikshit

Parikshit (Sanskrit: परिक्षित्, Parikṣit) was a Kuru king who reigned during the Middle Vedic period (12th or 11th century BCE). Along with his successor Janamejaya, he played a decisive role in the consolidation of the Kuru state, the arrangement of Vedic hymns into collections, and the development of the orthodox srauta ritual,…

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Prahlada

Prahlada Prahlada  is famed for his exclusive devotion (bhakti) to Vishnu, despite attempts in the story by his father, Hiranyakashipu, to turn him to the contrary. He is considered to be a great devotee, by followers of Vaishnava traditions and is of special importance to devotees of the avatār Narasimha (the Man-Lion). A philosophical treatise is accredited…

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