Iḷā
Iḷā is the daughter of Vaivasvata Manu. She stands at the meeting point of the solar and lunar dynasties of ancient Bhārata. She entered the sacred grove of Bhagavān Śiva, where all males were changed into females by a vara (a boon). After that she changed back and forth between male and female form. In her female form she became the wife of Budha, the son of Candra, and gave birth to Purūravas. This began the Candravaṃśa (lunar dynasty), from which came the great dynasties of the Yādavas, the Kauravas and the Pāṇḍavas. In her male form, called Sudyumna, she appears in the royal lines of the Sūryavaṃśa (solar dynasty).
Birth and family
Iḷā was born to Vaivasvata Manu, the seventh Manu and the one now ruling. She is counted with his children. Manu’s ten sons founded the main branches of the Sūryavaṃśa. The Matsya Mahā Purāṇa names nine of them: Ikshvāku, Nṛga, Dhṛshṭa, Śaryāti, Narishyanta, Nābhāga, Dishṭa, Karūsha and Pṛshadhra.
As Manu’s daughter, Iḷā belonged to the solar line by birth. Her marriage to Budha, of the lunar line of Candra, made her the link between the two great dynasties. This is in the Matsya Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 11.
The change of form
Iḷā, or in some accounts the male form called Sudyumna, entered the sacred forest that belonged to Bhagavān Śiva and Devī Pārvatī. Bhagavān Śiva had given Devī Pārvatī a vara (a boon) that every male who entered this grove would become female. Iḷā came out of the forest as a woman, together with all her male attendants.
By the grace of Bhagavān Śiva, a changed vara was arranged. Iḷā would live one month in female form and one month in male form, and she would keep no memory of the other form. In the male form, called Sudyumna in some accounts, Iḷā ruled as a king. In the female form she lived as the wife of Budha. This is in the Matsya Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 11.
Marriage to Budha and the birth of Purūravas
In her female form Iḷā came to the āśrama (hermitage) of Budha. Budha was the son of Candra and Tārā, and he had been born after the great Tārakāmaya war was settled. Budha was drawn to Iḷā, and they became husband and wife. Their son was Purūravas. He was the foremost hero of the early Candravaṃśa. The apsarā Ūrvaśī loved him, and all later kings of the lunar dynasty descend from him. This is in the Matsya Mahā Purāṇa, Chapter 11.
Her descendants
Through Purūravas, Iḷā is the ancestor, through the mother’s line, of the whole Candravaṃśa. Her descendants include Āyus, Nahusha and Yayāti. Yayāti had two sons who began two great lines:
- Yadu began the Yādava line, from which came the clan of Kṛshṇa.
- Pūru began the Paurava line, from which came Dushyanta, Bharata, the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas.
This is in the Matsya Mahā Purāṇa, Chapters 11–12.
Sources
- Matsya Mahā Purāṇa, Chapters 11–12