Eraka

Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)

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Eraka (एरक) was the name of a Nagavanshi King descended from Kauravya mentioned in Mahabharata (I.52.12).

Jat Gotras Namesake

• Arki (Jat clan) = Airakina (एरकिण) = Erana (एरण). Eran (एरण) is an ancient historical place in Bina tahsil of Sagar District in Madhya Pradesh, India. Eran is derived from Eraka. The word Erakā probably refers to a kind of grass which grows at Eran in abundance. Eraka (एरक) is the name of a Nagavanshi King descended from Kauravya mentioned in Mahabharata (I.52.12).

Various Definitions

• Eraka (एरक).— A Naga born in the family of the Kauravas. This Naga was burnt to death at the Sarpasatra of Janamejaya. (Śloka 16, Chapter 57, Ādi Parva).

• Eraka (एरक).— An arahant. He was the son of an eminent family of Savatthi. He had many advantages over others, among them beauty and charm. His parents married him to a suitable wife but, because it was his last life, he sought the Buddha. After hearing the Buddha preach he left the world, but for several days he was overcome by evil thoughts. The Buddha thereupon admonished him in a verse, and Eraka gained arahantship (Thag.v.93; ThagA.i.192f; for the name see Brethren, p.86, n.2). In the time of Siddhattha Buddha he was a householder. One day he saw the Buddha and, having nothing to give, cleaned the road along which the Buddha walked and stood looking at him with clasped hands. Fifty seven kappas ago he was a king named Suppabuddha. He is probably identical with Maggadayaka Thera of the Apadana. Ap.i.173.
• Eraka (एरका).—The grass growing on the seashore, supposed to be grown out of the particles of the musala given birth to by Sāmba and thrown into the sea by the order of the Yādava king.
• Erakā (एरका):—[from eraka] f. a kind of grass of emollient and diluent properties, [Mahābhārata; Viṣṇu-purāṇa; Bhāvaprakāśa] etc.

In Mahabharata

• Eraka (एरक) is mentioned in Mahabharata (I.52.12).....Now hear, O best of Brahmanas, the names of the snakes I mention born in the race of Kauravya: Eraka (Aindila), Kundala, Munda, Veniskandha, Kumaraka, Bahuka, Shringavega, Dhurtaka, Pratara and Astaka. There born in the race of Kauravya fell into the fire.