Ajāmīḍha
Ajāmīḍha was the last descendant of Nala in the Candra-vaṃśa (the Moon dynasty) to be installed as king of Hastināpura. He was sixth in descent from Nala. The Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa tells his story in its Pūrṇa Khaṇḍa.
Ajāmīḍha fought in the great battle against Rāma’s forces and met Subāhu in single combat. After peace was made through Brahmā and Sītā, Brahmā installed him as king of Hastināpura under the rule of Kuśa, with the duty to pay tribute. He alone of the Candra-vaṃśa kings was chosen to stay on earth. After the Vaikuṇṭhārohaṇa (the ascent of Rāmacandra to Vaikuṇṭha), he carried out Rāmacandra’s last instructions.
Lineage
The Pūrṇa Khaṇḍa gives Ajāmīḍha’s place in the Candra-vaṃśa as follows.
- Soma founded Hastināpura. He was born of the tejas (radiance) of Atri Maharshi.
- Budha was the son of Soma.
- Purūravas was the son of Budha.
- Gavya was the son of Purūravas.
- Alpa was the son of Gavya.
- Nala was the son of Alpa. He was the great conqueror of the directions.
- Nādyuka was the son of Nala.
- Jātīkara was the son of Nādyuka.
- Vasuda was the son of Jātīkara.
- Laghuśruta was the son of Vasuda.
- Suradha was the son of Laghuśruta.
- Ajāmīḍha was the son of Suradha. He was the last Candra-vaṃśa king installed at Hastināpura.
Ajāmīḍha was therefore the great-great-great-great-grandson of Nala. His generation grew up during Nala’s long campaigns across the Kṛta and Tretā Yugas.
The battle of Hastināpura
Ajāmīḍha took part in person in the six-month war at Hastināpura against Rāma’s forces. In the duels with astras (divine missiles), his opponent was Subāhu. Subāhu was one of the allied kings who had accepted Rāmarājya (the rule of Rāma). Subāhu’s fast arrows broke Ajāmīḍha’s chariot. Ajāmīḍha mounted again and answered by loosing the Pavanavāstra, the wind-missile.
This duel was part of the larger fight. The Somavarṃśa forces had a vara (a boon) from Brahmā that made them unbeatable. Even so, Rāma’s combined army of vānaras and allied kings wore them down step by step.
After five months and eleven days of fighting, the Somavarṃśa forces were almost destroyed, and Kuśa got ready to release the Brahmāstra. At that moment Brahmā came down in person to save the Candra-vaṃśa from complete destruction.
Installation as king of Hastināpura
Brahmā spoke for peace, and Sītā also stepped in. As part of the peace terms, Brahmā installed Ajāmīḍha as king of Hastināpura under Kuśa’s rule. The Candra-vaṃśa kings were to accept Kuśa’s authority and pay tribute.
The other Somavarṃśa kings, Nala and the remaining lords of the seven dvīpas (continents), did not want to stay on earth under this tributary rank. They said they would go up to svarga (heaven) with Brahmā and their queens. Ajāmīḍha alone was told to stay. He kept the Candra-vaṃśa alive on earth from Hastināpura.
Service to Rāmacandra after the war
On the morning of his Vaikuṇṭhārohaṇa, Rāmacandra called Ajāmīḍha and gave him his last instructions. Rāma said: “When I leave, send all the furnishings and articles to Kuśa. Every being, from humans down to the smallest insect, will come with me to the divine realm. Afterward, go to Kuśa and tell him. Perform my final rites fully. Tell Kuśa not to be overcome by grief.” Ajāmīḍha wept when he heard this, but he accepted the words with full respect.
Rāma ascended on Caitra Śukla Pañcamī (the fifth day of the bright half of Caitra). Ajāmīḍha then did as he was told. He sent all the furnishings of the camp to Kuśa. He himself travelled to Ayodhyā to tell the grieving Kuśa everything that had happened. He comforted the new king, and Kuśa honoured him warmly before he went back to Hastināpura.
What his place meant
Ajāmīḍha kept the Candra-vaṃśa going on earth after the end of Rāmarājya. The older Somavarṃśa kings left the body and went up to svarga. Ajāmīḍha was installed at Hastināpura under the rule of the Sūryavaṃśa (the Sun dynasty).
Sources
- Ānanda Rāmāyaṇa, Pūrṇa Khaṇḍa, Chapters 1–6 (Chapter 1 for the lineage, Chapter 3 for the battle, Chapter 4 for the installation, Chapters 5–6 for his service to Rāmacandra)