Ancient names, who and who of Hindu hindu mythology, vedic names - A

ancient mythological vedic names

Abhimanyu

Arjuna's son with Subhadra who married Uttara, daughter of King Virata.

Acharya

Guru or Teacher.

Achuta

Another name os Sri Krishna meaning imperishable.

Adhiratha

Karna's foster-father.

Adi Shankara

The first Hindu philosopher who consolidated the principles of the Advaita Vedanta.

Aditi

A goddess of the sky, consciousness, the past, the future and fertility.

Advaita

A school of Hindu philosophy often called a monistic or non-dualistic system which refers to the indivisibility of the Self (Atman) from the Whole (Brahman).

Agastya

A great sage in mythilogy, his wife Lopamudra was equally a great sage in her own right. Agastya was born of both Gods, Mitra and Varuna, from Urvashi.

Agneyastra

Agneyastra is the fire weapon, incepted by God Agni, master of the flames.

Agni

Hindu fire god.

Agnihotra

A sacrifice to God Agni.

Ahi

Means snake.

Airavata

Lord Indra's white elephant.

Ajatasatru

Having no enemy, friend of all born things, an epithet for Yudhishthira.

Akshayapatra

A mythilogical vessel given to Yudhishthira by the Sun god which was never empty of food.

Amaravati

The city of Indra.

Amarkantak

The place from where the Narmada River, the Sone River and Johila River emerge.

Amba, Ambika, Ambalika

The three daughters of King of Benares, Eldest daughter Amba was in love with King Shalwa

Amrit

The food of the gods, which makes one immortal.

Ananta

The thousand headed snake, Adisesha. Author and commentator of Katyayana sutra.

Andhaka

Andhaka was the demon son of Shiva, and was created from a drop of his sweat. He was born blind. After birth, Andhaka was given to Hiranyaksha to be raised, as he had no sons. Later, Andhaka became the King of Hiranyaksha's Kingdom.

Anga

Mlechchha Kings, a Kaurava supporter.

Angada

Son of Vali. One of the Vanar in Lord Rama's army.

Aniruddha

Son of Pradyumna (a rebirth of Shatrughana who married with Charumati and Usha).

Anjalika

The greatest of Arjuna's arrows with which he slays Karna.

Anjana

Mother of Hanuman or Anjaneya.

Anshumat

A mighty chariot-fighter.

Anusuya

Sati Anusuya was wife of the sage Atri and mother of Dattatreya who is considered by some Hindus (in western India ) to be an incarnation of the Divine Trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Siva.

Apsaras

Heavenly beauties, The dancers of Indra's court.

Arjuna

The third of Pandavas, son of Pandu.

Artha

Wealth, one of the objects of human life, the others being Dharma, (righteous- ness), Kama (satisfaction of desires), Moksha (spiritual salvation).

Arundhati

Wife of sage Vasishtha.

Arya

civilised, best.

Asamanja

Son of Sagra.

Ashtavakra

A towering scholar who is still in his teens.

Ashta Lakshmi

Eight aspects of goddess Lakshmi, symbolising eight sources of wealth.

Ashvatthaman

Son of Dronacharya and last supreme commander of the Kaurava force, strong as a horse.

Ashvins

The divine twins.

Ashwapati

Uncle of Bharata and Shatrughna.

Ashwasena

Five mighty arrows shot by Karna.

Asita

A sage who held that gambling was ruinous and should be avoided by all wise people.

Asmaka

A Kaurava warrior who attacked Abhimanyu.

Astra

A missile charged with power by a holy mantra.

Atma

The underlying metaphysical self, at times translated as spirit or soul.

Ayodhya

Unconquerable, The city in the country of Koshala. Rama's Kingdom.

Names of Hindu Gods/ Goddesses