Kusamva

Ancestry of Kusamva as per Bhagavata Purana

Kusamva (कुसम्व), also Kushamba (कुशम्ब), was a Chandravanshi King of the Paurava race son of Uparichara (Vasu) of Chedi Kingdom.

Ancestry of Kusamva

Ancestry of Kusamva as per Bhagavata Purana is as under:

Samvarana (+Tapati) → Kuru → Sudhana → Suhotra → Chyavana → Kriti → Uparichara Vasu → Vrihadratha + Pratyagraha + Kusamva (Manivahana) + Mavella + Yadu.

Jat Gotras from Kusamva

• Kaswan (कसवां) Kaswa (कस्वा) Kasvan(कसवां) Kuswan (कुसवां) Kasuan (कसुवां) Kusuma (कुसुमा) Kushman (कुशमान) Gotra of Jats have descended from Kusamva (कुसम्व).

In Mahabharata

Mahabharata mentions about a King of the Paurava race named Uparichara (Vasu) of Chedi Kingdom. Vasu had five sons:Vrihadratha (King of Magadha), Pratyagraha, Kusamva (also called Manivahana), Mavella and Yadu.

महारथॊ मगध राड विश्रुतॊ यॊ बृहद्रथः ।

परत्यग्रहः कुशाम्बश च यम आहुर मणिवाहनम ।

मच छिल्लश च यदुश चैव राजन्यश चापराजितः।। Mahabharata (1.63.29)

Kusamva (कुसम्व) is probably ancestor of the Kaswan clan. This fact is further attested from the Hathigumpha inscriptions of King Kharavela in Orissa.

Mahabharata Vana Parva mentions a country called Kushavan, in the north of Manasarovara Himalayas.

हरथश च कुशवान एष यत्र पथ्मं कुशे शयम ।

आश्रमश चैव रुक्मिण्या यत्राशाम्यथ अकॊपना ।। Mahabharata (3.130.15)

Shalya Parva, Mahabharata/Book IX Chapter 44 shloka 35 mentions about Kaswan tribe among the high-souled five companions, given by Dhatri, who came to the ceremony for investing Kartikeya with the status of generalissimo.

कुन्दनं कुसुमं चैव कुमुदं च महायशाः।

डम्बराडम्बरौ चैव ददौ धाता महात्मने ।। Mahabharata (9.44.35)

Story of Kusamva

Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Mahabharata Book I Chapter 63 tells us the genealogy of Kusamva as under:

There was a king of the name of Uparichara. That monarch was devoted to virtue. He was very much addicted also to hunting. That king of the Paurava race, called also Vasu, conquered the excellent and delightful kingdom of Chedi under instructions from Indra. Some time after, the king gave up the use of arms and, dwelling in a secluded retreat, practised the most severe austerities. The gods with Indra at their head once approached the monarch during this period, believing that he sought the headship of the gods, by those severe austerities of his. The celestials, becoming objects of his sight, by soft speeches succeeded in winning him away from his ascetic austerities.'

The gods said, 'O lord of the earth, thou shouldst take care so that virtue may not sustain a diminution on earth! Protected by thee, virtue itself will in return protect the universe.' And Indra said, 'O king, protect virtue on earth attentively and rigidly. Being virtuous, thou shalt, for all time, behold (in after life) many sacred regions. And though I am of Heaven, and thou art of earth, yet art thou my friend and dear to me. And, O king of men, dwell thou in that region on earth which is delightful, and aboundeth in animals, is sacred, full of wealth and corn, is well-protected like heaven, which is of agreeable climate, graced with every object of enjoyment, and blessed with fertility. And, O monarch of Chedi, this thy dominion is full of riches, of gems and precious stones, and containeth, besides, much mineral wealth. The cities and towns of this region are all devoted to virtue; the people are honest and contented; they never lie even in jest. Sons never divide their wealth with their fathers and are ever mindful of the welfare of their parents. Lean cattle are never yoked to the plough or the cart or engaged in carrying merchandise; on the other hand, they are well-fed and fattened. In Chedi the four orders are always engaged in their respective vocations. Let nothing be unknown to thee that happens in the three worlds. I shall give thee a crystal car such as the celestials alone are capable of carrying the car through mid air. Thou alone, of all mortals on earth, riding on that best of cars, shall course through mid-air like a celestial endued with a physical frame. I shall also give thee a triumphal garland of unfading lotuses, with which on, in battle, thou shall not be wounded by weapons. And, O king, this blessed and incomparable garland, widely known on earth as Indra's garland, shall be thy distinctive badge.

The slayer of Vritra (Indra) also gave the king, for his gratification, a bamboo pole for protecting the honest and the peaceful. After the expiry of a year, the king planted it in the ground for the purpose of worshipping the giver thereof, viz., Sakra. From that time forth, O monarch, all kings, following Vasu's example, began to plant a pole for the celebration of Indra's worship. After erecting the pole they decked it with golden cloth and scents and garlands and various ornaments. And the god Vasava is worshipped in due form with such garlands and ornaments. And the god, for the gratification of the illustrious Vasu, assuming the form of a swan, came himself to accept the worship thus offered. And the god, beholding the auspicious worship thus made by Vasu, that first of monarchs, was delighted, and said unto him, 'Those men, and kings also, who will worship me and joyously observe this festival of mine like the king of Chedi, shall have glory and victory for their countries and kingdom. Their cities also shall expand and be ever in joy.'

King Vasu] was thus blessed by the gratified Maghavat, the high-souled chief of the gods. Indeed, those men who cause this festivity of Sakra to be observed with gifts of land, of gems and precious stones, become the respected of the world. And king Vasu, the lord of Chedis bestowing boons and performing great sacrifices and observing the festivity of Sakra, was much respected by Indra. And from Chedi he ruled the whole world virtuously. And for the gratification of Indra, Vasu, the lord of the Chedis, observed the festivity of Indra.

Vasu had five sons of great energy and immeasurable prowess. And the emperor installed his sons as governors of various provinces:

• Vrihadratha was installed in Magadha and was known by the name of Maharatha.
• Pratyagraha
• Kusamva (was also called Manivahana)
• Mavella, and
• Yadu

These were the sons of that royal sage of mighty energy. And the five sons of Vasu planted kingdoms and towns after their own names and founded separate dynasties that lasted for long ages.

See also

Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Mahabharata Book I Chapter 63 - Complete story of Kusamva.

References

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