Ikshwaku
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Ikshwakus were a dynasty of kings of anceint India which branched from the Solar Dynasty. They rueled from Kosala Kingdom with Ayodhya as their capital. The two Indian epics viz. Ramayana and Mahabharata has numerous mention of this dynasty. The most famous among all the Ikshwaku kings was Raghava Rama, the son of Dasaratha. He is the hero of the epic Ramayana. In Mahabharata, they were mentioned as one among the prominet races (MBh 1:1). During the Rajasuya ceremony of Pandava king Yudhisthira, Ikshwakus along with Ailas were mentioned as the prominent Kshatriya races of the time. King Suvala is mentioned as an Ikshwaku king and a friend of Sindhu king Jayadratha (MBh 3:263). At 13:2 the founder of the race viz. king Ikshwaku was mentioned as the son of the ancient patriarch Manu. Many kings like Aja and Trisanku were mentioned as Ikshwaku kings.
The following passage is from MBh 14:4 describing the lineage of Ikshwakus
in the Krita age Manu was lord (of the Earth) wielding the sceptre. His son was known under the name of Prasandhi. Prasandhi had a son named Kshupa, Kshupa’s son was that lord (of men), king Ikshwaku. Hehad many sons endowed with pre-eminent piety. And all of them were made monarchs by king Ikshwaku. The eldest of them, Vinsa by name became the model of bowmen. Vinsa’s son was the auspicious Vivinsa. Vivinsa, had five and ten sons; all of them were powerful archers, reverencial to the Brahmanas and truthful, gentle and ever speaking fair. The eldest brother, Khaninetra, oppressed all his brothers. And having conquered the entire kingdom rid of all troubles, Khaninetra could not retain his supremacy; nor were the people pleased with him. And dethroning him, they invested his son Suvarcha with the rights of sovereignty. He vanquished all the kings living along the borders of his dominions. And from this circumstance he hath been celebrated as Karandhama. His son, (the first) Karandhama who was born at the beginning of the Treta age, equalled Indra himself and was endowed with grace, and invincible even by the immortals. At that time all the kings were under his control; and alike by virtue of his wealth and for his prowess, he became their emperor. In short, the righteous king Avikshit by name, became like unto Indra himself in heroism; He performed hundreds of Aswamedha sacrifices, and the potent and learned Angira himself served him as priest. His son surpassed his sire in the possession of good qualities. Named Marutta, that lord of kings was righteous and o great renown, an possessed the might of ten thousand elephants. That virtuous monarch, coming to Mount Meru on the northern side of Himalayas, caused thousands of shining golden vessels to be forged. There on a huge golden hill he performed the rites. And goldsmiths made basins and vessels and pans and seats without number.
