Puroorava – First King of Chandra Dynasty – Indian Mythology

Puroorava: The First King of the Chandra – The Moon Dynasty

Puroorava is regarded as the first king of the Chandra (Moon) dynasty. He was born to Budha (the planet Mercury) and Ila, a maiden who had originally been a king named Sudyumna – King of Solar Dynasty, but had been transformed into a woman for a year due to an enchantment. Puroorava inherited the throne from Sudyumna and established the Chandra dynasty. His lineage traces back to the moon god, as he was the son of Budha, who in turn was the son of Chandra (the Moon).

Puroorava’s eldest son, Ayus, became the father of Nahusha – An Ancestor of the Pandavas, who briefly ascended to the position of Indra (king of the gods) before being cursed by the sage Agastya – The Sage who created Kaveri to become a serpent.

Puroorava and Urvashi – An Apsara

Puroorava’s story is most famously associated with his love for the celestial nymph Urvashi. Consumed by desire for her, he was granted his wish, but their love came with conditions. Urvashi, an apsara (divine nymph), could not remain with him forever, as she had to eventually return to her place in Indra’s heavenly court.

The two shared a brief, passionate time together, but their relationship was destined to end. As Puroorava aged, Urvashi, who remained eternally youthful, grew tired of her mortal lover and longed to return to heaven. Heartbroken, Puroorava pleaded with her to stay, as depicted in an isolated verse in the Rigveda (R.V. 10.95). However, Urvashi left him, leaving Puroorava devastated by the loss.

Their relationship also inspired Kalidasa’s classical play Vikramorvashi, composed much later. This legendary love story was so well known that Arjuna – The Peerless Archer, when approached by Urvashi herself, used the tale as a reason to reject her advances, citing her past relationship with his ancestor Puroorava.