Raghu

Raghu was one of the most famous mahārājas of the Sūryavaṃśa, the solar dynasty. The whole line is called Raghukula after him. He is known for the Viśvadigjaya Yajña, in which he gave his whole treasury as dakṣiṇā (the priests’ fee). He is also known for his meeting with the young ṛṣi Kautsa, who needed help to pay his guru-dakṣiṇā (teacher’s fee) to Viśvāmitra. Kubera feared Raghu’s coming attack and sent a great shower of gold coins on Ayodhyā. Raghu gave this wonderful gold mine, the Svarṇakhaṇi, wholly to Kautsa. The place in Ayodhyā where the gold fell became a sacred tīrtha.

Identity and dynasty

Raghu was a king of the Sūryavaṃśa. His line came from Ikṣvāku and the long line that gave Māndhātā, Hariścandra, and in the end Rāma. He is called “the one who caused the race of Ikṣvāku to flourish”. He was so mighty and righteous that the name of the dynasty became Raghukula, the clan of Raghu, in his honour. His capital was Ayodhyā.

Raghu was famous for his conquests. By his great strength he brought the kings of the four quarters under him, took tribute, and gathered heaps of gems and precious stones. His spotless fame spread in all ten directions. He protected his subjects well and justly, and even his enemies sang of his fame. (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaiṣṇava Khaṇḍa, Ayodhyā Māhātmya, Chapter 4)

The Viśvadigjaya Yajña

After gathering great wealth by his conquests, Raghu returned to Ayodhyā. He felt a dharmic wish to perform a yajña worthy of his line. He asked the ṛṣis Vasiṣṭha, Vāmadeva, Kaśyapa and others. They told him to perform the Viśvajit yajña, also called Viśvadigjaya. This is the best of all yajñas, and Raghu took it up with great earnestness.

The mark of this yajña was total giving. Raghu gave his whole treasury as dakṣiṇā to the brāhmaṇas who had gathered. He gave away everything he owned, all his riches and all the wealth won in his conquests. The brāhmaṇas and ṛṣis went home, pleased and honoured. Raghu stood in his palace with nothing left but earthen pots. Through the puṇya (merit) of this yajña, in which he gave up everything, he became like Devendra in svarga. (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaiṣṇava Khaṇḍa, Ayodhyā Māhātmya, Chapter 4)

Kautsa arrives

Just then, when Raghu had given everything away, the young ṛṣi Kautsa, a disciple of Viśvāmitra, came to the palace. He had come to ask Raghu’s help to pay his guru-dakṣiṇā. Viśvāmitra had asked him for fourteen crore gold coins, and Kautsa had nowhere else to turn.

Raghu came out of his palace and welcomed Kautsa with full honour. He received him with only earthen pots, because no gold or silver was left. The wise Kautsa saw at once that the king had given everything away, and he was dismayed. He politely began to take his leave and said he would ask for the fee elsewhere. He did not want to burden a king who had nothing.

Raghu asked Kautsa to stay for one day. He said he would find a way. (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaiṣṇava Khaṇḍa, Ayodhyā Māhātmya, Chapter 4)

The march against Kubera

Raghu’s answer was bold. He at once got ready to march against Kubera, the deva of wealth, to force him to give the gold. He set out firmly to conquer the treasurer of the devas.

Kubera knew by his divine knowledge that Raghu was coming and was alarmed. He did not wish to face the greatest warrior of the solar dynasty. He sent word by a messenger that he was willing to give, and he ordered a great shower of gold coins to fall on the ground south of Dharmahari in Ayodhyā. This became the Svarṇakhaṇi, the Gold Mine. (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaiṣṇava Khaṇḍa, Ayodhyā Māhātmya, Chapters 4–5)

The gold mine and Kautsa’s blessings

Raghu showed Kautsa the wonderful Svarṇakhaṇi and gave it wholly to him. Kautsa took only what he needed, the fourteen crore gold coins for his guru-dakṣiṇā. He gave back all the rest to Raghu with respect. This showed the ṛṣi’s greatness. A huge fortune lay before him, yet he took only what duty asked, and nothing more.

Kautsa was full of joy and blessed Raghu:

“O king, may you get a very good son with all the good qualities of your own family. This Svarṇakhaṇi will at once give you the benefits you wish for. There will be a great tīrtha here, always removing all pāpa (sin). By taking a holy bath here and giving gifts, people will gain fortune and glory.”

Kautsa also fixed a yearly festival for this tīrtha, on the twelfth day of the bright half of Vaiśākha. (Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaiṣṇava Khaṇḍa, Ayodhyā Māhātmya, Chapter 4)

Raghu in Kālidāsa’s Raghuvaṃśa

Kālidāsa’s Raghuvaṃśa also tells of this generosity of Raghu and his meeting with Kautsa.

Raghu among those who gave up meat

In the Anuśāsana Parva, in the teaching on ahiṃsā (non-harming) and meat-eating, Bhīṣma names Raghu among the great rājarṣis (royal seers) who gave up māṃsa (meat). Through this they reached svarga and Brahmaloka. (Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 115)

Sources

• Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Vaiṣṇava Khaṇḍa, Ayodhyā Māhātmya, Chapters 4–5
• Mahābhārata, Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 115