Ikshvaku is the first king of Ayodhya and the founder of the solar dynasty into which Rama is born. Rama is often called Ikshvaku-nandana, the delight of the Ikshvaku line.
RoleKing of the Ikshvaku line
ParentsNimi, Manu Vaivasvata
Appears inRamayana
GroupIkshvaku ancestors
KingdomAyodhya
First appearsBala Kanda, Sarga 5
Who was Ikshvaku?
Ikshvaku is the son of Manu Vaivasvata, the progenitor of humankind in this age. He rules from Ayodhya, and his descendants, the Ikshvakus, include Sagara, Bhagiratha, Raghu, Aja and Dasharatha.
Vasishtha recites this lineage at Rama's wedding in Mithila. In the Uttara Kanda, Agastya tells of Ikshvaku's son Danda, whose cursed kingdom became the Dandaka forest.
In the Valmiki Ramayana
Ikshvaku appears in 3 sargas across 2 Kandas.
First appearsBala Kanda · Sarga 5: The Glory of Ayodhya
