Vasu

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Vasu (वसु) names of the ancient kings are found in Suryavanshi, Chandravanshi and Nagavanshi Kshatriyas. It is also one of names of Shiva. Vasu was a republic known to Panini and mentioned in Mahabharata.

Jat Gotras from Vasu

Mention by Panini

Vasu (वसु), a warlike clan, is mentioned by Panini in Ashtadhyayi. [2]

History

V. S. Agrawala[3] mentions Sanghas known to Panini which includes - Vasu (वसु), under Parshvadi (पर्शवादि) (V.3.117).


V. S. Agrawala[4] mentions Ayudhajivi Sanghas in the Ganapatha, which includes - Vasu which has not been identified.

In Mahabharata

Mahabharata mentions Vasu (वसु) in verses (I.63.2), (I.60.37), (1.66),(I.89.15), (1.94),(II.48.26),(III.164.49),(V.72.13),(IX.44.6),(XIII.116.67), (XIII.115).


Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Mahabharata Book I Chapter 63, 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. [5]

This chapter explains about one important ceremonies of Jats. Māndā मांडा - a pole made of khejadi tree put on the day of marriage of a girl. Earlier this pole used to be of bamboo. This tradition seems to be extension of tradition explained in Mahabharata (1.63.17) where a king of the name of Uparichara, of the Paurava race, called also Vasu, conquered the kingdom of Chedi under instructions from Indra. 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, all kings following Vasu's example, began to plant a pole for the celebration of Indra's worship.

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

Adi Parva, Mahabharata/Mahabharata Book I Chapter 32 Garuda son of Vinata in search of Soma attacked the gods on all sides. Overcome by the lord of birds, the Sadhyas with the Gandharvas fled eastwards, the Vasus with the Rudras towards the south, the Adityas towards the west, and the twin Aswins towards the north. Garuda finds Soma, encounters Yakshas, Aswakranda, Rainuka, Krathanaka, Tapana, Uluka, Swasanaka, Nimesha, Praruja, and Pulina.

It is clear that Vasus with the Rudras fled towards the south.


Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 27 tells provinces Bhimasena subjugated:

"The mighty son of the wind-god having thus conquered various countries, and exacting tributes from them all advanced towards Lohitya". [6]

Sabha Parva, Mahabharata/Book II Chapter 48 gives list of Kings who brought tributes to Yudhishthira.

"And king Vasu from the kingdom of Panshu presented unto the son of Pandu six and twenty elephants and two thousand horses, all decked in gold and endued with speed and strength and in full vigour of youth, and diverse other kinds of wealth." [7]

Anusasana Parva/Book XIII Chapter 115 gives merits and demerits of eating meat. It says: ...The Rishis asked Vasu, the ruler of the Chedis, for solving them. King Vasu, knowing that flesh is inedible, answered that is was edible. From that moment Vasu fell down from the firmament on the earth. After this he once more repeated his opinion, with the result that he had to sink below the earth for it.

Genealogy

Bhagavata Purana mentions one Vasu in the line of Nriga of Ikshvaku dynasty.

Nriga was son of Manu and brother of Ikshvaku. [8]

Manu
1.Ikshvaku - 2.Nriga - 3.Saryati - 4.Dishta - 5.Dhrishta - 6.Karusha - 7.Narishyanta - 8.Prishadhra - 9.Nabhaga - 10.Kavi

2.NrigaSumatiBhutajyotiVasuPratikaOghavatOghavat + Oghavati (m.Sudarshana)


Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.59.12 tells that Ordered by Bhaumāsura, Mura's seven sons — Tāmra, Antarikṣa, Śravaṇa, Vibhāvasu, Vasu, Nabhasvān and Aruṇa — followed their general, Pīṭha, onto the battlefield bearing their weapons.

Reference

  1. Dr Mahendra Singh Aryaetc,: Ādhunik Jat Itihas, Agra 1998 p. 267
  2. V. S. Agrawala: India as Known to Panini, 1953, p.449
  3. V. S. Agrawala: India as Known to Panini, 1953, p.500
  4. India as Known to Panini,p.449
  5. महारथॊ मगध राड विश्रुतॊ यॊ बृहद्रथः । परत्यग्रहः कुशाम्बश च यम आहुर मणिवाहनम । मच छिल्लश च यदुश चैव राजन्यश चापराजितः।। Mahabharata (1.63.29)
  6. एवं बहुविधान थेशान विजित्य पवनात्मजः, वसु तेभ्य उपाथाय लौहित्यम अगमथ बली Mahabharata (2.27.24)
  7. पांशुराष्ट्राथ वसु दानॊ राजा षड विंशतिं गजान, अश्वानां च सहस्रे थवे राजन काञ्चनमालिनाम Mahabharata (2.48.26)
  8. Skandha IX Chapter-2

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